The Living Model Railway.

Mountain Goat · 17-11-2016, 10:59 PM

While I do not know if the book is still in print or not (Mine is a second edition from 2002 so is nearly new), I find this book fascinating.
I think I bought this book with others secondhand and had put it aside. It was a book I'd glanced over and not really read. When I wanted to downsize my book collection it was one of the books I was going to take t the recycling book charity but I thought I'd better read the books again before I would send them. I can't have read this one much as wow! What a book!
I probably didn't read it as I was a 00 gauge modeller and this was a book about an 0 gauge railway. While I don't want to give too much away about this book for those who may want to read it, I will say this book had really inspired me! The railway was designed for operation and built over many years. Also the writer goes into a few other model railways of interest to further the concept.
The model railway, though not super detailed or super scenic, has a far more realistic "Railway feel" to it.
I'm sure most who go past the first few pages and pictures, and actually read it will find it a riviting and worthwhile read even if ones scale and gauge may not be the same.

BobDM · 27-12-2017, 08:31 PM

I agree. I picked up this book in our local library and found loads of valuable info in it. There is a particularly good chapter on how to model a station correctly including the correct siting of traps etc.
One of the nice things is how important his dad was, not only as keen railway modeller, but also as an inspiration in life. Makes you wish you could have met him.

tersono · 28-12-2017, 02:27 PM

yep - i have a copy too. One of the good ones

Byegad · 29-12-2017, 10:27 AM

On three recommendations I've just ordered a copy. Thanks to you all for the heads-up.

Mountain Goat · 29-12-2017, 09:12 PM

Is a type of book that at first, as it is mostly 0 gauge coarse scale most modellers may look twice, but when one starts to read it, it becomes addictive and one wants to copy some of the ideas in ones own chosen scale and gauge. I think that once you start to read it you will like it, and even if you dont implement some of the ideas for yourself, you will find that you will get a lot from it.

Michael P · 18-01-2018, 09:20 AM

Thanks MG. Mine is winging its way to me as I type. Will save it as reading material for my hols. The wife will hide it away for me (then promptly forget where she put it). Two days before hols will have to turn the house upside down. Maybe I should just read it when it arrives.

mijj · 18-01-2018, 11:27 AM

Thanks everyone, I found a '94 copy for a penny + p&p online. I'm sure it will do me, in fact anything railway will help this non-railway person to get some background

.
Jim.

Jeff Mennell · 23-01-2018, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the info, you made me curious to look at this book so I have now reserved it at my local library!

Mountain Goat · 11-02-2018, 12:53 AM

How do you find it? I had mine for ages (As I bought it secondhand with a few other books) before I got down to reading it. Was a book I was about to put in the "Give away" pile when I realised I'd not actually read it. When I started to read it I couldn't put it down! Even though I dont have 0 gauge, and most of the book covers 0 gauge coarse scale modelling as back then, it was what they had.
It is hard to read this book without it having some form of influence in ones model railway design in some form or another.

17-11-2016, 10:59 PM	#1
Mountain Goat Unique Member. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: UK. Posts: 2,033	The Living Model Railway. While I do not know if the book is still in print or not (Mine is a second edition from 2002 so is nearly new), I find this book fascinating. I think I bought this book with others secondhand and had put it aside. It was a book I'd glanced over and not really read. When I wanted to downsize my book collection it was one of the books I was going to take t the recycling book charity but I thought I'd better read the books again before I would send them. I can't have read this one much as wow! What a book! I probably didn't read it as I was a 00 gauge modeller and this was a book about an 0 gauge railway. While I don't want to give too much away about this book for those who may want to read it, I will say this book had really inspired me! The railway was designed for operation and built over many years. Also the writer goes into a few other model railways of interest to further the concept. The model railway, though not super detailed or super scenic, has a far more realistic "Railway feel" to it. I'm sure most who go past the first few pages and pictures, and actually read it will find it a riviting and worthwhile read even if ones scale and gauge may not be the same.

28-12-2017, 02:27 PM	#3
tersono Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Darkest Surrey Posts: 253	yep - i have a copy too. One of the good ones __________________ Gary There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. I run trains along that line whenever possible

11-02-2018, 12:53 AM	#9
Mountain Goat Unique Member. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: UK. Posts: 2,033	How do you find it? I had mine for ages (As I bought it secondhand with a few other books) before I got down to reading it. Was a book I was about to put in the "Give away" pile when I realised I'd not actually read it. When I started to read it I couldn't put it down! Even though I dont have 0 gauge, and most of the book covers 0 gauge coarse scale modelling as back then, it was what they had. It is hard to read this book without it having some form of influence in ones model railway design in some form or another. Last edited by Mountain Goat; 11-02-2018 at 12:55 AM.

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27-12-2017, 08:31 PM	#2
BobDM Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 2	I agree. I picked up this book in our local library and found loads of valuable info in it. There is a particularly good chapter on how to model a station correctly including the correct siting of traps etc. One of the nice things is how important his dad was, not only as keen railway modeller, but also as an inspiration in life. Makes you wish you could have met him.

29-12-2017, 10:27 AM	#4
Byegad Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Near the birthplace of railways. Posts: 28	On three recommendations I've just ordered a copy. Thanks to you all for the heads-up.

29-12-2017, 09:12 PM	#5
Mountain Goat Unique Member. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: UK. Posts: 2,033	Is a type of book that at first, as it is mostly 0 gauge coarse scale most modellers may look twice, but when one starts to read it, it becomes addictive and one wants to copy some of the ideas in ones own chosen scale and gauge. I think that once you start to read it you will like it, and even if you dont implement some of the ideas for yourself, you will find that you will get a lot from it.

18-01-2018, 09:20 AM	#6
Michael P Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 199	Thanks MG. Mine is winging its way to me as I type. Will save it as reading material for my hols. The wife will hide it away for me (then promptly forget where she put it). Two days before hols will have to turn the house upside down. Maybe I should just read it when it arrives.

18-01-2018, 11:27 AM	#7
mijj Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: East Sussex Posts: 504	Thanks everyone, I found a '94 copy for a penny + p&p online. I'm sure it will do me, in fact anything railway will help this non-railway person to get some background . Jim.

23-01-2018, 06:02 PM	#8
Jeff Mennell Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire Posts: 4	Thanks for the info, you made me curious to look at this book so I have now reserved it at my local library!

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