So, After trying large layouts, I've come to the conclusion that smaller ones are better for me and I'm more likely to get them running and looking ok.  As such given my love of trains from all over the world, I have 3 on the go right now.  Aberffilli has just been extended a little and is going to be re-wired a bit.  Bad Katsberg is new and needs wiring and catenary finished and then scenery and the Nova Scotia South Shore is also undergoing re-wiring to allow DCC / DC switching and more scenery work (which is unending).

I'm finding it much more fun and lets me run trains more.

Anyone else share this predilection?

Aberffilli





Bad Katsberg



Nova Scotia South Shore

Not yet is the answer but I'm struggling with space to accommodate an 8' x 3' so I'm thinking a smaller layout might be an intermediate activity to keep my 'skills' honed.
Our village had a brief sojourn with the railways when the Kent coal mines were thought to be lucrative. As this was not the outcome the line soon disappeared but it would model easily as a single track branch line. How much space for an end-to-end?
I'll post the result if I find time to build it

I am planning something similar to Bad Katsberg for my 'Foreign stuff' layout, which will be a double track loop with a small depot and a station scene, with a few buildings, but not much more. No more than 7'6" x 3'. Just got to get the rest of the track and build the darn boards....

Quote from: grumbeast on January 02, 2025, 03:34:03 AMI'm finding it much more fun and lets me run trains more.

Anyone else share this predilection?

I most certainly do.  Rewind however many years it is now to 2007/2008.  We'd bought our present house and embarked on a major series of works before moving in.  This included a 17' x 10' (ish) train set room.  A lifetime's wish.  Not quite Pete Waterman standard, but then I don't have lunch with Kylie either.  Still, an ambition realised.  My plan was to have an '0' gauge branch line, a massive 'N' gauge layout and something in '00'.

About ten years later, after a fair amount of work, I realised all had I had achieved was disappointment.  I sat one Sunday evening, with trains running reliably around me, attempting to work out why.  I concluded it was all far too big.  I realised railway modellers aren't meant to think that.  What a heresy. But, for me, true.  So true.

In the privacy of my own train set room, I set out to establish the optimum length (of a layout) whilst sitting at no more than arm's length from it.  Hopefully, a fair bit closer.  I built a prototype and a perspicacious young friend of mine saw it and said - "A Table-Top Railway."

Daniel was absolutely correct and my layout threadingham features, at present, the Table-Top Railway Marks VI and VII.  Never, at least since my Tri-ang Hornby days (trains sold subsequently to finance the purchase a BSA 'SS80' 250cc motor-bicycle fitted with the silencer from a 'Gold Star'), have I enjoyed our absolutely fabulous hobby more.

And I'm not finished yet.  I'm working on an interchangeable layout system, based on my late friend Iain Rice's 'ULYSSES' (Universal Layout Supporting System) approach, for my 'RAF' layout project - Retirement Apartment Friendly.

My wizard wheeze is to have several layouts of the same size that can be exchanged easily:-

Without doubt - a Poppinghamesque one;

Something Kato and USA to atone for my not getting Sandrock right;

Perhaps an '009' or '09' project and

Maybe, just maybe, something to remind me of my time in Germany in 1979.  Perhaps, wash my mouth with 'Coal Tar' soap, in 'Z'.

I think you have it absolutely spot on.  'Small is beautiful.'  Several little layouts are more fun, in my view, than one big one.  And, much more practical.

I think what we are promoting is something a little bit up from the late Carl Arendt's 'Micro-Layout' concept (four square feet maximum) and I'll follow your posts with interest.  Because...

'N' Gauge is Such Fun!

With all good wishes.

John

 

Quote from: Train Waiting on January 02, 2025, 08:27:47 PMI think what we are promoting is something a little bit up from the late Carl Arendt's 'Micro-Layout' concept (four square feet maximum) and I'll follow your posts with interest.  Because...

'N' Gauge is Such Fun!

With all good wishes.

John

Sounds like we are sympatico John.  I always found Carl Arendt's micro layout just a bit too small for me, they always felt like elaborate dioramas. I want the option of decent sized trains if not full length ones. (Abeffilli, despite its modest size will now handle a pacific with 6 on which looks convincing to me).  I'm totally in agreement that (if you have the space) several small layouts, or some kind of replaceable scenic section makes so much sense and is super fun.

My latest interest is in the wonderful mixed-trains of the early 20th century in Canada (and the states), they are perfect for smaller layouts and are so characterful and if modelling North America you can still use pretty big power (pacifics and 10 wheelers we're commonly used)

Hello folks

I'm not entirely in agreement with John on his smaller is better. Smaller is better sometimes. I have ambitions to build a diorama style layout or two to see what I can do with over-the-top realism modelling just for fun. If such a layout were bigger than small, I would certainly run out of time in my life before finishing it. I say different strokes for different folks.

Like you Graham, I like longish trains as per what is usual in North America and a layout of sufficient size is necessary to achieve this goal. But for me having a basement would be  disaster as there would be a temptation to build big and never get it finished. I think Deadwood has turned out to be about the right size for me. After 10 years of construction it is, for all intents and purposes, pretty much complete more through luck than design. It is not hyper detailed and only moderately realistic, but it is good enough for me to imagine the passage of real trains on it.

On another tack, I reference your photo of your F3. Here is a photo of my ConCor PA (introduced 1972) which is of similar era to your ConCor F3. Mine was made by Kato for ConCor before Kato became a super model manufacturer in its own right. These early manufactures are interesting as they represent the early days of N scale when it started to really get going.
     


