Chadwick Exhibition Layout at Chadwick Model Railway | 173 

Oh Charlie What a beautiful little layout, some of the buildings are amazing and the overall ambience is something I would love to be able to achieve on my layout, maybe once I have put in the many hours it must have taken to build that layout maybe I will be somewhere close ... doubt it 🙂

A lovely layout. For the front baseboard might I suggest having a brass tribute plaque to the builder.

This beautiful layout is a classic example of what happens with all of us old guys and our dearly built and constructed layouts. My pike is exactly this size, and I've made provision for its future use after I've moved on - which is not really so different from what has happened to your friend's layout. I made the conscious decision several years back to go this size so I could enjoy my hobby, and still not burden my family with "what do we do with all this now that he's gone?" Sure, I wanted to build that dream layout; but it just didn't make sense for me. Anyway, it's great that you are helping out with preserving the wonderful work Dave obviously put his heart into. And, it will be presented so that a new generation of railway modelers can be inspired to share this wonderful hobby. Keep the layout, Charlie. I would.

Dave, who built this layout, was my wife's uncle. We thoroughly enjoyed your video paying tribute to Dave and his workmanship and we do hope this continues to bring joy to others.

Thank you for sharing in such detail, Professor! These types of layouts are not common in the US, so it was fun to see how they work. Your friend built a beautiful layout and I am sure he would be glad that you're the one taking care of it now.

It’s a superb little layout with an expertly crafted scene which belies its simplicity. You’ve used it to great advantage to illustrate some of your ever-useful tips and techniques. Could that be its occasional future on the exhibition circuit, perhaps?

Delightful. Sympathetically presented. What a beautiful layout. I think you should buy it. It deserves to be showcased.

Once you've taken a layout to an exhibition you'll be hooked! It can be maddening when things are going wrong but when they are going right it can be extremely enjoyable. Effectively, one or two days playing trains all day 😀 A sequence of some sort is a very good idea. You mention it being a two man lift to move each board, well you will want a second man with you anyway. One to operate whilst the other looks round the show, has lunch or makes a trip to the little boys room. Swap over regularly and you will both enjoy yourselves a lot. 😉

OH MY GOD. This is absolutely, BLOODY AWESOME. Its a pity the builder is no longer with us, as I would have told him this to his face. It is without doubt the best scratch built, Or otherwise, I have ever seen. Thank you Charlie, for sharing this with us.

Charlie, it is so nice to see that you felt strongly enough about this layout to take over the restoration of it. It truly is a little work of art. I too had acquired a layout by someone I knew who has passed. His name was Dave Methlie and he had built a number of layouts here in the States to promote his business at train shows, some of which were featured in Model Railroader Magazine. I was lucky enough to acquire Dave's Deer Mountain layout with the idea of restoring it. It was in much the same shape as this one. Sadly I just didn't have the time to devote to it that I felt it deserved. I hope that you have the time needed that this lovely little layout deserves.

A fantastic little layout. I've always been drawn to the smaller layouts at exhibitions, good luck on the 30th. Can I suggest for the scenic break on the backscene you model a tall chimney it would blend in with the others on the backscene itself and cover the break.

What a wonderful layout you have there, Charlie. I just love the muted colours that make this traditional town scene layout look so realistic. I’m not a fan of layouts that have bright colours more suited to Noddy’s Toy Town. I’m sure if Dave is looking down, he will be delighted that his layout had ended up in safe hands. As a TrainController man, Charlie, the ‘KD Shuffle’ can be incorporated into a Schedule for automatic operation under the supervision of TrainController. Best, Jason.

What a cracking little layout, the buildings look great, a lot of effort has been put into this, I hope to be able to get this level of detail on my layout.

Hi Charlie, great layout but them I’m just a big fan of these end-to-end shunters. Anyway as Exhibition Manager for Barnsley I’ll be more than happy to book it in for next year’s event! Speaking of which (shameless plug coming up) our exhibition for this year is at the weekend, we’re really looking forward to it after the two-year break.

