PICCADILLY IS COMPLETE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- PICCADILLY IS COMPLETE.
I can barely believe it, after four years of work, two variants of the station, due to warping. The station is complete. This is a milestone in the layout’s history, so to celebrate we look back at still images from the past four years and see some nostalgic running, with the station in varying stages completion. Enjoy…
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Piccadilly Model Railway (N gauge)
/ @piccadillymodelrailways
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John. It's a work of art. You should be very proud of your work. Pete
That's the FDB's John. A work of art and dedication. Great skill and talent. Looking forward to your next project.
Great update and rewind to the build looking forward to the branch line project. Thanks for sharing. Stays safe.
Thanks Mike, the branch line project is well under way. The layout looks totally different already.
Enjoyed your latest video John thanks for sharing DD.
That's the great part about the hobby sharing ideas and learning new ideas from other people to improve our Channel.
Congratulations a huge project well done
Congratulations from his side of the pond!
brilliant👍 ive really enjoyed watching you build manchester piccadilly and have learnt a lot, thankyou for these videos, your passion and positive enthusiasm is priceless to me. I look forward to the 'branch line project'.👍
Ahhh thanks Andy, and you are very welcome! Ive already made a start and the layout looks totally different already. Thats the next video
As a said in my comments on the last video this really does need to be in one of the magazines. It is a tour de force of modelling especially all the work that has gone into 3d printing including design and fabrication. The nighttime shots of th station look as if they are taken from CCTV footage of the real thing. Many congratulations on so great a result. Stephen
Ahhh thank you, thats soo very kind. There is a lot of work to do elsewhere on the layout before any magazine would come close, Im sure. Ive started th3 brachline today and got many of the ‘boards’ in.
A magnificent job. Well worth all the trials, tribulations and effort.
Thanks Jim glad you like it.
Congratulations John on reaching this major milestone! Can't wait to see what you do with the branch line! All the best, Ian.
Great video mate!!! Awesome work John! Well done! Cheers Onno.
Congratulations John! Such attention to detail, it looks fabulous.
Thank you Wendy, so very kind of you to say.
Congratulations John. I’ve enjoyed both iterations of your build of this magnificent model. I look forward to your new builds. Thanks. See ya next time.
Hi John, well done a brilliant layout, looking forward to the extension all the best, TONY [ GRIFFIN STATION ].
Thank you Tony, I already started the branchline getting down the ‘boards’. The layout looks so different already
Congratulations John on the completion of piccadilly 😎wow what a journey its has been watching you build a N GAUGE masterpiece 👏 really looking forward to seeing your next projects .
Thanks Andrew, yes quite a journey! If you have said to me it would take four years I’m not certain I’d have chosen something simpler. Who knows? Lol
Well that 4 years has flown by John and what an achievement mate. You remain an inspiration to me as you and a couple of others tipped me over the edge into starting Exehaven, great work, it’s been good looking back, cheers John, John
Ahhhh thanks John, and what great work you are doing at Exhaven, so thank for ‘tipping over the edge’, some amazing things can come out of a risk.
It's looks great. I haven't seen the real thing but you sure made a great looking model I can't thing of anything you might have missed. Thanks so very much for sharing and inspiring all of us.
Thank you Jack
Magnificent achievement John you must be well chuffed with the finished station , well done
Hi Chris, yes definitely, being able to 3d print parts has certainly made all the difference.
Excellent job congratulations John
It's just beautiful isn't it John. I've watched the the journey and the results are absolutely stunning. A true achievement. I'm not sure if I'm happy now It's complete because I'm worried it might impact on your video output! Lol. Absolutely stunning John. Well done. Lee
Hi Lee, thank you so much, I really do appreciate your support. Oh please dont worry, there is tons and tons to do.
Bravo Sir! Very well done John, love your channel.
Ahhh thanks Colin, soooo glad you like it.
Very, very impressive - I really like the backdrops too!
Thank you Simon, the backscene is the scene of Manchester around the station, adapted from Google Earth
Hi John A really great build and model there, it really catpures the feel and essence of the place, a hearty well done to you! Looking forward to the next project 'The Branch Line', sounds intriguing! Thanks
Thanks Peter, so very kind of you. Ive already started the branchline. Such a nice change to do something ‘big’, something I can see very easily, lol
Thats awesome - you've caught loads of features that I recognise from the actual station
Thankyou Euan, so glad you like
It's a great likeness John, as mentioned i went there in 2019 and stood on the platform that takes you to the airport. Superb.
