Thanks, John. The bridge was built by the same firm, but when I've returned to England, I'm reminded just how much bigger it is!

Quote from: Graham on Today at 04:55:25 AMsometimes when I see a picture like this, I yearn for my trips to Sydney, then I kick myself and thank retirement that I don't have to be there almost every week.

Isn't retirement absolutely fabulous?

I know exactly what you mean, as I sometimes experience the same thing in the context of London. I used to go there a lot on business, almost always by train. Inevitably having to leave the house at stupid o'clock and not returning until late in the evening. But I enjoyed it.

However, I'm now six years older and have SuperSilly mobility problems so I tell myself that was then and this is now. And then go and play with my electric train set instead!

With all good wishes.

John

PS Splendid photograph - reminds me of Newcastle and Gateshead!

Quote from: Will_J on Today at 07:27:53 AMMy wife says the same thing, strangely! She says N seems more lifelike to her because there's often more scenery to give the moving models a "place to exist" if that makes sense. Of course this is all just personal subjective taste, but it's an interesting observation.

I'm in the lucky position of having a wife who likes to do my scenery for me. She also considers OO to be toy-like. The resurgence in TT came too late into our relationship (we've been together 17.5 years) for me to even think about buying it, space being a primary driver. She actively encouraged me to return to the hobby at 40, which I hadn't touched since my very early 20s. Even if we don't work on the layout every week, it doesn't matter, the time we do spend on it together is always worthwhile and good fun.

We're working on plans for a second layout currently which was going to be a twin-track dog-bone basic set-up to run my foreign stock, but she's now looking at European landscapes....

I think that there's a degree of silly expectation on eBay from some sellers about the value of things, and I also think people need to realise that if it ain't boxed, you can shave a fair amount off the price.

Quote from: Bealman on Today at 07:43:13 AMIt's basically true, though. N gauge allows for a 'railway in the landscape ' approach as exemplified by Pendon. This just looks more realistic. Larger scales appeal to folk who appreciate and concentrate on stock rather than scenery. While the stock looks more detailed and has 'mass', the scenery correspondenly looks more toy-like.

My opinion only.

Agreed, if you look at a layout like Pettleworth Downs, I think it's it's got that Pendon magic despite being the size of a small dining table. You need drastically more space investment to get the same effect in OO, and I rarely see that kind of thing at shows.

It's basically true, though. N gauge allows for a 'railway in the landscape ' approach as exemplified by Pendon. This just looks more realistic. Larger scales appeal to folk who appreciate and concentrate on stock rather than scenery. While the stock looks more detailed and has 'mass', the scenery correspondenly looks more toy-like.

My opinion only.

Quote from: Roy L S on June 08, 2026, 09:35:10 AM

Quote from: Bealman on June 08, 2026, 09:19:10 AMSorry, Ben, but I don't agree with the 'cake decoration' view. I have been to exhibitions when I'm convinced N gauge models look more realistic. In fact on a trip to England I commented to @Newportnobby of this parish that OO stuff looks like plastic toys compared to N.

But, as with so much in life, the eye of the beholder, I guess. I have certainly encountered people here in Australia who would not give N gauge a chance to even show it's face. I'll name them too - BRMA, The British Railways Modellers of Australia. Shocking set of scale snobs.

As perhaps a more unbiased view, when my wife attends exhibitions with me she frequently comments on how "plasticy" and toylike larger scales often look, especially O Gauge.

My wife says the same thing, strangely! She says N seems more lifelike to her because there's often more scenery to give the moving models a "place to exist" if that makes sense. Of course this is all just personal subjective taste, but it's an interesting observation.

Yep, it's called staying sensible 

sometimes when I see a picture like this, I yearn for my trips to Sydney, then I kick myself and thank retirement that I don't have to be there almost every week.

Bealette's work took her to Sydney at a very early hour this morning:



Nice picture, daughter!

But younger people are getting older all of the time to take their place!