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Episode 7 – LEGO Trains & The Model Railway Hobby

First published on 24 September 2020.

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About Episode 7 – LEGO Trains & The Model Railway Hobby

In this episode of The LNUR Line podcast for LEGO train fans, we discuss what separates – and joins – LEGO railway builders from model railway builders.

We were joined by Stuart of Romsey & Halterworth LEGO Railway.

LEGO train news for September 2020

Brick Train Depot LEGO “Stud Counter” locomotive models
LEGO Ideas rollercoaster makes the 10k votes club – “Gold Rush Mine Train Rollercoaster” by Footonabrick
HA Bricks becomes a European reseller for BrickTracks track and other components
LNUR Branch Line episode about LEGO Train Clubs worldwide group for LEGO wagon / brick /container swaps; Facebook group for LEGO Train Clubs Worldwide (committee members / founders only)
PFx Bricks – 9V track – blog post announcement

Will’s pick of trains on LEGO Ideas

LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard by CFlego
Bombardier Double Deck Train with DB Class 101 by 1111spielsachen
20th Century Limited by Da Mangos
US – Pan Am Railways OCS Train by short bricks
BNSF Freight Train by 2x3_tile

LEGO trains and the model railway hobby

When does a toy become a model?
Costs of the model railway and LEGO railway hobby
- Hornby Railways – UK model railway manufacturer / retailer
- Hattons – UK model railway retailer
Stuart’s Romsey & Halterworth LEGO railway (Twitter account) – including some brilliant functioning signalling equipment built with LEGO elements
RailExNE model railway show in North East England, organised by the lovely folk at the Blyth and Tyne Model Railway Society
- Will mentions a layout known as Rowntree Sidings – a Tyne & Wear Metro inspired display set in the 1980s
Inglenook layouts – initially just small layouts which would fit in the inglenook (space beside the chimney); now come to refer to a subset of smaller layouts which include a variation of the “inglenook” shunting puzzles
Grantham model railway display in OO Gauge (trailer video for a DVD)
Isaac’s LEGO trains – aka Smith Movies on YouTube
Is there less focus on prototypical movement, signalling, etc, on LEGO railways?
Converting from model railway to LEGO railways
- LEGO City trains – a great place to start for those new to the hobby, as they contain track, motor and remote to control trains
- Yep – we’re all rubbish at painting models…
- The LNUR Line Episode 6 – LEGO train FAQs, including a guide on how to get in to the LEGO train hobby
The perception of the LEGO railway hobby amongst traditional railway modellers
- L-gauge – “LEGO Gauge” railways, as a means to promote a unified front of the LEGO model railway hobby
Our favourite model railway displays
- Bridge At Remagen (Facebook page) – N Gauge layout with a WWII theme. Recommended by Richard.
- Budget Model Railways (YouTube channel). Recommended by Henry.
- West Sussex N Gauge Society. Recommended by Henry.
- Copenhagen Fields. Recommended by Stuart.
- Pendon model railway (YouTube video). Recommended by Stuart.
- Leicester South model railway (YouTube video) by Shipley Model Railway Club. Recommended by Richard.
- “Bank Foot” model railway – known as Rowntree Sidings, by Blyth and Tyne Model Railway Society.
- Winchester Railway Modellers. Recommended by Stuart.
- Everard Junction – OO gauge model railway (YouTube channel). Recommended by Matt.
- New Junction – OO gauge model railway (YouTube channel). Recommended by Will.
- P4 New Street. Recommended by Stuart.
- Tinsley TMD model railway (YouTube video). Recommended by Richard.

Loco and wagon of the podcast

Matt’s camelback locomotive and commuter carriages
- Camelback locomotive photos – on Matt’s Brick Rail Road Facebook page
- Camelback locomotives on Wikipedia