This short feature is not just about a toy train. It's an insight into Victorian approaches to mechanical engineering, civil engineering and signalling. A history lesson on an era which is barely touched by popular modelling.
A very talented railway modeller met him years ago at a show with my dad where he had some of his locos on display very friendly man a shame about his passing
Tour de force of scratchbuilding, of lineside as much as rolling stock, and evocative of Railway Mania. I imagine it as similar to computer revolution of the 80s and 90s. Lots of ideas flying about, not many of them stuck. Agree this layout has a unique historical value, should be at York. Been looking for this for a while, thanks for uploading!
How amazing this layout is, such an under-represented but magical era for the railways, I wish their were more layouts like this though I think without RTR support it’s unlikely to take off in a big way as fewer people today (particularly new entrants to the hobby) have the confidence to kit or scratch build, or the need being so well catered for by off-the-shelf locos. Perhaps newer tech like 3D printing may help. For my part, if I feel like there’s no enough 19th century steam, I ought to do something about it! Again thanks for sharing this amazing layout
I used to see Mike regularly at exhibitions "in the day" and he was always a mine of information to the young modeller. It's thanks to him I'm so interested in the Crampton locomoitve and his book on the subject was a marvel. Good to see this.
Such amazing modelling, virtually all hand made and lovingly detailed and liveried. I really hope this layout and all the rolling stock, locomotives, buildings and the like have all been kept somewhere safe and can still be presented - a true museum quality display to do it justice.
In the early 70s.Mike Sharman's work featured prominently in the model railway press but until now I've only seen black and white photos of it . It is also interesting to hear his voice. Thank you so much for posting this. I hope this layout has survived.
Such an awesome layout, i never actually tought what cornwall originally looked like when moving until i saw Sharman's model. the victorian period and pre-groupinng in general are far too ignored in the railway community.
Don't know how the comment about vacuum brakes ended up here, however, Cramptons were so popular abroad that to take the train, 'Prenez le Crampton' became the phrase.
What a talented modeler very nice layout. Commentary is excellent this chap sure knows his early pregrouping railways. I learned a lot watching this video. Pregrouping stuff just isn't available like it was when I was a kid. Books on the subject are rarely produced these days.
Plenty of out-of-print books come up in specialist model bookshops and online. If you work in this era you must commit to quite a lot of scratchbuilding although that is manageable if you select a very modest layout. Having said that, there are one or two specialists in the trade, e.g. Parliamentary Trains.
Hi to whoever. Fantastic layout. 😮 Can't help wondering how much better they would run if Keyser's motors were replaced with modern day ones. And just think what performance could be achieved if they were DCC. Paul. 👍👍👍
I saw Mike's layout at exhibition around 1972. Glad to see it still running. But with the sound of those K's motors surely a loco should be named 'Growler'?
Does anyone know what the current modelling scene is for this era? Can anyone identify any books that cover tyhis era of the railways, obviously difficult as a lot of it was pre photography?
Gee wiz Alex you pop up everywhere. Some say the layout went to the USA, others say it was sold off. The model of Cornwall in its original form was being auctioned on eBay last week, the only piece of stock I’ve ever seen for sale from the layout.
Gary Hodge 9 months ago It seems to have emigrated to America - www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114620-mike-sharmans-mixed-gauge-layout/page-2 - post 26