Wow. All I can say is wow. I love how the layout isn’t the biggest so it forces you into adding every touch of detail and you sure did! Wonderful layout and I loo forward to projects in the future! -Will

What a beauty! The detail in the modelling is absolutely exquisite. I’ve always been fascinated by shunting puzzle layouts and the variety of routines you can manage with them. Perhaps, if it’s not in the cards to purchase the layout yourself, you could convince your club to do so. As you say, just a touch of TLC would do wonders to clean up the loose ends, but it certainly a diamond in rough. What a gem! Thank you for sharing.

A wonderful memorial to Dave, A top notch scratch builder. RIP SIR :o) Also the head shunt could be easily extended with a tunnel mouth to allow larger trains and fiddle yard out of sight. :o)

I realize a posh gentleman such as yourself spends little time around actual freight yards. Nobody invests any money there, so they tend to be time capsules of broken down antiquity. You can run nearly anything from the last 100 years and it will seem just right on the layout. I enjoyed this video Charlie. Thanks for sharing.

I think you have already talked yourself into ownership. You like it, you find it to be an "incredible piece of modeling." You are investing your time and money to restore it while improving it. You said it fits in your car. Therefor, you should buy it. If it doesn't work out as an exhibition layout or you do not like being an exhibitor you can always get some stronger brackets and put it on display on the wall behind you over the Chadwick sign. Suggestion; Date the vehicles on the layout and then find the appropriate era locomotive. It might be some sort of boxcab diesel. I am in the process of building an exhibition layout for O-16.5/On30. My exhibition layout is a 72"x33" figure 8 with two sidings. It will fit in my truck for transport. I am still working on my main layout, but there are some of us in the U.S. that are building small independent layouts for meets. I have done the modular club layout in previous years. My interests are now in running independent portable layouts with a loose group of like minded model railroaders. On another note, Larry Puckett, The DCC Guy, will be attending the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition coming up this month. He be a guest of DCC Concepts at their both. Larry has the "Model Railroading" channel on RU-vid. Will you be there?

Very nice little layout. The only think I myself would have done differently, is have the Small Station Halt moved to just across from the SEVEN STARS HOTEL, (as where it is now on the switch back makes no sense).

Hi Charlie, A lovely layout you have there. The DCC point motors were made by ZTC systems, I'm sure I have an instruction sheet, I will look it out and email them to you. Regards, David.

Hi Charlie I have watched most of your video's bit never had the time to reply! But had too today what a marvelous layout I agree with all of the comments and hope you can keep it as I would like to visit your club's exhibition and see it and you're self on the 30th as I would imagine quite a few of others would?My name's Mike Wootton from south Devon and only just starting on my recreation of my local branch line,from Kingsbridge to South Brent called the Primrose line! sadly no more!! But as I suffer badly with SAD it was suggested to me as a way of getting through the winter months!! Currently laid up with a dislocated shoulder, I thought it was high time , I thanked you for your most excellent video's,😃👍 you really do inspire me and you're knowledge and enthusiasm helps me a great deal !! Many thanks again best wishes Mike.

One thing that I consider genius, is the entrance at the rear, behind the buildings, to hide the fiddle yard, and the emphasis on the freight works. Also nice, the kickback to the passenger's halt, you can have some action with a GWR Pannier and an autocoach (for the time period). Other solution à la Minories, two engines, one incoming with the coaches, a second one waiting at the station to take them on the return trip. An interesting situation, because you can imagine the railway company will maximalize the use of the engines : one coming with freight cars, shunting and waiting for the passenger train she will take back, while the second can do some more shunting, waiting for the next passenger train to come, or taking away some freight wagons. You have dozen of possibilities on all the big four with mixed traffic tank engines : A V1 or V3 for the LNER, a E4 or a Terrier for the SR, or an Ivatt 2MT tank for the LMS. A standard 2MT or 3MT for the BR would be at home too. That's my pick here for the steam nuts like me !

