Tips for a new LNER modeller?

[amphigory]

First, a bit of background. I've been doing garden railroading in G scale for a number of years (and "trains" in general since I was a small child.) But, with a possible relocation upcoming, I'm tired of ripping things up and starting over, and I've decided to switch scales to N, and also decided to switch from modeling a mythical narrow gauge pseudo-German line to modeling an actual railroad. And, to make a long story short, I decided to go with the LNER, even though I'm an American who's never even been to England. I guess I just find American railroads boring.

Here are the parameters of the layout I'm planning:

• N Scale
• Will be doing a modular layout, loosely based on T-Trak (but not religiously sticking to the specs where they don't make sense for me.) However, I don't really have any intention of taking my modules "out" to conventions or anything... this is just so that I have a layout I can easily move. (Good intro to t-trak is available http://t-trak.cincy.home.insightbb.com/).
• Will be modeling the LNER, sometime in the late 1930's. I'm only interested in steam, no diesel or electric.
• I want to model both passenger and freight aspects of the line, but I like passenger trains better.
• I really like dramatic scenery.
• For my kids, I will be incorporating various aspects of the Harry Potter books. Eventually, I plan to include King's Cross, the Glenfinang viaduct (I know it's not prototypical, but wow is it cool!), Hogsmeade Station as depicted in the movies (again, not prototypical), Hogsmeade, and of course Hogwarts. The nice thing about having it modular is that I can pull out the non-prototypical modules when/if.

My initial plans was to start by modeling King's Cross. But let's just say I decided that was a bit ambitious. I'm kind of starting from zero here, and am having a hard time finding information on this railroad, so I'm hoping some on the forum will offer me some advice.

So, without further ado, could anyone offer suggestions on best first choices for:

• A good book to help me not need to ask stupid questions about LNER in the future?
• Best source to buy rolling stock from North America?
• A couple of good starter locomotives?
• Some good starter coaches? Wagons?
• A good rural station or village to model for a first module? I'm thinking something very simple, with mixed passenger and freight service.
• A nice, small but interesting bridge or tunnel or something along those lines for a second module?

Thanks for any advice,

Patrick

[Atso]

Hi Patrick,

Good to see another N gauger potentially joining our ranks! I'll try to answers some of your questions, as best I can...

A good book to help me not need to ask stupid questions about LNER in the future?

For me a good quick reference book is the 'Modellers Guide to the LNER' by David Adair (ISBN 0-85059-831-1). It covers a lot of aspects of the LNER in general and some good modelling tips (for OO/OH but applicable to N gauge). Not sure if its in print but pops up on Ebay from time to time.

Best source to buy rolling stock from North America?

Not sure I can help here, however places like Hattons (www.ehattons.com) offer a mail ordering service.

A couple of good starter locomotives?/Some good starter coaches? Wagons?

The LNER in the 1930's hasn't been that well served by RTR manufactures - although the situation is improving. Currently available in LNER colours are a V2 (2-6-2), B17 (4-6-0), A4 (Mallard, etc) and an A3 (Flying Scotsman, etc).

All are nice models, although the A3 and A4 are older models without the same level of details as newer offerings. Also the A4 isn't strictly in 1930's condition as the side valances have not been modelled - although these can be fitted with some patience (see the modelling board). Also the A3 represents the class in its later conditions and needs some work to turn it into an A1 or early A3, again it is possible to do.

In additional Union Mills (a small Cottage/Garage business, no webpage yet) produces small batches of RTR locomotives. These will cover some of the smaller tender locomotives such as J11, J25, J38, J39, Q2, B12, D? I'm sure I've missed some and someone will correct me - the models aren't as detailed as modern Dapol and Farish offerings but are very nice and have excellent haulage capabilities!

There are no RTR tank locomotives of 1930's LNER prototypes currently available, although you might be able to find an old Farish 'Holden Tank' (roughly base on a J69) and the J94 is available (although not used by the LNER until the mid 1940's). However there are some good kits about but something for later perhaps?

Coaching front, Dapol have released four types of Gresley mainline stock but are only available in Teak in a box set with the B17 locomotive. However later liveries are available and, again, can be repainted to represent 1930's condition.