Thanks Chris, sounds like you truly experiences the full delights of Manchester Piccadilly at its peal from platform 14. Lol.
I really do appreciate all your like support.
John, absolutely fantastic! Your efforts and achievements have kept me riveted to your channel for years. You are an inspiration, thank you.
Ahhh thank you, so very kind of you and I really do appreciate your kind support.
Wow! What a fantastic achievement ! A WORK OF ART!! ...I think industry awards must be given to this project.. and definitely a magazine profile on you and your modelling skills! Fantastic John... Best regards, Colin Hamshaw
Ahhhhh thank you, so very kind. Ive just had fun building it. Although very relieved to be moving on now, lol
Congratulations John. Picadilly is an amazing body of work, and quite inspirational. I don't know that my plan to build Glasgow Central would ever have started, had I not seen, from this channel, what is indeed possible. Keep up the great videos, as I look forward to see what you do with the branch line - David @ Queen's Central
So very kind of you to say, but I more excited that you are taking on Glasgow Central, a beautiful station. I guess its a desire to see more modellers take on real stations. Fictional stations are great, but Ive had so many people say how the model brings back fond memories. Ive subscribed in the hope you will share your progress.
Hi John… Great video…. Captured the journey and progress throughout the build. Nice job. Your attention to detail has been impressive throughout.
Excellent 👍👍👍
Regards…. Steve 🤗
Bless you Steve, thank you. Im so glad you like it, Ive had fun building it.
Superb layout. Yes there are times we have to bite the bullet and redo the stations or part of the layout which we are not happy with. others may find it ok, but being our project, if it dont look right it has to be done again, and again and again..lol.. well done for such a great looing layout. always impressed with your achievments..
Hi Paul. I totally agree and I’ve never been afraid rip things out if need be. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Well done. Must be satisfying to get it done after all that time.😄
Hi, yes definitely, weirdly Im happy and relived at the same time.
Outstanding ! Attention to detail has been superb all the way through and I personally have found your videos both entertaining and informative. A really impressive achievement 👍
Thanks Ian, really pleased to read that, thank you. We each learn from others, I certainly know I have. There are some amazing modellers out there.
Class
Hi John,
Congratulations are in order for this super milestone in Piccadilly the layout will watch with interest on where you go from here a super video I was the 100 like for you as you deserve it in spades.
Cheers Robert.
Thanks Robert, its certainly a milestone, but have to say Im so glad its done, lol
Wonderful to see John! It was emotional enough watching that montage as a viewer. Can’t imagine what it must have felt like putting it together! Piccadilly was a huge inspiration to me when I was starting Chandwell the layout and Chandwell the TH-cam channel, and still is. Thank you for everything you do, and congratulations on finishing this epic build. It is spectacular and so well observed. It’s all instantly recognisable but I especially like the Platform 13(?) waiting area and that underground car park really has the feel and atmosphere of such a damp and dark place. Thanks John! I’m looking forward to seeing the Branch line Project come to fruition. All the best, Michael.
Thank you Michael, so very kind of you. Yes it was quite emotional, but I felt after that time I needed to mark the event. The branch line is well underway and it won’t be long before track goes down
Hi John,
Wow, what a landmark! The station is looking fantastic! Well done John!
Looking forward to the Branch line project.
Cheers,
Derek.
Thanks Derek, Ive enjoyed building Piccadilly but I need to do some thing else now, so the windows came at the perfect time really. Ive started the branchline and and am fitting ‘boards’ as I type, lol
Fantastic video of a job very well done. I’ve loved seeing this project develop from the first incarnation to completion. Look forward to seeing your next update. When I was at work, the word “project “ sent shivers down my spine. I told my manager that I didn’t do projects. I feel slightly different about the word now. Thanks for sharing John. Keep up the great work. Roy.
Lol, thank you for your kind words, I do appreciate that. Itll soon all come together, ‘project’ or not. All will be well.
You've made a fantastic model. Well done.