Dear Charlie, I am normally a great fan of your work and enjoy very much your tutorials, however I do find It rather a sacrilege to “plop on” those cheap (unrealistic) Kadee uncoupler ramps to such a detailed layout, which is obviously a tribute to its builder. For a couple of quid on eBay you can buy super strong neodymium magnets that you can hide under the rails (see earlier Everard Junction carriage depot videos) for a couple of quid. You can cut out the relevant section of track and ballast with a Dremel (maybe only an inch and a half in length) to install the magnets invisibly underneath. Please don’t take this as a trolling negative rivet counter comment - I was just hoping to see a novel Kadee solution to the problem, that I could have used and my jaw genuinely dropped seeing those ramps 😮 (I bought a couple for my amateur layout and was shocked how “hornby track-mat they were Kindest Regards Matt

Charlie, Another great video and a nice little layout. My observation of UK vs. US layouts is management of constraint over abundance. In the UK and much of Europe space is at a premium so I have frequently seen high quality detailed layouts. We have same in the US, say George Sellios' Franklin and South Manchester, but they are rarer and more often are large rambling expanses of space. Not that there aren't many fine ones here, it's just that is so easy to be expansive vs. expressive. Most of us delight in quality presentations and even the non modeling public appreciate the effort. Using a sport analogy, I'd rather see Liverpool loose to Nottingham in a great game (well not really loose...) than to beat Man City in a bad one. Keep bring us this great stuff please and good luck with the future of this layout. Small point but I believe Kadee makes magnets for code 83 at .083" not 75.

Ahh witch craft with magnets. Top notch thanks for sharing that beautiful work of art.

Hi Charlie, a lovely little layout. A basic timetable would be good and improve the operability. Say 4 passenger workings and two freights (one to the coal yard and one to the warehouses on the left) Given the lack of a run round loop freights have to be pushed in one direction. I would suggest a simple dice based selection method for the freights this will randomise the stock used for the freights - using the same formations over and over becomes boring for the operator particularly over a multi-day exhibition. You can run 7 wagon freights - 6 loads plus a brake van for the guard/shunter to ride in. It just makes shunting a bit more complex especially for the warehouse end. Regarding the period. You are good up to about 1963 after which small yards like this tended to be closed. This allows class O3 and 08 shunters and other small early diesels in green or black along with your bubblecar in green. Hymeks were still regarded as mainline locos back then. Regarding prototypical operation. I think reversing the passenger would be unlikely. If you are prepared to make some small changes the the halt could be moved to the headshunt and the existing halt become a loading bank. Such a small yard would only have one train on it at once. It would be quite acceptable to propel the freights in one direction - assume the junction is only a mile or two down the line. Stock needed would be about 10 coal and coke wagons of various types -16ton steel 5 and 7 plank opens wagons for the coal yard and another 10 assorted wagons for the warehouse mostly vans with a couple of conflats and maybe a sheeted open or two for the warehouse plus two guards vans. Two shunting locos and the bubblecar. Plus spares for exhibition work where the rule is if anything can go wrong it probably will. One problem I have yet to solve is how do you unload coal wagons on site? The great hand from the sky and removable loads between sessions seems to be the only option as I personally struggle with the sight of full wagons replacing other full wagons. Would love to hear your thoughts on this. I like the idea of acknowledging the builder on a plaque.

Looking at this layout has given me some inspiration. I need to get down to my cellar layout, 'Ainthorpe Junction' and sort things out when the weather improves - i.e., gets warmer - so I can make some improvements on the working environment. Build up the backscene in a layered way similar to yours, I've had the materials for some time (but hospitals had other ideas). The insight is adventurous in concept!

It's Friday but the wrong Friday. Yay Nay Boooo. I come back next Friday. Yay!!!

For me Charlie, I would say you made a great advert for passing the layout on, the green diesels suit the layout well! I would also like to comment would it be too much of a distraction from the main layout Chadwick? plus there is the storage when not in use! When I was a member of the Colne Valley Railway in Essex, we were donated a railway by a family, the only trouble was, it was in a shed around 30'x20' which fortunately came with the railway... too make it public access the shed had to be lengthened. Also it took a while to reconnect every thing as it had the moved within a few days so it was Jig sawed up into sections!!

