A chance to purchase a collection of Japanese N Gauge stock as well as a layout which was permanently located in a garden shed gave the incentive and inspiration to build a small exhibition layout using as much of the donor parts as possible. This recycling exercise uses White Rose baseboards salvaged from a retired layout, mostly re-used Kato Unitrack, catenary and all but four of the buildings. It is easier to tell the observer what is new which is really a small section of the mainline using PECO Code 80 track and many of the upper-level Kato points.
Similarly the rolling stock is from the previous layout but has been added to as items become available. The trains are models manufactured by Kato or Tomix. The layout is freelance in that it is designed to portray a typical Japanese suburban scene and will feature a mixture of rolling stock from various areas in Japan. The essence of a busy passenger service is featured on the low-level lines and demonstrates typical fixed formations. On the upper line, there is a slightly more sedate pace as freight can also be found sharing the schedule with smaller passenger units.
In building this layout, we hope to have demonstrated what can be done with proprietary Kato “set track” in a small area and hope to present something a bit different here today.
Finally, the layout’s name is “Nanjai eki” which is translated into English as “What is it?”. This is the name of an actual station in Japan. How many modellers when viewing empty baseboards or while scribbling track plans have asked the same question of themselves?
Gallery
Awards
- Greenock Cup for Best In Show as voted for by the public - Greenock Model Railway Club exhibition - 2025.
- The Robbie Wright Trophy for Best Operation Layout - Inverness Model Railway Club exhibition - 2024.
- The David Lind Trophy for Best N Gauge Layout - Falkirk Model Railway Club exhibition - 2023.
Information for exhibition organisers
- Layout Size (baseboards): 8 feet x 6 feet (2.5 m x 1.9 m)
- Layout Size (including barriers and operator space): 10 feet x 10 feet (3 m x 3m)
- Layout viewing: From front and if required front and one or two sides.
- Power supply: 1 socket, 2 Amp max. current
- Operators: 2