Like you I expect, Graham, I also have the fabulous latter day Kato PA/PB. One can see how model manufacture has advanced over 30 years or so.

Webbo

Quote from: Webbo on January 03, 2025, 05:16:13 AMI think Deadwood has turned out to be about the right size for me. After 10 years of construction it is, for all intents and purposes, pretty much complete more through luck than design. It is not hyper detailed and only moderately realistic, but it is good enough for me to imagine the passage of real trains on it.

On another tack, I reference your photo of your F3. Here is a photo of my ConCor PA (introduced 1972) which is of similar era to your ConCor F3. Mine was made by Kato for ConCor before Kato became a super model manufacturer in its own right. These early manufactures are interesting in their own right as they represent the early days of N scale when it started to really get going.
     
Like you I expect, Graham, I also have the fabulous latter day Kato PA/PB. One can see how model manufacture has advanced over 30 years or so.

Webbo

I think Deadwood is a wonderful size, for me right now with work and other commitments, I need smaller for now.  I did have a basement and it became depressing because progress was soo slow!

Long trains are the norm in North America now, but as I'm discovering with the mixed trains there were also plenty of shorter and downright short trains too that look perfectly at home on a 6x3 or smaller

And yes.. I also have the exquisite Kato PA

Having visited Webbo's layout, I feel he has achieved something about the right size.

Quote from: grumbeast on January 03, 2025, 08:04:26 AMLong trains are the norm in North America now, but as I'm discovering with the mixed trains there were also plenty of shorter and downright short trains too that look perfectly at home on a 6x3 or smaller

And yes.. I also have the exquisite Kato PA

May I suggest Mixed Train Daily by Lucius Beebe (what a fellow he was - certainly lived up to his exotic name), well known as a writer for the New Yorker amongst other things.

I've got the Kato 'PA1' + 'PB1' as well!

And, of course, @Webbo is perfectly correct.  I should have written 'small is beautiful for me at present'.  That was the meaning I intended to convey.

With all good wishes.

John

Quote from: Webbo on January 03, 2025, 05:16:13 AM


Webbo

What a beautiful machine!

Quote from: Train Waiting on January 03, 2025, 10:08:28 AMMay I suggest Mixed Train Daily by Lucius Beebe (what a fellow he was - certainly lived up to his exotic name), well known as a writer for the New Yorker amongst other things.

Beebe's books are pretty much compulsory, I have a copy of Mixed Train Daily and several others (one advantage of living this side of the pond is that its fairly easy to come by). Beebe is a fascinating character, I'd recommend this presentation from the CRPA (an organisation I can't recommend highly enough)


I've attended many of their online presentations and they are all available on their youtube channel. 

@Foxhound the Alco PA is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful diesels ever built

Quote from: Foxhound on January 03, 2025, 10:26:49 AMWhat a beautiful machine!

In my opinion, the PA locomotive is the best looking diesel ever from anywhere. I think it looks particularly striking in Sante Fe warbonnet colours whether red and yellow or blue and yellow, and hauling a train of silver coaches such as the Super Chief. These PAs were some of the first diesel locomotives being introduced in 1946. They were only 2,000 hp which is pretty modest really. The competitor EMD F units are handsome looking locomotives too, but proved to be more successful in the long run than the ALCOs.

Can I ask John and/or Graham to provide a photo each of their Kato PAs?

Webbo

Quote from: Webbo on January 04, 2025, 07:36:08 AM

Quote from: Foxhound on January 03, 2025, 10:26:49 AMWhat a beautiful machine!

In my opinion, the PA locomotive is the best looking diesel ever from anywhere. I think it looks particularly striking in Sante Fe warbonnet colours whether red and yellow or blue and yellow, and hauling a train of silver coaches such as the Super Chief. These PAs were some of the first diesel locomotives being introduced in 1946. They were only 2,000 hp which is pretty modest really. The competitor EMD F units are handsome looking locomotives too, but proved to be more successful in the long run than the ALCOs.

Can I ask John and/or Graham to provide a photo each of their Kato PAs?

Webbo

Ask and ye shall recieve! .. I have a B unit too, but thats apart awaiting a DCC board.  @Webbo I totally agree about the PA's being the most beautiful diesels

Thanks for your photo, Graham. My loco is the same as yours.

I've just been thinking that it would be wonderful to see a photo of a PA on Poppingham's rails (John?). I realise that it may seem blasphemous, but the PA is a special locomotive and Poppingham is a special layout.

Sorry Graham, I don't wish to further interrupt your thread!

Webbo

Quote from: Webbo on January 04, 2025, 10:50:35 PMThanks for your photo, Graham. My loco is the same as yours.

I've just been thinking that it would be wonderful to see a photo of a PA on Poppingham's rails (John?). I realise that it may seem blasphemous, but the PA is a special locomotive and Poppingham is a special layout.

Sorry Graham, I don't wish to further interrupt your thread!

Webbo

Not an interruption at all! .. and I tend to agree, the PA would be a tremendous visitor to Poppingham, dare I say, a Superspiffing idea!

While we're on the subject of PA's I'd also love to get a few of the older Concor ones, many were built by Kato for Concor and were lovely runners for their day.  I find with my smaller layouts I am also drawn more and more to older stock, whether Properly Poole British outline stuff or Magnificently Minitrix, Rightously Roco or Fantastically Fleischmann for North American or European stock.  This is partly why I wanted more than one smaller layout