UK vs US Modelling
There are some definite differences between the UK and the US when it comes to model railways…
First up, space in the UK is at a premium. Houses are generally small and basements are unheard of. Layouts are often only shown at public exhibitions where they can be put up in a much larger space. All that means that layouts are small, 20′ is a very large layout!
Operations – or running the layout to the exact timetable and method that the real thing used – is also not a mainstream activity in the UK compared to the US. That means the style of layouts is different. They are more about scenes or sections of a prototype than about stringing a large number of towns together.
Modular layouts are rare, unless you model North American outline or European Fremo. UK layouts are often sectional so that they can be transported but they only fit together in one way. It means track can cross sections anywhere it likes leading to more flexibility in planning.
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