Thank you Dennis, so glad you like it.
Just wanted to say I am new to this and am watching all of your videos one by one- they are very informative and very appreciated. Not at the point of even laying track yet but will be soon. Thank you and keep the content coming. I hope mine will look as awesome as yours
Hi, thank you so glad you like it and have found the videos helpful. Please do say if you need any support with anything.
Quite a brilliant modelling achievement. Respect!!!
Great video! Was nice to see the early photos to put into perspective just how far you've come, look forward to future developments and a station to station run will make for great operation
Thanks Dan, Ive always wanted to give a train a sense of journey. I really enjoyed sending trains out to New Mills, so hoping to incorporate at least two more stations if possible.
@@piccadillymodelrailways now that I'd love to see, multiple stop offs and a destination
Wow, just wow, many congratulations John that is some achievement not only is it been a mammoth project but it really is fit for purpose, it looks fantastic the lighting alone is amazing, the more you look at the detail the more it makes you look and feel like you could just be there. I've enjoyed following the problem solving and arriving at the end result. Well done somehow doesn't seem to be enough. So moving on now looking forward to The Branch line. You take care see you on the next one, Eddy xx
Thank you so much Eddie, and I really appreciate your continued support. You have been with me for as long as i can remember, thank you.
John this looks absolutely fabulous and a fitting testament to your hard work and imagination. You can sit back and unleash your real passion and the reason you built the station .... to act as a background to your station announcer hobby!
Hi Dave, station announcements are on the cards, but not yet. Maybe not even next year, who knows. I want to focus on getting the whole layout operational, and gove trains a sense of journey.
@@piccadillymodelrailways Gove trains. Are they going to be dancing trains?;)
? Dancing trains?
@@piccadillymodelrailways you wrote Gove trains in error, so it read like Michael Gove the infamous dancing Torry MP and sometime Government Minister.
Well done John. Superb build of a huge station - catches the atmosphere of the real thing. Enjoyed reminiscing through the archives with your running session. Cheers Euan
Thanks Euan, seeing the photos was quite an emotional experience, because I did begin to think Id never complete it. Soo glad its done now, lol
That`s crazy 4 years where did that go John. Lovely film to watch . Well done john onwards and upwards Looking forward to the next build. Top Man John.
P.S. You had music awesome .
Lol, when I heard that music I did think of you, thats it I thought! I can barely believe its been four years. I remember going to Manchester on 18th December 2018, first class on a pendolino hmmmm the business, lovely. Only cost £27 single couldnt believe. Coming back on standard cost twice as much… lol
Congratulations John on achieving this milestone on your fantastic layout, I applaud your devotion and dedication on the build of Picadilly, you have given hope to us modellers who have a long way to go in finishing our own layouts, I look forward to further video clips of your layouts, and also the tips and ideas that are very helpful to our model railway community, keep up the excellent work, above all Happy modelling. Kindest Regards Dave. 👍😃🚊🚞
Thank you so much Dave. It has been a long drawn out project and Ive tried to pace myself focussing on one aspect at a time taking as far as you plan yet having a break from the project when it gets too intense.
Wow! What an amazing layout, completed in such a short time, with so much detail. I’ve seen layouts that have taken 20 years not as good as this. You must be very proud, well done and congratulations.
Ahhh thank you, so very kind of you. Yes I am very pleased how its turned out.
John you must be well chuffed it’s brilliant 🎉👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 ps I bet you still find something to change
Thanks Fred, yes Im very happy how its turned out, but glad its done at the same time, lol
You should be very proud of what you have achieved. Jobs a goodun.
Thanks Langdon
It can't be finished John, the real ones not finished yet lol. It looks really impressive and is a credit to your modelling skills. The new New Mills next, yes!! Atb Andy
Well if your layout isn’t finished Andy, you’d better pull one’s finger out-eth and get on with it, lol
Yes new new Mills has been cut in half atm lol
John well done doesn't seem nearly enough for this marvellous Herculean model. It is truly magnificent, full of detail and innovation. You were one of the inspirations for me to dip my toes in n gauge, a really pathetic effort compared to Piccadilly. Platform 12 for Manchester Airport anybody ?
