PAGE 44a – DECEMBER 2005
Though we often publish layouts designed for complex switching maneuvers, many people prefer continuous-run layouts where they can just “let ’em run” and indulge in some plain train watching. This starts at an early age, with holiday trains running around a tree (remember?). It extends into childhood, as illustrated here by young Edwin Scott, from Santa Rosa, California, who
designed and built this round-and-round Brio layout for his Thomas the Tank Engine loco. The habit can persist perhaps for a lifetime, as shown by the continuous layouts presented below, each with some potential switching activity but with the main emphasis on having a lot of fun watching trains.
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
A small industrial tram serving a brickworks is the theme of Christopher Creighton‘s new Gn15 layout, The Bewdley Brick Company Tram. The layout measures 49x22in (101x56cm). Christopher lives in Schomberg, Ontario Canada, and he’s the proprieter of Schomberg Scale Models, many of whose products are showcased in the layout.
Notice that the “oval” look is avoided by careful choice of structures and by hiding much of the trackage. There’s some built-in capability for switching, but the emphasis here is on running a series of delightful little tram locos through the buildings, around the kiln, and past the audience who can enjoy watching the trains in action.
(Photos by Emrys Hopkins, except as noted.)
AROUND AND AROUND — TWICE
At the other end of the scale size spectrum is Bryn Dibyn, a 30x20in (75x50cm) layout that not only provides a bunch of places to switch but manages to circumambulate the board twice in the process! This inverted Figure-8 layout is being constructed by Andrew Smith, from Chelmsford, Essex England. Scale is OO9 (4mm to the foot on 9mm tracks). “Bryn Dibyn” is Welsh for “steep hill” — appropriate!
TRAMWAY ON A COFFEE TABLE
Jim Royal, from South Carolina USA, has built the Gn15 Lunar Glow Distillery Tramway to fit on the coffee table in his sun room, where he often puts it out for guests to enjoy. The layout is an oval measuring 44x26in (112x66cm), with a kickback siding providing a bit of switching action. But the main attraction is the tramway trains as they trundle around the loop in their brightly colored liveries.
OR IF YOU LIKE MORE PORTABLE PIKES…
Rick Perry, from Hurtsboro, Alabama USA, built this little portable 1/4in scale railroad in an old briefcase using On30 trains, Code 70 rails, and 5in (12cm) curves. It represents a hobbyist’s backyard narrow-gauge railroad “somewhere in Alabama.” Loco is a reworked Bachmann Porter, and the cars are coupled using a “rooster” (extension rod) to handle the curves. To give you a feel for the size of the little thing, the layout is shown in operation (below, right) at a recent model meet.
LARGE SCALE MINING TRAM
Questing for ever-larger trains on continuous-circuit layouts, we have unearthed the South Arpafeelie Mining Co., a tramway built by Steve Holland, from Birmingham, England in 4x3ft (120x90cm). The layout uses battery locos to serve a mine producing stewpidium trioxide, a dietary supplement often used by politicians. Scale is 16mm to the foot (1:19 proportion) running on more-or-less 32mm gauge (1.25in). Curves are 12in (30cm) and grades are 1:8 (12.5%). Turnouts are stub switches, except the single-bladed point (left, below) which is operated with a forefinger! Steve comments, “Stock can be swapped out of sight through an opening at the back of the layout, although putting stock on the track then coupling it up in a confined space on a 1 in 8 gradient can be interesting.”
‘COLUMBUS CIRCLE’ CONTINUES IN CANADA
Shamus McMillin, from Saint John, New Brunswick in Canada, runs his N scale layout on a 30in (75cm) lazy susan circle. He partnered with his father, James, to build this version of my Columbus Circle design.
AN EXHIBITION MINING TRAM
I would like to contact Graham Minsul to ask his permission to make a copy of his layout for my own personal use. I like it so much for its operational use.
I promise not to publicise or photograph the finished article as it will be for me. You see….I have no imagination in this department so have to rely on others.
Graham, if you agree could you post as much info about it to me please. Like what track did you use etc etc?
Petercane44@yahoo.com
Many thanks in advance