Layout Design: Paxton Road 3 - Considering previous success

[@SomeWelshBloke]

NIce idea. I'm just starting out in N and looking at a small layout to begin with. This reminds me of when I used to shunt the Fords and Gower Chemicals at Swansea tripping from the Burrows sidings. Got some slides of inside Fords somewhere . . .

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Would love to see them, as that is indeed the inspiration.

[@peterhutchinson5394]

Hi James, did you take this idea forward? I have searched on your blog but couldn’t find anything about Paxton Road 3. Regards.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

No, I came to the conclusion that Paxton Road 2 was already 'the ideal'. I did build Gerald Road instead - but sold that as a track laid baseboard as it felt too big - retaining the buildings to have a go at Gerald Road 2 one day... the current musings have been smaller but I do intend to re-visit the 'space' again for a coal project next year.

[@robwooding5046]

coming on well the new 3rd road could possibly give the opinion of running a through bubble unit or even a DMU

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Yes good thought, thanks Rob, though at home I’d prefer to keep this a run down freight only spur.

[@loco82]

Was thinking the same as Rob with a single car DMU and maybe keep the line completely separate behind the fence of the yard as the main line. The single car DMU could run back and forth using a shuttle unit. Just an idea and would save the point work. Enjoying the videos.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks Daniel. Falling back on design ‘ideas’ without having a strong vision in mind for your layout is definitely a pitfall I want to avoid, this isn’t a passenger layout, it’s a back water, a mundane example of wagon load freight holding on for life. 08s shuttling trip workings to and from the local yard, serving a few loyal customers determined to keep their traffic on rail…

[@dokl-und-soehne]

Very nice!

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you!

[@scalerailmodelling2846]

Really interesting, from the videos I have seen of yours, a good few seem to have the ‘entry’ from the left, is there a reason for that direction or is it personal preference? Reading your blog about your experience at Warley this year and the importance of presentation on layouts is making me think about how I will showcase my own

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

I’m pleased my preaching on presentation is pushing against an open door for you, good luck, I think if you’re clear on what story you’re telling that will help, so I’d start there… Left hand exit, I’m left handed perhaps?

[@scalerailmodelling2846]

@@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways great thanks, I will proceed with right side entry/exit and see if I am swayed, I am deciding between either a snapshot of a factory complex, where some wagons are dropped off and some carry on, or a quiet little corner of a complex that is a little bit more dilapidated, the track plan is a basic 3-2-2 inglenook so plenty of scope for sidings continuing off scene

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

That’s not a story, those are the mechanics. What story are you telling? If in doubt find a copy of my new book and have a read…

[@scalerailmodelling2846]

@@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways I was erring more towards small layout design handbook, since its small layouts I am building, I may end up with both but SLDH is the one on my list right now, I like larger layouts but I would rather do less but do it well, wheras you see many layouts even at exhibitions where no area is finished or refined/neat, quality vs quantity as they say

[@larsheydecke887]

Exelent 😊👍

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks Lars!