west_clare_wanderer

The weathering on the roofs (rooves?) of those grey vans is excellent. Did you do that yourself?

I know we operate in a niche little sphere, but I do find Rails secondhand stuff to be generally overpriced. You can get a new MM 141 - admittedly in BnT - for £180, yet they are selling a "pre-owned" one for £230. Seems a little confused.

I wasn't expecting that answer, but I'm pleasantly surprised! I love those bagged cement wagons

Do you get a free trip on the second try, given the promised 89 failed?

Indeed. The best exhibitions have a good mixture of both types of layouts. Tail chasers with constant action and multiple trains moving at once, but also complimented by smaller layouts. Perhaps a shunting layout or micro layout. Casua members of the public and kids may be more drawn to the former, whereas fellow modellers might be attracted to the latter (although that's a gross generalisation!). That broad spectrum of scales, styles, sizes, and prototypes makes this such a wonderful hobby. Thanks, that's absolutely fascinating!

Ha, sorry. What a dafty I am! I did say my memory was appalling....

Thanks for confirming. For once my memory serves me well (although I can't remember where I put my keys!!). It always struck me as an ideal compromise between a shunting (switching I suppose) layout and a continuous run, without being too 'trainset-ty'. It gave a purpose to operation whilst still allowing you to just run trains round when desired. The problem is that it becomes a large lump of a baseboard in HO or OO. Few people on this side of the Atlantic have room in the house for an 8' by 4' layout. That's before we get to the aforementioned points about access/reach etc. I think that's a grand idea. As you say, you could have a bench or platform from which to operated from if necessary. Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but as an aside, was it Iain Rice who had to the idea of a few layouts on shelves one above the other, where stock was moved by cassette from one scene to another?

I see the point, but if you're getting the 0530 from Galway, I think it's reasonable to be able to get a cup of tea on board the train.

And maybe we can G you up to do something else in 2028 @Warbonnet....

C you in 2027 with a wheelbarrow full of cash @Warbonnet... .

Or even more saleable. Just tag the listing with "RARE" or "UNIQUE" (in capital letters of course), and bang it on ebay for €2,000

Wow! Your Swiss layout is amazing Mol! However, I think the point you raise is one of the real problems with such an ambitious/large project as a home layout. And conversely why micro layouts have become so popular. Not just the space saving aspect, but the fact that you can see progress with a couple of hours work. I admire anyone who can stick to a 'lifetime' layout project. Though I just don't have the mentality, willpower, or concentration to do so. I flit around like a butterfly and have no stickability! When you're young, you're not so restricted by realism, but nowadays I understand it's pointless starting something that I know I'll never finish. Hence any notion of a reasonably sized layout being shelved a long time ago! Maybe that's a little sad, but sometimes reality comes with age.

If my memory serves correct (it often doesn't!), Chris Ellis designed and built the Warren Branch (I think that's what it was called), along these lines. I'm not sure where it was published but I seen it referenced many times, and have seen extracts of a few articles and some photos over the years.

That is a really interesting plan. I'd like to know whether people are still building layouts like this in the USA, or whether folk have switched (no pun intended!) to Mindheim style, more minimalist approach. It seems these 'old fashioned' 8x4 layouts have a lot of play value. Any Irish or UK house generally hasn't had room for anything like this since the 1960s.

Great news! I've just completed my 'set', having acquired the North Kerry book (thanks to the kindness of Mol). They are undoubtedly my favourite series of railway books. I cannot wait for the next one