I believe that most goods stock available in N gauge is a bit generic but looks good in a long train - most LNER goods stock would have been simply lettered N.E. although other companies stock would have found its way onto the LNER lines.

A good rural station or village to model for a first module? I'm thinking something very simple, with mixed passenger and freight service.

Where to start - personally, I like the mainline and I am/will be modelling Hitchin in Hertfordshire, however I've always though that Louth looked like a good prototype. There is a series of books covering the old Great Northern Railway engine sheds (sorry can't remember the ISBN or exact title ) which provides a nice track plan (from historic maps) for most of the locations.

A nice, small but interesting bridge or tunnel or something along those lines for a second module?

I'm sorry but I'm not sure I can help here - although I'm sure someone else can!

I hope that the above is useful to you, however if you have any other questions then you can usually find someone to help on this forum!

[Bullhead]

[*] A good rural station or village to model for a first module? I'm thinking something very simple, with mixed passenger and freight service.

How about Goathland on the Whitby-Pickering line, now more famously the North Yorkshire Moors Railway? As well as being especially attractive, easy to source reference material for, and having goods and passenger facilities, it does of course double as Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films (as well as Aidensfield in "Heartbeat") so it will meet your other kid-pleasing objective at the same time. As an additional bonus you could run a vast mixture of stock without stretching credulity too far - the NYMR is home to a variety of preserved steam traction including an A4, and regularly sees quite impressive guest visitors: for instance, 70001 "Duke of Gloucester" was the principal attraction at the 2008 Autumn Steam Gala. So you could make up for the relative paucity of 2mm scale LNER stock by supplementing it with "preserved" machines.

[*] A nice, small but interesting bridge or tunnel or something along those lines for a second module?

At the risk of overdoing the NYMR connection, the bridge/tunnel at Grosmont is very atmospheric: trains cross the river on a substantial masonry structure and then immediately disappear into a double-track tunnel. Alongside the masonry bridge is a small suspension pedestrian bridge on the site of the original horse-worked line, and the footpath continues through the original Stephenson tunnel (not visible in the picture below) with its elaborate castellated entrance.

Grosmont Tunnel

[tonyp]

I was given the book "Track Layouts" (published Ian Allan Author Anthony New) for Christmas. The plan on page 58 is a version of Kings Cross, if this helps.

Tony Pattison

[wehf100]

Can't add much, other than of course 'welcome to N-gauge LNER modelling, and good luck!'

Both the N gauge Society and 2mm scale Society also produce simple plastic kits (membership of the societies needed to purchase them though) of LNER prototype goods stock. Besides Dapol's new Gresley coaches, you may be able to find the older minitrix coaches on ebay quite cheaply (you're gonna need a LOT to make up a full LNER express train!)

Older Graham farish models that are no longer available also include LNER era wagons. An ex-GNR fish van was one of the better ones in terms of detail, and you could justify running a whole train of them as an express goods 'going down to London' for instance.

A lot of Bachmann's superb private-owner wagons are also geographically suitable for an LNER region layout.

Fox transfers produce LNER decals in N gauge and have a very efficient mail order service.

If you're really into passenger trains one of the most notable things about the LNER in the 30's was a very high number of ANCIENT carriages still in use. NONE are available ready-2-run. BUT if your abilities/time/money runs to brass kits, Worsley Works (google it for website) and Bill Bedford (ditto) make 'scratch-aid' brass kits of about any coach you could ever need. The latter's can also be ordered as full kits. Etched pixels (also has a website) also make Gresley coach sides that can be made to fit the new Dapol coaches with a bit of effort. None of the above would be particularly easy work though!

N-Brass (also online) make a lot of LNER detailing accesories which are superb for making those older A3's and A4's look a LOT better. Langley models (online) make a couple of LNER loco bodies which glue together and sit on unmodified proprietry chassis.

Re buildings. The Gainsborough Model Railway Society (one of the oldest layouts in the country) has a superb O-gauge model of Kings Cross. OK- so yours would be much much smaller, but just look at the size of it! http://www.gainsmodelrailway.ik.com/ It certainly gives you a good idea of just what an undertaking modelling this station in any scale would be!

Oh, as a recent convert from G- which baffles me scale wise- just thought I'd mention that British N gauge is 1:148 not 1:160. There are also a few chaps who build to a finer standard at 1:152 scale, or sometimes called 2mm:1ft.

