To ask a very silly question .......

[D1042 Western Princess]

just when does a model railway stop being a model railway and become a real railway?
To put this another way how big can a model railway get?
We have just returned from a very nice short break in Kent which involved a lovely day out on the 'miniature' 15" gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway.
There is no question that N, TT, OO, O and even Gauge 1 are classed as 'model railways' and the RH&DLR a 'miniature' so where is the dividing line?
Are 15" railways just big models, in reality? Is there even an answer?
What do you think? (Sorry if this topic has been covered before but I could find no sign of it)

[austinbob]

just when does a model railway stop being a model railway and become a real railway?
To put this another way how big can a model railway get?
We have just returned from a very nice short break in Kent which involved a lovely day out on the 'miniature' 15" gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway.
There is no question that N, TT, OO, O and even Gauge 1 are classed as 'model railways' and the RH&DLR a 'miniature' so where is the dividing line?
Are 15" railways just big models, in reality? Is there even an answer?
What do you think? (Sorry if this topic has been covered before but I could find no sign of it)

Maybe a railway becomes miniature when you can ride on it.

[Basinga]

just when does a model railway stop being a model railway and become a real railway?

I'd say, it becomes a real railway when it is able to provide a service (getting passengers/freight from A to B).

Take legoland for example. It has little train rides where you get on and off at the same place. I'd say that's just a leisure ride.
However it also has a train going up and down the hill, shuttling passengers to and fro between the main entrance and the park. I see that more as a service.

[Zogbert Splod]

That's not a silly question. I know lots of silly questions and that ain't one of them. Lots of people seem to think that I am some kind of expert in asking silly questions...
How many is a mouse when it's spinning?
Now, see, that's a silly question - yours was an interesting question!

[PLD]

If human passengers can ride ON IT it's a miniature...

If human passengers can ride IN IT it's a proper train...

[austinbob]

If human passengers can ride ON IT it's a miniature...

If human passengers can ride IN IT it's a proper train...

Nice answer. I'll go with that.

[NeMo]

If human passengers can ride ON IT it's a miniature...

If human passengers can ride IN IT it's a proper train...

Nice answer. I'll go with that.

Hmm... so is this a miniature train???

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianrailwaystrains/1932663467/sizes/m/



Cheers, NeMo

[austinbob]

If human passengers can ride ON IT it's a miniature...

If human passengers can ride IN IT it's a proper train...

Nice answer. I'll go with that.

Hmm... so is this a miniature train???

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianrailwaystrains/1932663467/sizes/m/



Cheers, NeMo

Sorry Nemo - don't seem to be able to view your link.

[Malc]

Problably for the good, Bob. It shoots your argument down.

[scotsoft]

If anyone else has problems viewing the picture, here it is for your delight 

[smg id=25646 type=full align=center caption=""]

cheers John.

[austinbob]

If anyone else has problems viewing the picture, here it is for your delight 

[smg id=25646 type=full align=center caption=""]

cheers John.

Mmmmm. That's definitely not miniature but its not a model railway either!!

[D1042 Western Princess]

If human passengers can ride ON IT it's a miniature...

If human passengers can ride IN IT it's a proper train...

Nice answer. I'll go with that.

Hmm... so is this a miniature train???

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianrailwaystrains/1932663467/sizes/m/



Cheers, NeMo

Thanks NeMo. I wonder what British Health and Safety would make of that?
To ask another silly question, how many had tickets?

[Zogbert Splod]

I spent some time in what was still called Bombay at the time (1982) and saw trains loaded like the above leaving the Fort area every day. I had been handed a package of tourist literature at the airport when I arrived which included a pamphlet about the railway system. Included in there was the information that 'since the strict application of the new safety regulations, daily fatalities have been reduced to thirteen and a half'... I assume that this is some sort of average unless each day someone is left half dead!!!

[D1042 Western Princess]

I spent some time in what was still called Bombay at the time (1982) and saw trains loaded like the above leaving the Fort area every day. I had been handed a package of tourist literature at the airport when I arrived which included a pamphlet about the railway system. Included in there was the information that 'since the strict application of the new safety regulations, daily fatalities have been reduced to thirteen and a half'... I assume that this is some sort of average unless each day someone is left half dead!!!

I know some of our commuters between Paddington and Reading used to look half dead from exhaustion when they left the train.

[weave]

Good question,

Basinga's quote; 'I'd say, it becomes a real railway when it is able to provide a service (getting passengers/freight from A to B).' means that if I can get my shot glass freight train (planned in my wine sozzled head) through the tunnel, I've got a real railway  . No chance 

OO/HO really is the dark side., they'd fit perfectly!

Cheers weave 

On the wagons that is, not in the tunnel....I'll get my rioja and shut up  Obviously not on the wagon!