Hi Charlie lovely layout, have you done any work on it since your video it would make an excellant series of videos as many of us like myself do not have the space for a large layout. I am planing a layout of similar size

What a nice layout. I do hope you post a video of your experience operating the layout at the show. As for operating it looks very similar to an Inglnook style. Why not make up some cards with photos of the stock and then use them to make up random trains. Have fun operating the layout at the show, I do with mine. As for the front, why not put a piece of hardboard over it and paint that instead of filling in the holes?

Lovely layout, and useful updates and repairs. What happens to our layouts and stock once we are pushing up the daisies is an interesting question. The model railway magazines are full of adverts of companies who will take on an estate or buy all of a set of stock so there must be money in it. I know it then becomes easier for the widows / widowers, (and a number of clubs and friends help out in these circumstances) but I always wonder how many of the recently bereaved are not getting a reasonable return on items. If I had the time and capital, I would like to set up a not for profit organisation that would take on stock in these circumstances and have a modellers eBay type place where items could be re-distributed amongst enthusiasts for a reasonable sum. Any profits made could go to charities or Heritage, Railways or something. Of course, this practical response ignores the hours of love and care that have been poured into layouts. Perhaps a well recorded video of the layout could be provided to the bereaved as a thank you.

The slightly cartoonish Back drop is marvellously atmospheric :-) a touch Ivor the engine ;-)

Wow ! IMHO I would leave the dust . ie For a weathering look . How ever if you think ,it’s on the dusty side . I would most Certainly a trust your decision. I think this lay out, would truly be fun. I do see what you’re saying, about the all day standing . Scratching your head , about that rolling stock was there. I liked the loco you had on it . The switcher units, you have on it look right at home . The passenger unit, was some what out of place . Very new and unweathered .

Charlie, the details in that little layout are amazing. What attention to details. I am so pleased you have taken up the batten, so to speak, and am giving it a future, it would be a criminal offence if it ended up in a skip. I hope that your exhibition goes well, and perhaps someone will take it on, and "do the circuit" so to speak. I hope that you and your wife are now recovered from Covid, and well and truly on the mend. Cheers, and stay safe, Michael

Nice to see you the weekend Charlie at Wincanton, Thanks for visiting. If you get on ok with the layout and you still have it, do you want to bring it next year??? Lovely little layout and you also being a fairly local!! Thanks Steve

I nice exhibition layout and I'm sure you and club members will show it off well. Stayed on holiday for many years at west camel and heard about your club but always at wrong time of year to see an exhibition. I really enjoy your videos they give a lot of pointers and tips which helps both novice and professionals.

Great layout! Fantastic detail! Great trick with the magnets! Could one hide them under the tracks? Or are they to far away from the couplings then?

That is a stunning little layout Charlie, the only thing I wondered was I didn't see any signals, especially ground signals. With regard uncoupling magnets, wouldn't you put them under the track ?

Superb, just lovely. I would most certainly invest in this beauty if I lived your side of the pond. It is very pleasing to the eye. Your buddy was a very clever bloke.

Very nice little railway , I like your class 14 as spent many a happy hour as loco crew at my heritage railway with one of these and we used it for regular passanger trains and also engineering /trip working and must say there lovely locos , would love to meet any one that drove them back in there hey days on British rail.

Wow, that's pretty elaborate. Museum Quality. Belongs in a Museum.

Great video thanks but you still look very unwell. I went through COVID when you had it and people say I still look unwell

Lovley little layout which people would be happy to see at an exhibition with the inclusion of a couple of steam loco's, fitted with the programable Kadee uncoupling system!

Charlie, how do you you manage to clean/keep the Helix track work surface clean ? and do you get any dust problems in there ? Mike

As you know I am a Chadwick Addict. My wife has now banned you from the bedroom. I lost the tablet and she found it on Friday evening vibrate her feet when she went bed early with a headache. No change there then.

Hi Charlie, That point motor looks like an old ZTC one. Now Taunton Controls. Graham at that club would be able to confirm,

Fantastic and informative video on a preowned train. Enjoy your bank holiday weekend.

This is great. Honestly I feel sleepy watching this. Fabulous layout.

is the uncouple shuffel standard on esu chips, or does it require programming of the chip. I do not have this facilty!