Ahhh thank you Jeff, thats absolutely fantastic that youve taken up N gauge, and especially that youve decided to model a real life place. ( if Ivd jnderstood correctly) of course...
You maybe interested to know, since completing Piccadilly New Mills Central, Dinting and most recently Dinting Viaduct have been added. Thank you for watching.
10000% an amazing work of art... I would. love to have you skilss and patience... amazing.
Ahhhhhh thanks Roy, I’m so glad you like it
Something to be very proud of there.
You just need a backdrop for the door side for when you're taking pictures. Adding a backscene would give you the inestimable pleasure of deleting the Ofsted building from it ... 🤣🤣🤣
Looking forward to Piccadilly 3: The Branchline.
Hi Andrew, thankyou I am very glad its turned out well. I know what you mean about the backscene, but any visitors and indeed myself would be presented with a blank board as you enter the room, not forgetting this would hide Sheffield St, so I pass on that. Thank you for thinking about it though.
A Stub End Terminus with hidden Run thru tracks is a great idea. You just need a larger room my friend! 😏
Tell me about it. The layout does have its own room with some storage for other things. I’m kinda lucky to have the space I do have, lol. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
@@piccadillymodelrailways Well , you can always start a "Just fund Me" page, and buy the neighbours house!
Lol, my next door neighbour does watch my videos regularly but probably would draw the line at extending into his property.
What a journey my friend, I remember coming across your channel 3 years ago when I started my youtube journey and the first video I think it was or one of the first was when you where doing the astute canapy and using google pics for your reference. what a cool build and very well done thank you for your time and effort you put Inuit this for us all to enjoy. also looking forward to NEW new mills :)
Thank you Tim, yes I think it was, the COVID year when you did daily live streams, keeping us all sane.
Impressive effort John, impressed with your use of 3d printing, and entertaining videos. Youve had some big challenges with aspects of the build, and overcome them well.
Ahh thanks Ben, yes there have been a fair few challenges as Im sure you have when you build your amazing model of Stafford. I enjoyed your collab with Dan from Great Deltan. We’ll have to do something at some point.
@@piccadillymodelrailways yeh your welcome to have a visit, nice to see your avanti 390s on my layout. We couldnt get Dans virgin 390 to work but got some photos, in its natural environment on the WCML.
I’d love to visit but I didn’t realise you’re in Huddersfield, maybe one day if my situation changes. Potentially if we have the same train you could film yours on your layout and I could continue on mine arriving at Piccadilly. Possibly the XC voyager? (4 car though). Then we send each other the video and work it that way?
My pendolinos are heavily modified. With one power car turned into a dummy, totally different couplings and varying other mods to get them to run and most importantly stay on the track. They have been a nightmare over the past four years but it’s only the past year or so where I got them to the place where they run pretty much as they should. Although they do hiccup from time to time.
@@piccadillymodelrailways yes it is quite a way, I gave Dan some petrol money for the trip. Yeh could do a join up video with the cross country voyager or something.
What a stupendous achievement! Absolutely superb! How can you possibly follow that? I think I'll 'stick around' to see.
Good on you David, lol. You did make me chuckle. Ive started the branchline project, and the layout looks totally different already.
@@piccadillymodelrailways No doubt all will be revealed.......
Lol
🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏👏👏👏🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 Congratulations John! I bet your a mixture of feeling lost but ecstatic ;). I couldn't imagine scratch buiding to the standard that you do, let alone in N gauge. You are truely a very talented man, ranked up there withthe likes of Paul of Galgorm Hall and Tony North Eastern. I can't wait to see what you do with the branchline project. Once again congratulations and well done! :)
Thank you Pwll, so kind of you. An honour indeed, both of them are good friends. We are all just having fun. Ive already started the branchline project with the ‘boards pretty much in place. That’ll be the next video.
Fantastic so realistic apart from hardly any figures
As Piccadilly is one busy station
From what I recall
Hi Phil, I live a fair distance away from Manchester, so I have spoken to a fair few people about this. On the day I visited, platforms 1-10 & 12 were fairly empty, and friends have generally agreed. From what Ive seen and what people have told me the busy areas are pl 13/4 along with the station concourse, not forgetting, the journey through pl11.
Having said all this I wont be adding any more, as the station is meant as a representation rather than a scale model.
