Firstly, why Wherever?
 The idea, as that is all it is at the moment, is to have a layout that can stand in for several different regions. I want to use stock from previous layouts that I have built, so, Southern, Western, London Midland and North of Scotland. I also want to have a small MPD, maybe the Bachmann coal tower and ash plant are rather big for this, but I got them for a song in a sale a few years back, together with the four road engine shed. The plan is too have single track, with a small country station with passing loop and one or two sidings and then a halt on the single line at the far end of the scenic area. Buildings would be interchangeable, being built on modules that can be replaced as required for that days running. These would be the station building, signal box and shelter at the halt. A compromise would be made with signals, if I have them working. I have looked for locations that have similar scenery so as to make it look more plausible. The MPD would be a stand alone, though it will be connected.
Locations chosen are as follows,
Southern:
Withered Arm: Somewhere along the Bude line.
Mid Hants: Between Alresford and Winchester.

S & D: Between Shillingstone and Blandford.

Western:
Along the Taunton - Barnstaple line
Cambrian Coast, east of Machynlleth

LMR
Fictitious Builth Road - Leominster line

Scotland:
Two choices, both proposed, never built. Lairg to Laxford Bridge.
Or.
Ardmore to Lochinver.
These would be at the eastern end of the line, as it is a bit less 'Highland'.

The S & D and Cambrian lines would allow full length, ie, 8-10 coach trains, as would the Mid Hants, for diversions.
Space available would be approx. 20'x10'

Hi, the size of your Denver and Rio grande layout is 20x10, are you dismantling it to make your new layout?
Or are you just scaling it down. 
Look forward to seeing the new layout, that’s a fair old space you’ve got to work with. 

Gray said

Hi, the size of your Denver and Rio grande layout is 20x10, are you dismantling it to make your new layout?
Or are you just scaling it down. 
Look forward to seeing the new layout, that’s a fair old space you’ve got to work with. 

From “Post #291,638”, 28th February 2025, 8:39 am

After about 5 years, I get itchy feet and feel it's time to move on. The Rio Grande will be scaled back to a portable layout that can be worked on in the winter. At present it is out in a purpose built shed. Although insulated, it cost a fortune to heat it in the winter, so only do it if I intend to spend the whole day out there. Any new layout will have stock from previous layouts, I never seem to get round to selling it. These were set A: On the Salisbury to Exeter line in South Somerset. B: Seaside terminus, loosely based on Weymouth, joint Southern/Western. And C: Somerset & Dorset, set on the Mendip Hills.

Sounds interesting, what scale will this be.


Ed

Ed said

Sounds interesting, what scale will this be.


Ed

From “Post #291,641”, 28th February 2025, 9:17 am

00

👍🏻

Hi. Did you make any progress yet. 

Hi Gray,

Wherever triggered some memories. Some years ago when I was modeling in OO I became interested in lines that or locations would have more than one big four running, and that would swap stock or locomotives.

Banbury to Woodford Halse, LNER and GWR (the Ports-to-Ports Express, Swansea to Newcastle), carriage and locomotive swaps at Banbury.

Oxford. GWR, LMS, Southern. Lots of carriage and locomotive swaps especially during the summer. In the 1940s there was a big interchange yard for freight at Yarnton.

Reading. GWR and Southern (and undergound).

Bristol (a short stretch of joint track, GWR, LMS).

Elgin-Lossiemouth. Lossiemouth Railway (fish and passengers) and I think the GNR. Interchanged in Elgin. Coastal plain, fishing villages, wee hills until the Cairngorms).

Wales also had a fair number of narrow gauge-GWR junctions.

Nigel

Not forgetting the Somerset & Dorset with LMS and SR stock, GWR in later years and LNER trains during the war

The BCDR (later the GWR) and the MR railway shared track running into Cheltenham. The then BCDR had 2 branch lines, Banbury to Kingham, and Kingham to Cheltenham—interchange with the GWR at Kingham (Cathedrals Line).

Didn't realise you were so knowledgeable on UK railways Nigel - were you a wheeltapper in a previous life ? 

I did a lot of research when I was modeling OO. GWR focus, but I became hooked on joint lines/operations as an excuse to run some other roads. The number of railways in the UK today that share substantial stretches of rail makes it even easier. Next month it's Cross Country, LNER, and Scotrail on my semi-annual visit to the UK. I may even fit in GWR if I head for Paddington rather than the 'bus shuttle from Heathrow to Reading. Probably one more as I'm heading to Sheffield for a few days before heading for the highlands.

When they ran passenger trains (AMTRAK is it these days) here running over other railroad tracks was common. As was adding a "foreign" Pullman coach. Or using a "foreign" diesel. How they kept track of their finances without computers beats me. Rather like in the 1880s in the UK when you could board a private carriage in Penzance, and get off at your estate in Scotland.

Tell us where you're going on the LNER Nigel - up north on the East Coast Mainline - I note Sheffield might be in the offing…………

I suggest it might be quicker to walk than use Cross Country trains - it would certainly be cheaper.  I understand UK railways are  the most expensive in Europe  !!

Gray said

Hi. Did you make any progress yet. 

From “Post #291,708”, 6th March 2025, 11:09 am

In my head, yes. Also in the process of getting a few buildings together as I want to have everything ready for when I do make a start. I want to have a few more running sessions with the old layout before I start stripping it. It can be seen in my Colorado Narrow Gauge  thread.

👍🏻

A few photo's of progress. The yard/depot area is virtually complete. Now working on the scenic side. The yards are all Peco code 75, while the scenic side is Peco bullhead. Track laying here is complete, now working on scenery.

Great pictures, especially the coaling plant.

That does look good. The back scene blends in nicely.

Looks great, now some rusty rails to blend everything together