After outlining the baseboard construction last month, Peter Marriott turns his attention to laying the track and installing a concrete apron on his new Cornish-themed layout.

A good time to visit The Old Rectory in Doynton is as dusk falls on a frosty December evening. Driving in through the gate, you’ll be cheered by the sight of two illuminated Portuguese laurel cylinder

This is a layout that probably wouldn’t have been built, had not David Joughin battled back against a life-changing medical condition. The results speak for themselves.

♦ GAUGE ‘OO’ ♦ MODEL ...

The urge to create model trains can be traced back to the genesis of the real railway. George Dent examines how what was once a pastime of the affluent few became a mass-market hobby that endures to this day.

The latest fireplaces, stoves and fireside accessories, selected by Amelia Thorpe