A pure labour of love I hope the guy (R.I.P.) had a long time to enjoy it, I know I will.

Hi Charlie A super layout and as others have said buy it and enjoy exhibiting it, as seasoned exhibitor with both club layouts and my own once do one exhibition you will want to do another. I will be at Warley in a few weeks time with Camel Quay (a bit smaller than Whiteacres you looked at Milton Keynes) so come and say hello . I’m sure also, should you take the plunge a invite for Stafford Show could be arranged. Terry

Lovely layout, but I have to say it looks ideal for steam ... (Ah! you said it).

Nice video of a great little scene. So are you saying you are not sure if you are an "exhibitionist"?? 😂

What a fabulous layout. As you say I can only dream of creating such a beautiful model railway. I am sure that your viewers will appreciate seeing it and also appreciate you taking the time to honour the gentleman who created it. Perhaps his widow would like to know how much pleasure and inspiration seeing this railway has provided. Thanks again 🚂

If it belongs to the club then it would be an ideal way to show-case the club itself on the exhibition circuit. Just an idea.

I am very interested in the coreless motor uncoupling. Is there any information on the coreless motor itself?

You can't beat a shunting layout, I'm currently building one 🙂. Really enjoyed that one Charlie and I reckon your locomotives and rollingstock will look just fine at the exhibition irrespective of era. Familiarity with your own equipment will also be a bonus.

Hello Charlie, couple of Kadee tips, mark the centre of the magnets with a figure, or a white mark on the backside of the rail ( non-viewing side), there are also under track magnets. install at build time, and electro-magnets, both are hidden from view, and need the markers as above. Hide the backscene joint with a tall chimney, many options out there... and i'd also be tempted to add a four foot board in the middle, and extend that head shunt into a tunnel and onto a three foot fiddle yard.

What an absolutely fantastic layout, "beautiful" I really can see myself going down that rabbit hole, At that depth it'll not eat into dining room space enough to upset.... well... anyone really...

Hi Charlie I am going down the block detection route, and need a bit of help where to do my blocks i've noticed you have Anyrail 6 same as me if I send my plan over when iv.e sorted it out and put my blocks in would you have a look at it for me PLEASE and tell me if it will work or are the blocks in the wrong place for it to work thanks Regards Mick

nice little layout what about automation with the traincontroller like you have like we both have derek

Stunning layout, thanks for sharing!

I think that point controller might be one of Heathcote Electronics.

Very nice Charlie and thanks for showing us.

Nice video Charlie. I have to say what a beautiful exhibition layout layout. it will be great to see it at another exhibition in the future. - Nicholas.

Hi Charlie, First let me congratulate you on winning the Hornby RU-vid award, it was well deserved. I was watching again one of your videos on laying track and point work. I am about to build my first layout, it’s going to be a DCC. I’m using 00 Hornby set track and flexi track only because I have it in boxes for years, unused. I also want to use up my Hornby insulated points ( R 8072 & R 8073 ). Am I wise using these points at the start of a layout build and I will need additional points. Will I stick with these points ?. Most of my locos are long and heavy like the Deltic, Eurostar etc. I’m using seep point motors with switch for feedback. Do I need to remove the spring from the points?. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this. Keep up the great videos. Many thanks, Alan.

Charlie, I must say there are a great number of us who would love a layout like this if we only had the space! Still I am glad it is with a custodian such as youself, your friend will live on through his work as long as persons like you can care for it and pass it on.

Sad to see a guy down the road model railway smash up in a skip. House left to the kids and they done a complete clear out. More scenery than track but still not nice to see. I told my wife if that happens to my mountains I come back and haunt her and transmit spirit beams at her doll collection or something like that

Buy it. You and the wife might have fun at exhibitions.

Well done young Charlie Boy in bringing to life and running a little session in the memory of this layouts builder 🙂😎

Thank you for another awesome video Charlie

His family will be so pleased what you are doing with the layout. Thanks Charlie.

Hi Charlie hope you and your wife are fit after your Covid , just wondered if you will be going to Warley Exhibition at N.E.C this weekend .

