‘N’ is lovelier the second time around

Long-time readers may recall that my previous experience of working in ‘N’ gauge wasn’t an entirely happy one. I was pleased with the little layout of Langstone bridge and Hayling Island station that I built, but I felt ill at ease with the scale for some reason that I cannot now recall. I certainly disliked the over-scale couplers. Well, as all modellers with a continuous layout know, what goes around, comes around, and I’m about to dabble in ‘N’ again. How come? Well, I gave in to temptation. In three consecutive weekly visits to Trains4u, my local model shop, I noticed, at eye level in a glass display cabinet, a Dapol Class 121 railcar. It caught my eye, particularly because it was finished in dark BR green with ‘whiskers’, exactly the way I remember the Pressed Steel railcars when I first encountered them on the Staines West branch. However, this was not an impulse purchase. Fitted with DCC sound by Trains4u’s proprietor Gareth, it commanded a substantial price, but the final ‘hook’ to catch me was a card, which read ‘Ask for a demonstration’. On the third visit I capitulated, watched and listened to this tiny railcar, and got my credit card out. I simply don’t have space in my house for any more layouts, but how much room would a little ‘shelfie’ of Staines West take? The railcar could shuttle in and out without the need for any other trains and no need for those couplers….