2:36 my gosh that GP15 sounds nice!

6:49 this quote, exactly! As we’ve discussed our vocabulary is saturated with data describing the model in quantitive terms but also establishing that the model is less than the real thing instead of this beautiful ball of energy that it is. We have these dreams of trains; holding these models is taking that dream one step closer. Not “closer” like “closer to a layout” but closer to that beautiful thing in our imagination, inside our hearts, closer. It’s so easy to listen to your story of this model. Sure it represents a real thing but your beautiful and open story of why you have this, why you collected it, why it’s with you still are what makes it real. Gosh, I love this.

great! love the tramway

Great video James and thought provoking too. For me KZfaq is a fascinating extension of the hobby of railway modelling because it enables us to research locations and railways we remember from past trips. And, of course, research models we might look to add to our collections!

I like this new camera angle.

As I've grown older I realise that doing what brings me joy is more important that sticking rigidly to one period/region/company. I've also come to recognise that I'm as interested in nostalgia for the hobby as I am for the prototype which is why a few classic locosthat 've had my eye on for decades have found their way into my hands recently - Airfix 14xx, Hornby Jinty '16440', Hornby and Wrenn 8F's. I know 'better' models exist but these ones are part of my personal rail history and I enjoy running them as much as the recent Hornby Ruston 88DS or Dapol Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0. There is enough room in this wonderful hobby for whatever we want to do. Some very personal thoughts and reflections there James - thanks for sharing.

Quite enjoyed this. Been lurking on your blog / website for a while now, and seeing how this works 'live' is tempting me to pull out my OO 'bits and pieces' and maybe try something similar - very inspiring

You know, sometimes the affection lingers long after we part company with a favourite, for whatever reason. As a child at the start of the 1950s I was the proud owner of a Hornby O gauge train set, featuring a lovely green LNER tank engine and three tinplate teak carriages. I loved the little loco and the satisfying clicks as I wound it up with the large shiny key. In those days the 'Bettaware' salesman called door to door to sell household goods and occasionally would give my mother a tiny sample tin of furniture polish. The polish passed to me and my loco shone! Sadly, we do grow older and one Christmas an OO gauge train set appeared and my father said the O gauge equipment had to go, being passed on to relatives with small children. I sometimes look for one on eBay, but no! It wouldn't be the same, would it?

I totally agree when i buy models i allready start thinking about what train it would be in in mind.The excitement of buying something and unpacking it is great 😉this week i purchased a GF class 150 and a dapol yeoman class 59 for the yeoman i allready have some yeoman stock can't wait to run it

I impressed an enthusiast friend not long after the Yeoman 59’s had been in service by copping the whole class in one photo, wait for it, at some distance across fields a part of the depot was visible so wedged my binoculars in the car window , held my trusty Zenith E to the binoculars, focused as best I could and took the shot! Now was that a print long gone or a slide shot which may still exist. Whacky times. Thanks for reminding me James.

These live sessions have been very interesting watching shunting. Gives me food for thought.

Was on holiday in Bournemouth as a 14 year old in 1986 & my dad took me to Westbury to see the 59's , saw three of them ,the ride up to Southampton on the 4REP , then the 33 & mk1's upto Westbury all making the trip memorable, then not long after my dad bought the MTK class 59 kit to build. Bournemouth back then was superb for railway modelling , every holiday we'd come back with various amounts of secondhand / kits & bits from the various shops. Took a fair bit of badgering to get Riko Int to get Lima to make the 59 in rtr, couldnt get to the shop quick enough in August 1994 when they came out. Been modelling the ARC/Yeoman stuff from the early 80's with the mainline class 56's & a converted Lima 47 as 47901. The Lima 59 still holds up as a great model, still have the 2 i bought from Beatties in Manchester in August 1994. Last purchases form Beatties before they closed.

I've got "a few too many" locos. The great thing is that I sometimes open a storage box and find a loco I haven't seen for a while. It gives me the joy of re-discovering it and usually spend 30 mins. checking it runs and oiling it etc.

I had the same feeling when picking up a book about preserved railways recently - said book had been written in the early 90s and the first photo I saw when opening it took me right back to childhood visits to the Isle of Wight steam railway. I think model railways is a broad church - there's room for everything from the most accurate of Finescale modelling right through to the pure collector, with most of us being somewhere in between - I've got plenty of stuff sat in boxes as there's not room for everything on the layout at once, and most of it still waits for detailing, weathering etc...

Not long after my dad passed away when I was 8 years old My mum bought me a train set as a Christmas present. And took me on holidays called Golden Rail in the BR blue days of the 70's. I have now returned to the hobby and alongside my layout models I also bought two old replacement models, Princess Victoria and a class 37. That were given to me. Now used as static momentous/ ornanents. On my fireplace. This connection with our models may explain why the purchases and era I have chosen. And why I get so much enjoyment operating the layout. Taking me back to happy times. Been really helpful recently getting me through a difficult time. Now modeling a fictitious part of Scotland, with plenty of class 37's and 47's !!!!!! Cheers.

Excellent 👍

Models give us a sense of joy and a wonderful escape from reality whatever we do with them. I watched this video whilst painting a Games Workshop model to try and distract from having Covid, and it's working.

