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How long should a station platform be?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing, Scenery, Best practices
21st October 2019
The platform will need to be as long as the longest rake of coaches you are running plus the length of the engine....
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What is a wash?
Posted in: Painting
15th May 2019
Washes are highly diluted paints used to bring out the detail in your model and enhance the appearance of the base...
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What is a NEM pocket?
Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock
1st June 2020
NEM couplings are part of a universal coupling system for model railway rolling stock. They were introduced as a...
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Why is the UK railway scale called 00?
Posted in: Model Railway
14th January 2025
The UK railway scale is called 00 gauge (pronounced "double-O") due to its origins as a smaller alternative to the...
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$How to turn a percentage gradient into a fraction gradient$
How to turn a percentage gradient into a fraction gradient
Posted in: Best practices
27th December 2021
When working out the gradient for an incline on a model railway, your research may well uncover advice and tolerances...
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What is a static mainline in model railways?

A static mainline is a dummy mainline track on a viaduct or embankment that spans the width of a smallish baseboard. It is used as a scene-break to hide the other side of the baseboard, but, as it doesn't go anywhere, it's generally not operational.

Using a dummy mainline as a scene-break is a good way of giving a small layout a mainline identity without the compromise of having fast trains traversing tight radius curves.

Train operations take place on an oval track or similar arrangement placed around the perimeter of the board. The track appears and disappears from view through bridges under the mainline and can represent any grimy, industrial or secondary route that would be commonly found in the vicinity of a mainline.

This arrangement gives the best of both worlds, allowing slower, more realistic operations on the secondary line while the mainline sets the scene. This type of track plan has the added advantage that a temporary end to end track can be attached to the mainline to permit occasional running but removed when space in your spare room is once again required.

Posted in: Model Railway, Scenery

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