Welcome to my site, here I describe the trials and tribulations of researching, building and operating a 4mm scale narrow gauge model railway exhibition layout.
The basis for the layout is a proposed line on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, which I found the plans for in the National Archives at Kew.
The layout is a model of the southernmost terminus, Isle Ornsay. From here the line would have covered a distance of 72 miles through Broadford, Portree and then on to Uig, with a branch from Portree to Dunvegan.
The layout is on the exhibition circuit now, to find out where it’s headed next, or to see how you could book it to attend your exhibition please see my exhibition diary. You can read progress on the construction of the layout on my blog, as well as railways and exhibitions I’ve visited.
The other aspect of this site is to collate information on all Scottish narrow gauge railways, be they proposed or constructed. If you have any information that would be useful, please get in touch.
A great layout – I’m very interested in the performance of your locos. I’m trying to decide whether to build my next Welsh layout in 4mm (doubts about slow running etc) or 7mm (lack of space); your layout is making me think 4mm is possible. The Portescap like performance of your locos – would you put that down to DCC? I’d be very grateful for your opinions.
Thanks Robert. Yes, I do think DCC helps, but the chassis I’ve used so far are mainly from ready to run Austrian narrow gauge prototypes made by Bemo or Roco. They run well out of the box which is a big help. Chipping them makes the slow running much more reliable than it already is.
If you’re worried about the space for 7mm then I’d go for 4mm, there are chassis out there which allow good running. It just takes a bit of cleaning and TLC to retain it.
Hi Tom,
We’ve just had a superb holiday on Skye – I spent my evenings working on my 1931 SR weedkilling train, looking out across the Kyles of Raasay, wondering what the projected railways for Skye would have been like. I think your layout gives a good idea of what might have been. Have you posted any system maps or track layouts anywhere?
best wishes
Richard
Hi Richard, thanks for the comment. I’ve posted a series of write ups of the route which include photos, maps, google streetview screenshots, and what I think would have ended up being built at each stage. The first instalment is here, with links to each following article: http://hlrco.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/hlr-route-part-1-isle-ornsay-to-broadford/
I have only the branch from Portree to Dunvegan left to describe, which I hope to do in the next few months.
I’m hoping to make another trip to Skye to take plenty of photos all along the route later this year.
Best wishes,
Tom.
We have a HO9 layout in the loft with a main line 37ft long (also branches). It travels from Cornwall to Germany via Buckinghamshire and Auvergne, but it has not done a lot since the proprietor married a railwayman. But you need have no fear that you cannot manage in HO9/009 scales. The scenery near the back of the layout is in N scale or smaller (try managing an Iron Age hillfort in anything larger) and that at the front is HO (some 00). People say ‘What is the gauge?’ and we say ‘Maybe metre at the back and maybe 600mm at the front….’
Peter Jarvis (009 member no.621)
Peter Jarvis- what an incredible layout – any pics on the Net ? Also really inpressed with Skye HLRC at B&B exhibition – great layout !
Hi Peter, thank you. Yes, there are some on here but not in a very organised manner yet. I’m hoping to take a few to update the website with soon.
For now there are lots of it in various stages of construction on my flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/sets/72157623258050553/
Mick Thornton also has some on his page for Narrow Gauge South 2011.