What a WONDERFUL layout ...... so very nice.... and so "picturesque"

Hi Charlie, I have fallen for Dave's amazing layout, as you seem to have, too! So many skills used, which can only be a labour of love. If you do decide to sell Dave's work of art, God bless him, I would be delighted to have an opportunity to make an offer, with a contribution to a charity of his family's choice. I hope that isn't insensitive, I just love the thought of connecting it to my mainline as a superb addition. I understand all the comments saying others should see it in exhibitions, so perhaps that would be better. Best wishes, Michael

I have now heard of a preserved model railway! This layout successfully carries off the kind of dingy scene that is to be found along many railway lines. The rear view of the houses like this is commonly seen. I think you could easily extend the layout with an oval going around the back, which might be easier for you to operate. Thanks for uploading.

That is a splendid layout with some serious craftsmanship. So, it deserves some life in the show circuit. At least for my 2¢. Now, maybe that's best served by being property of a Club, so that the Cub can be represented at more shows. That argues for more automation, so that the Club Representative can be glad-handing folk, while the layout "runs itself." Or, not; t'pence does not go as far as it once did.

Looks lovely Charlie, is there anything on it that you're inspired to put on the home layout too? I wonder if a tall chimney in a key location might help disguise the join in the backscene?

Hi Charlie What an absolutely Beautiful Layout such attention to detail a very fitting tribute. I do hope you can Display it at the West Camel Show next Month ,We are hoping to come down to see the show on the 30th of next Month.Hope fully we can buy you a Brew and Bacon Banjo if your going to be Running this Layout there. Hopefully it will remain on the show circuit. Keep up the Great Videos.

My hat comes off to Dave's skills, and for your kindness in taking his beautiful layout on. I hope you turn out to be "an exhibition sort of guy." You could of course set it up as a shunting puzzle, with playing cards for the different wagons. That might make you day more varied. Have fun with it Charlie.

A great little layout for exhibitions!

This is a very intriguing tiny layout. I really like the mood it gives. Your friend put a lot of effort and love into this layout. It shows his dedication. If you want to sell it maybe you can sell it and give (parts of) the money to a charity of some sorts :) I'm also in the first building stage of an even tinier (is this even a word?) layout but still in the very first stage. And it has it's topic also just in shunting, shuffling waggons around. Maybe, if my wife and I move a couple of years in the future I might have more space to extend it. This layout is an amazing inspiration about what can be done even on a smaller scale.

Very nive layout and great video. You could open up the back of the fiddle yard so that you could replace engines and rolling stock, as per your timetable. A hinged door would maintain Dave's great work.

¡Hola buenas tardes Charlie! Brilliant - In your 20 minute video, you have shown so many people what the hobby is all about. You don't need miles of track, fleets of all singing and dancing rolling stock or, every piece of equipment making a confusing, so called, authentic working noise. I don't, for one minute, suggest all layouts have to be the same, some are marvellously put together and prove almost total authenticity can be achieved. But, for the majority of people, they simply want to relax and play trains. I really hope you can make a really good go at the exhibition circuit, as I am sure you will be able to offer first hand advice to those who maybe just taking their first steps into railway modelling. Thanks again Charlie. Stay safe and well. Un saludo. Gary

A really nice layout for sure. It definitely needs to be seen on the exhibition circuit. Hopefully you enjoy exhibiting it and as its not your era would it take much to bring it into the late 70s? Change of people and vehicles, maybe? If exhibiting does not float your boat, maybe you could auction it to your followers to try and raise money for Dave's family?

It brilliantly has the look of a rundown industrial town in the 70’s. Socially shabby and tired buildings screaming for the developers wrecking ball: it really is a layout of exceptional quality and kudos to the late gentleman who created it.

I was about to ask whether the head shunt would take a 2 car unit, but your comment about the period is correct it does look 40s/50s. I could loan you a Jinty for the shunting and a couple of non-corridor coaches even a couple of wooden wagons (poorly weathered) which have NEM sockets so you could fit Kaydee couplings. These would be the correct period.