Hi James watching this video reminds me so much of my early time in the hobby looking back a my own locos I have what is now a 44yro mainline manor BR(w) in black which was bought for me when I was 12 yro very lucky lad at the time ok it’s been weathered renamed and detailed but the smell when taken out the box brings back all those memories of club exhibitions we used to do happy days indeed .

Thank you for another thought-provoking video, James. Where my modelling and collecting seem to separate is that the former is associated with local/home region memories and operations, whereas I collect models as memories of trains I've seen in places I have traveled internationally. It would be nice to have actually bought the models in the countries I've visited as true souvenirs, but that's rarely practical. Nevertheless, I get quite a rush of reminescence when I unbox them or examine them on a shelf. It's a rather eclectic group, which is nice: Australian, British, Chilean, Czech, Mexican, Swiss. As a modular modeler -- with 1/10th of your talent -- it's easier to create diaoramas with some complementary structures, vehicles, catenary, etc. Oddly enough, I don't get the same feeling from my original models from 50 years ago. I've purged many of them or used them for practicing weathering or kitbashing. That said, I've held on to my very first locomotive and cars/wagons that I painted and was proud of. I can't quite let them go. Thanks again for the video.

Every model railway show I’ve ever been to has large supplies of portacases in which to carry your trains. The great thing about them is that you have your locomotives and rolling stock together in one case.

I keep all my train gear in portaboxes with locking lids so that I can take them to my model railway club to run on a different layout.

Hi James, great video as always. Your cupboard full of 80’s-90’s locos very much resembles mine and I totally get the energy and memories that come with these older models. Currently adding some A1 models detailing bits to a Mainline class 56 using an old Model Rail article from the early 90’s. Really good fun and very meaningful. Have a good weekend, best regards, Jeremy.

Nice and relaxing these videos

N gauge really has come on in leaps and bounds since I first dipped my toes in model railways in the late 80s

I enjoy these. This one seems to exemplify the comfort of your presentation and how inviting this feels. I can imagine being here and joining in on this and how present it feels. -Chris

Cool

Almost as relaxing as doing your own shunting, certainly works for me.

I can see nothing about this that doesn't work. Carry on please.

Well done in building it and narrating...the color choice on that green GP10 is sweet.

Wow, extremely nice shelf layout - thanks for sharing. I´m currently a little two turnout switching layout myself - albeit in N scale.

Are the wooden storage draws an Ikea product? been searching for something similar to yours but with no luck

Your industrial shunting operation was mesmerizing from start to finish because of your prototypical operating speeds and scenery (in progress). And I’m inspired by what you are creating in a 8 ft x 1 ft layout. Question: Are you using an under the table pushrod system to change the switch points?

Nice layout More videos of these please

Nice layouts More videos❤

Wonderful, as usual

Very theraputic. Following Lance Mindheim's book/advice, I try to imagine the Conductor; hopping on and off the engine or lead wagon, hitching up or disconnecting brake lines or walking to and then throwing the switch, etc. All helps to realistically extend the session, but the downside when watching other people's switching sessions (not yours obviously!), is sometimes finding their sessions a bit rushed (unless the Conductor is a former Olympic athlete!). BTW, over both videos, there were a couple of occasions where the loco sound drowned-out what you were saying.

Thanks for the new camera standpoint!! Totally enjoyed the operation:!

James, what are the dimensions of this layout? I am in the planning stages of my first layout, but I think I need to build a much smaller one first, e.g., a shadow box diorama of sorts, or just a tiny shelf < 6 ft / 1.83 m. Thank-you...

Nice operations! That locomotive is really cool. I’ve seen the stuff about the branch to the Hull-Oakes lumber mill on your blog, which is just so cool to see as a native and resident of Oregon. I also recently got the book “Backwoods Railroads” and am planning a switching layout based off that line, a freelance based on the premise that the rails were never pulled up and the entire line was bought by the county, which in turn contracted operations to my shortline.

Have the Modelzone, NCB liveried version of this loco (00 scale) - always interesting how deep and 'bassy' the exhaust bark is on these Panniers.

Am building a layout in PEI right now, that engine traveled to the ferry system in Borden.

Very relaxed and enjoyable shunting!

That wonderful sound takes me back to the 1970's when these locomotives regularly worked passenger and freight duties around the Scottish region. From my home in Dundee I didn't have to travel far to watch the 26's and 27's in action. The sight and sound of the Sulzer type 2's evokes many happy memories for me!

I’ve got a 46 inches by 9 and a quarter inch shelf that someone kindly disposed of in my block of flats’ utility room. Your layout has given me the inspiration to get started on a similar style of layout albeit with two platforms. It will probably be set in Yorkshire somewhere using modern rolling stock in N. You’ve got a great little layout there, well done.

Abother superb layout James

The zen of philosophical modeling. Well done.

You are a fantastic modeler, and I love what you've done with this little cameo layout. Question: Is the track that passes nearest the office at a lower level than the track that has the chemical dump grates, and pipes?

One word - superb!

Very nicely modelled. I always feel that it's a pity we can't easily add drivers to our diesel locos; for me it's the human element that really focusses and brings a railway scene to life. Kind regards to you 😊

That's lovely! Reminds me of my trip from Fort William to Mallaig, probably 1978, class 27, hanging out the window pretty much all the way, listening to the Sulzer echoing off the rocks.