R J R

Models

Welcome to the home of RJR Branch Lines, a collection of small layouts housed in the garden and shed. Like many people I had trains as a youngster and thought I had grown out of them during my teens. Seems though that model making gets under your skin and sooner or later the desire to create comes back!!

I don't intend to document all my model making exploits here on this website, but you will find a collection of what is current at the bottom of the garden and some of my favorite creations. 

When I first acquired my shed to house the railway, although it was only 8' x 6' I built a quite complex 3 level tail chasing layout. Quite a fast modeler it didnt take long to get to a point that I was running out of room to explore new ideas. 

I got involved with the Cheshire Railway Modellers  in particular a competition to build a modular OO layout that had to be under 36" long. The novel idea was that unlike many modular layouts, when together they were still micro layouts in their own right, there is / was no scenic continuity. To connect them a short 4" section of track with fish plates is used between each module, so no difficult alignment is required.

When together the modules give a very unusual exhibition layout, standing a watching the trains run through each one, most people are surprised when they realize they are connected together. But just like a real train, you see it pass in small sections of life, between two bridges, under a tunnel ... Its more a case of choosing a vantage point a being a spotter, then moving on to view a different part of the journey. 

When you only have a 8' x 6' shed, connecting several 3' modules together in a line is not the best plan.. So the old tail chaser layout was dismantled and the new plan ... A fixed 180 degree, non scale specific, viaduct with flat benches on either side of the shed. These benches can either be used for working on or for supporting any modules. When not in use the modules are stored under the benches.

Seen below with a module on the left bench and the right bench open. 

The shed currently houses 

Mossley Terrace       OO modular layout

Orange growers       On30 Modular layout 

On Shed                On30 Modular layout

The Viaduct            Fixed portion dual scale viaduct

Rolling stock for the 45mm Garden railway 

Future plans .... A 45mm indoor module