Amazing little layout there. Dave did a beautiful job with it (very sad such a talented guy went and passed) and I'd buy it in a heartbeat...if I wasn't American modeling American stuff in HO scale. I've always loved British railroading but can't really see myself having the space for both British and American layouts, especially now with me only having a little 4x8ft layout to begin with and American stuff is so much more cumbersome then British. Multiple people have told me to build a switching/shunting layout just like Dave's but I have mainline locos which don't really allow me to. Great video once again Charlie and the video you edited for McKinley was fantastic as well. I was pretty amazed that there are solenoid motors that small.

Thanks for sharing Charlie. Stream on that layout . I would go with the to tank locomotive, tender locomotive will be to big . I see these tender locomotive on layouts at show and they don't look right for a small space. The guy has built a wonderful layout and it good his wife is moving the layout on . My late friend Charlie had a layout in the loft and it fill the loft . He lived on his own so when he pass away 7years ago the council went in the layout went to the tip and the rolling stock went to auction. I had to view the items in the auction room because I give Charlie two of my loco to fix and he took too long fix them and he took ill and and passed away. I noticed in the auction room many of is locomotive was missing and the ztc 507 controller wasn't there . I would say these have taken by the person that was cleared the house out. I never got my locomotive back or money from his relatives to replace my locos . I have replaced them myself few years ago but not run them yet. Cheers

Charming... always wonder what happens to layouts when those who spend years putting their heart and soul in to their creations are eventually called by the station tannoy... "the next train departing to..." Wonderful work Charlie.

Hi Charlie I think the point motor may be a ZTC 302? I used these but changed to slow motion however I still have a couple in use. I will try and sort you out an instruction booklet. I think you press the button and get a flashing light and the next command you send say switch point 23 right would change this one to point 23! All works simply and has never failed on my layout. I am not sure why they stopped making them. I still have a box full of mk1 and mk2

That is a nice little layout Charlie lots of fine details, he must have put some hours in to get it like that. Thanks for the details about un coupling, no use to me on N-gauge but still interesting. I have bought some B&b couplings after watching James street at the Wigan show recently, you do not need the shuffle with them. Thanks again. Chris

When creative 'art' and model Railway 'purpose' blend perfectly. It is very rare to see layouts that depicts both of these qualities together as this one does in such a realistic way ! A jewel to cherish. Happy model railroading Sir.

Oh wow that's fantasic! We've had a layout donated at our club (and I feel there's ballasting in my future) so to acquire a layout is something I'm familiar with. We're fettling ours up at the moment. I'm about to start building something, maybe not to that standard but certainly presentable but I'll be putting it on castors with the curtains on the frame so you'd just wheel it into a hall, plug it in and go. As to Kadees I have a fair few of those and you can use cupboard magnets and take the innards out, they'll fit under the track in a recess as long as you know where they are hehe

What a cracking layout. Kind of an extended inglenook for want of a better phrase. I have no problem with hand of god operation/uncoupling but, clearly, those magnets work a treat. I know you're a stickler for having the correct rolling stock, etc, but until you mentioned it towards the end of the video, I can't say I thought the locos and rolling stock you were using were out of place. Regarding the back scene join, could I suggest a correct height factory chimney of similar artistic appearance to the rest of the back scene mounted on some thin card?

Hi Charlie (me again!) I have some Zimo sound fitted steam loco's that may be suitable but is GWR and Southern ok? I could pop some over for you to test if you wish. Downside is they are all still tension lock.

What a beautiful layout, it certainly shows the passion of the builder. I love the housing, shops and back scene. The painted back scene fits beautifully with the overall look much better than a ‘photo one would. The track layout has little play value for me because I am a “goes round and round” sort of guy but incorporating a layout like this one into my system would be fantastic!

Thanks for sharing this, Charlie! This layout type is right up my alley. My own layout uses Peco Code 75 track and runs with small diesel locos. And I'm quite familiar with the Kadee height gauge and those specialized pliers. That was a great demonstration of the "delayed action" feature of Kadee couplers, although it can be rather fiddly to get it working consistently. I can see why you would want to use those uncouplers on an exhibition layout, but for me I enjoy being involved in operations as the HOG with a bamboo skewer. Cheers from Wisconsin!