@@piccadillymodelrailways
I must have miss understood the model
I understand that some times you can over populate
On the model I think I’ve added a reasonable number of people on platforms 13/4 and probably around a hundred or so on each area, on the concourse and on the platforms. Yes there potentially many hundreds on the station at any one time, but I still want the details of the building to be seen. Sadly I didn’t have any past stills of the busy areas, but you will see if you look back at videos of pl13/14 and the concourse.
No more now… thank you.
It is so impressive John, you really deserve an award recognizing your abilities.
I would like to build the overhead gantries you have; my layout is 00 and I don’t know where to look for dimensional info. Would you be able to point me in the right direction? As I live in Toronto I can’t just pop down to the station.
I have a 3d filament printer or I could fabricate them from Evergreen Plastic model Styrene.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this and look forward to your next developing siding you spoke of. Regards Charlie
Hi Charlie, thank you for your kind words.
I made the gantries in tinkercad and printed them on my creality Ender 3 v2. They are 65mm tall, so OO / HO would be double 130mm from ground, so any on the platforms would have the platform height taken off the 130mm. I didn’t find any exact measurements unfortunately rather used Google pics of the trains going under a gantry trying to estimate the dimensions. Obviously the width depends on how many tracks you have to span.
I did make s video a few weeks ago on making the gantries if that helps,
Thanks so much for responding John. I have watched that video a few times and once again , excellent work.
Difficult to get an idea on the scale but at N gauge Obviously you can print the full span. 00 would most likely require me to print in two halfs.
I can guesstimate the height from the pantograph height and the span between platforms are a no brainer, it’s just the details of the bracing spacing I would need to resolve. I can go back to your video and count them out and go from there.
Can I ask why you did not print the gantries as a four sided piece? I might consider building a 3D model but it is a bit more work. Your 2D approach is simpler.
I can’t congratulate you enough on such a great build.
Kind regards
Hi Charlie, you asked about the spacing of the triangles. Personally I would go with what looks right, unless you are copying an exact gantry from and exact location no-one will know. I think the fact youve included OHLE is a bonus in itself.
I chose to print the sections as flat units because the print would be much stronger. The printer would struggle to print the gantries as complete units, whereas a resin printer may succeed here. Also the sections can be staggered when glued together, meaning that a very large span can be achieved. Even in N gauge I had some spans at Piccadilly nearly 500mm long than could only be achieved by printing the longest sections possible, ie diagonally, then glue each section staggered to its adjacent member. I firmly believe the same is possible in OO, as each section would be thicker probably 1.5-2mm thick so there is a greater gluing surface. Yes there would probably up to 3-4 sections to make a span but with careful handling it would be fine.
By making your own units, you are able to customise each to match your layout / requirements. Alternatively, you could buy of the shelf units, but you are limited to what is available, not to mention the cost. Even in OO cost of each is still in the pence bracket even with the cost of using the printer itself.
Hope that helps.
Great answer John👍. I will make a cardboard mock up then start the process of preparing the design fir 2D printing. Cheers
Nice achievement. Platforms 1 to 4 were originally 1500V DC.
Blimey, hard to believe by today’s standards. I do understand that the lower numbered platforms formed the original station.
@@piccadillymodelrailways Indeed plus the approach layout had more roads on the east side with a loco release road presumably used when Woodhead passenger services were running. If you search Woodhead Route on here you will find a clip showing the approach to Piccadilly in the late 60s.
Ok, thank you. There was also Mayfield station too. I never really understood why this was just abandoned and as far as I’m aware still is.
Congratulations, now you need to start work on Euston at the other end of the line 😂
Hi Steve, I would if I had the space. A fantasy dream would be to a layout in the street. Imagine all the space you need to scale. It would be amazing. Pure dream though :(
This has the 'WOW' factor....congrats....why the name Piccadilly ?
Hi David, thank you. The layout is named after the main station, Manchester Piccadilly.
@@piccadillymodelrailways |Of clourse I had forgotten that..great choice our kid..
I was trying to choose something fancy but the name ‘Piccadilly’ just kept coming over and over again. Why just keep it simple Piccadilly is was.
My OO gauge layout is Piccadilly sidings as if the two layouts were somehow linked. Although they are not, lol