Definitely, not the ultimate layout
Through a change in direction, I find myself with four 1,2m x 76cm domino boards (total 4,8m x 76cm) with absolutely no plans for their use. They have been unused for almost three years with lots of false starts- O gauge, US HO outline and British OO with no real commitment but lots of wasted money and time. I have enough 16,5mm track (but it can be sold) and a complete set of DCC equipment, however I have no stock apart from that which is needed for Grafenwalde. However the boards are still there as they fit the available space and they clearly need to be used- some of the options are: 1. Modern industrial unit 2. Oe based on Magic Train 3. US HO upstate New York or British OO branchline branch terminus 4. O scale German, US or British minimum space 'timesaver' 5. HO German branchline terminus The options are fluid and I welcome all and any ideas of how to use such a nice piece of real estate.

Re: Definitely, not the ultimate layout
Tim, Being in Upstate (Way Upstate and centrally isolated) New York I might be able to help with this idea... Cheers, p. However the boards are still there as they fit the available space and they clearly need to be used- some of the options are: 3. US HO upstate New York or British OO branchline branch terminus The options are fluid and I welcome all and any ideas of how to use such a nice piece of real estate.

Hi Tim, There's nothing more inspiring than someone else's blank slate. Here are a few ideas off the top of my head: Anything Canadian; and while we're at it, how about Newfoundland Railway Narrow Gauge in Sn3 1/2: mutant geeps and container trains? How about Prince Edward Island Railways (CN): light track and engines and a lot of bright red mud? Modern Chinese station serving a model railway factory town? You could do a German gauge 1 timesaver in that space. Helpfully yours, RK

I keep looking at 0-14, and the excellent range of kits available from KB Scale (formerly Roy C Link). If anything, 4.8m would seem enormous in that scale. Perhaps a watercress farm... they had them just over the border from Dorset in hampshire. In fact, I have a feeling that one of the Vitacress farms still uses a narrow gauge railway. If you're doing a branch terminus, there's always the Southern Region of British railways for something a little different. A harbour station such as Newhaven, Folkestone or Weymouth could offer opportnities for the appearance of "foreign" (ie non SR) stock, as such stations had through workings from as far afield as Manchester. If EMUs float your boat, stick a third rail in, and with the Bachmann 4-CEP and Replica MLV, it's plain sailing to a characteristic boat train. Other types are available through Southern Pride or MJT. The RTR support for SR/BR(S) locomotives seems to get stronger by the day as well... If I had that space, I'd probably consider doing an N scale main line. For me, it would have to be German outline (British still has a long way to go, and US leaves me cold). With 76cm wide boards you could even make it a continuous run. There's so many possibilities, really it comes down to whatever truly inspires you. Cheers Rich

Hi Tim, A few (random) thoughts; For the industrial park, you may find some inspiration on this site, http://www.arthurkamminga.nl/rail/doodspoor/index1doodspoor.html lots of out of the way Dutch prototypes mostly now disused sadly. For a US or Canadian theme how about one of the shortlines spun off from a larger system? For instance, the Esquimalt & Nanaimo on Vancouver Island or Quebec Central and Quebec Gatinau both in Quebec. For upstate NY, Finger Lakes Rly or Gennesee & Wyoming. Modelling CP or CN takes a certain amount of kitbashing/redetailing, but that's an opportunity to use the really nice products by Miniatures by Eric http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/ There are a couple of prototype suggestions on Carl Arendt's site; Erick, Oklahoma and Valmont in France that may respond to being enlarged. http://carendt.us/microplans/index.html Other than that I guess you're looking for that "wow" moment to hit you. Nick

Two things came to my mind almost immediately: 1) Terminus Spalt: If you like the PtL 2/2 and "bayrische Würfel" something to think about. I assume you know this link: http://www.spalter-bockl.info/ 2) A german coal mining layout as published in many variations by Rolf Knipper. I am not aware if any of his suggestions made it into reality and informations on the net appear pretty thin. Considered a layout like this some time ago but my real estate does not allow aeven a small prototypical one. Thomas

Oh come on Tim, you have decided to go with the Unterfranken-layout already, don't you?

