At the end of 2023 I moved in a new house. I had been living in the previous house for almost 25 years and have built up my collection, a layout and as much space as I could find to display my collection. It took a huge amount of work to pack all the items in my collection, and fully dismantle the old train room. I have a train room in my new house. Although the room is larger than the old one, I have a smaller layout since I wish to avoid the need to crawl under the layout to enter the room. The new room also does not have sloping walls, so that will offer me more place to display items.
My new train room. As you can see from this picture, I try to reflect the 30's with my Hornby 0-gauge layout. On the layout, most of the buildings, accessories and buffer stops are electrically lit. I do still have a large part of my collection neatly sitting on shelves next to the layout, but many items have now found a permanent place on the layout. The 3 running tracks are made with Solid Steel track (outside loop) and tinplate double track. For all the other tracks, I have used post-war French tinplate track with level sleepers. For running the 3-track layout, I use DC Bench Power Supplies.
A closer look at the station area. No. 2 Windsor Stations with Windsor Island Platforms and Platform Extensions. All from the 1929-1933 period.
The loco depot with all pre-war standard versions of the electric Hornby 4-wheel locomotives as E020/E06, E120/E16, E120/E16 Tank and EM320/EM36 Tank.
Also on the loco depot all pre-war standard versions of E120 Special, E120 Special Tank and E220 Special Tank.
A separate museum loco depot is built up with Hornby locos, wagons and accessories from the early period.
A No. 4E Station has found a place on the branche line next to the loco depot.
This is why they call me a cardboard freak. Most of the items in my collection are with their original boxes. The boxes are part of the display in my train room. These shelves are stacked with boxes for coaches, wagons and accessories.
And the green boxes and Leeds Model Company boxes found a place in the other cupboard.
I like the tiny details of the vintage Hornby 0-gauge range. The electrical accessories, such as the No. 1E Single Arm Signal and the 2E Signal Cabin, are connected to the rails using the original Hornby earthing/bonding clips. For the Track Connecting Plates, I use the original red Meccano plugs.
Opposite the railway museum there is the goods area with most of the Hornby private owner wagons.
Next to Hornby O-gauge, I started collecting items of the Leeds Model Company too. These items found a place in the specially made cupboards on the walls of my train room.
And to keep busy, I started a modest collection of more wooden items: HUGAR O-gauge models and Bassett-Lowke wooden wagons.
A selection of my Hornby locomotives, Leeds Model Company locomotives and Type B wagons are on display in a glasscase in my living room.
Constructing a new railway room is much work, but very rewarding work. Fellow vintage model railway enthusiasts Hans van Dissel en Barend Westerveld were of great help doing part of the work.