Anyway- don't be afraid to ask away- we are all in the same boat really. The big manufacturers simply do not cater for the LNER modeller very well at all.

best wishes

Will

[richard]

Lots of good suggestions have been posted so far.

For UK parts, International Hobbies in California are worth a try although I've only ordered 7mm stuff from them. There are some suppliers in Canada, and Neal's N Gauging can be found at the larger shows. He's based on the East Coast but carries quite a few UK lines.

I try to support many of the importers, but the main RTR items are often cheaper & quicker if purchased directly from people like Hattons in the UK.

For societies/clubs, I would recommend:

The N Gauge Society.
http://ngaugesociety.com/index.htm
This is the main N gauge/scale club in the UK and is mainly UK outline. The Society Shop is invaluable for those of us who are overseas because they stock lots of cottage industry items in one place.

British Railway Modellers of North America
http://home.ca.inter.net/~brmna/
Membership is low cost, newsletter is quite thin; but it will give you an idea of what is happening, importers, etc.


T-Track seems to be getting quite popular. Particularly for kids and scouts. If you are going to go that route, then meet the standards. Otherwise, there's no point in restricting yourself to such a small size or shape. You will probably find it very restrictive if you want to model a likeness of Glenfinnan Viaduct or Kings Cross - even with a lot of selective compression!
(btw, if you want dramatic scenery, then the Glenfinnan area of Scotland is a good place)

You might want to also consider N Track. The standard N Track module is 4ft x 2ft but other shapes are possible (the club I'm in also has 6ft, 3ft, 2ft, 1ft lengths; T/Y-junctions; and an 8x4ft loop.).
There's more freedom than T Track, but you still have track position standards to keep to. You might be better off avoiding these systems unless you're going to meet the full standard and you are going to join a club.


Richard

[amphigory]

Let me just say thanks for all the awesome feedback! It's going to take me a bit of time to digest, so this won't be my only response--just responding to the things that struck me on a first reading.

I'm really glad to hear that Goathland was on the LNER. I'm still finding the British rail system really confusing, and had concluded from Wikipedia that it wasn't LNER based on Wikipedia. so was thinking I'd put it (and Hogsmeade etc.) over on a branch line. As I was planning to model it anyway (for the kids), I guess I'll make that my first module.

As far as the leap from G to N and T-Trak... I've now ripped up my garden layout twice due to moves, and a third time is just one too many (it looks like I may have to move again in a year or so.) And, frankly, the cost of track in G scale can really wear you out after a while, especially with the price of metals nowadays. When every foot of track costs $10, and every wagon costs $50-100 minimum... let's just say my ambitions have grown a bit and my wallet hasn't.

The expected move is for much the same reasons. T-Trak modules--even double or triple modules (which T Trak actually allows for) are small enough that I can pack them up and put them in storage as necessary. I plan for most of my modules to be T Trak compliant. However, it actually takes surprisingly little to be T-Trak compliant if you squint. And my kids (aged 6-11) are all eager to build modules of their own. To me, it seems like a way to have my cake and eat it too: the kids get to build their modules non-prototypical, with ferris wheels or wand shops or dragons or whatever, and I get to build mine that are more "mature". We have a long tradition of "trains at Christmas", and I'm thinking instead of buying the LGB Christmas car every year, I can let each kid build a module every year.

So, thanks again all, and I'm just overwhelmed at the quantity and quality of the responses. Thanks!

[giner]

://t-trak.cincy.home.insightbb.com/).

[*] I really like dramatic scenery.
[*] A good rural station or village to model for a first module? I'm thinking something very simple, with mixed passenger and freight service.
[*] A nice, small but interesting bridge or tunnel or something along those lines for a second module?
[/list]

Thanks for any advice,

Patrick

With regard to the above points, plus a viaduct to boot, one of the most scenic spots on the ECML is the area around Welwyn North. I'd suggest taking a look at the area on Google Earth. I think you might like what you see.

[giner]

It was a bit late last night and I forgot about the BRMNA (British Railway Modellers of North America). Here's a link to their website, this should whet your appetite some. Happy modelling!

http://home.ca.inter.net/~brmna/