Hi Tim, looking for an excuse to run a wide variety of stock and still retain that 'could be' atmosphere I'd (and I did) plump for the German Privatbahn scene. the Bentheimer has some interesting scenarios as does my personal favourite - the group of lines centred on Rinteln - Rinteln-Stadthagener/Extertalbahn/bad Eilsen http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extertalbahn http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Eilsener_Kleinbahn http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinteln-Stadthagener_Eisenbahn I'm always tempted by doing a Moselbahn scene and finally the Herforder kleinbahn/Bielefelder Kleinbahn joint metre gauge interurbans are just too lovely for words. That's my twopennorth anyway - it's a change from the South and the East, it's not that commonly modelled but the lines are well documented and traffic is comparitively heavy. I did a model based on Steinbergen (RStE) which worked well - a loop with a single siding, half-timbered goods shed and a tandem point at the bottom of a steep grade on a level crossing over Route 61. Enjoy Kev

As I sit here eating cheese (Brie) and crackers I am contemplating the thought of having a completely blank canvass on which to build a model railway. A simple elegant model of a defined area holds plenty of appeal, but the question to ask is why there is a railway there in the first place? Is it primary function to move people (then a European outline would be predominate) or if it is freight then just about anywhere in the world would be possible. The question of scale is dictated by the size, and while 1 Gauge is great, it does need a lot of space. O gauge is an option, but again size limits the value. A narrow gauge layout in either of these scales would be a better option. We then move down to HO and with just under 5 meters to play with a well sceaniced layout becomes a better choice. N and Z may be possible, but are really two small and maintenance considerations would surely limit their appeal. Depending on grandchildren requirements, a scene using the range of Thomas equipment could be a possibility. Being a German modeller myself, my interest would push me towards a Germanic prototype, but then there is the question of era. Given the size, an Epoch 1a based around the latest Trix items would have some appeal. I think you should go for the Oe option using the Majic train as a base. A wharf at one end, though the outskirts of the town with a small halt and some industry into a fiddle yard. John

This looks interesting: http://www.kdtroeger.de/ohe.htm as does this http://www.wiekra.de/ Definitely different and plenty of scope for using locos from my favourite manufacturer.

Tim, My 'comfort zone' would be a Ep3 branchline based on in Unter or Mittelfranken, this is scenario that I have never attempted to capture but it is the area with which I am most familiar (apart from Dorset) How about moving slightly east or southeast, just outside the comfort zone, and modelling a branch into the Fichtelgebirge (Oberfranken) or Bayerischer Wald (Oberpfalz and Niederbayern)? Interesting operations with all those different locos after the war and lovely picturesque scenery; combining your existing knowledge with some new research; also a great holiday destination that you would just have to go and recce to make sure you had those details right!

Tim A completely different suggestion. The Argentine Central Railroad was built in Colorado and went from Silver Plume near Georgetown up to the Waldorf mine and then up to the summit of Mount McLellan at around 14000 feet. The line went up a series of switchbacks to gain height and was operated by small shay type locomotives. The trackbed still exists and it represents quite a challenge to drive up even in a 4x4 vehicle. Some literature exists (I've got most of it which you are welcome to borrow). http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/tour/pcar4.htm

Tim, Another completely different suggestion - at recent exhibitions I have attended in Australia there has been a plethora of what, IMHO are very poor layouts running the various products of Rev Awrdy's Railway Series. I guess the UK has probably been afflicted by the same disease. After having seen an article in the December 1959 Railway Modeller on Rev Awrdy's original Ffarquhar layout (http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/rm-1959-12.htm) and photographs of Ffarquhar II which now resides at the Talyllyn Railway(http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/ffarquharII.htm) , I have thought the exhibition scene needs a "realistic" Railway Series layout. I know I don't have the modelling skill, but Tim....... Regards Greg

Do tell. Have you gone 009 rabbit warren, G Scale American, S gauge Far Twittering? Your public awaits

I would say that Tim has either gone back to his P4 roots and is building Alderholt again, or given his question re 3 axel rebuilt coaches, maybe something in northern Germany? John