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What makes a railway real...

This afternoon I was enjoying a coffee in the garden, my seat allows a view across the lawn offering a low level view of the tramway...

I got down and took this photo at track level... it got me thinking, what makes a railway real? The Dyfrdwy Tramway is a real railway, it exists through the seasons, it matures, nature interacts, light catches and shadows cast. Even without a train it makes your heart sing. I love indoor layouts and models, but for me a railway comes to life in the garden...

Until next time, more soon...

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Comments

  1. chris mears22 April 2021 at 00:53

    What makes a railway “real”. I love that question! This is one we should explore.

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    1. James H22 April 2021 at 07:06

      Indeed, perhaps so...
      I suppose my distinction is between the living railway and the model railway. The living railway evolves without our input, the model railway only changes when we input...

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    2. chris mears6 May 2021 at 18:12

      I could not agree more. That our words of "real" are not unlike "alive" and as you observe in this railway it is one with a life beyond your control.

      Chris

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  2. James Finister22 April 2021 at 08:03

    There is no doubt that a garden railway can be real (and equally, unreal) in ways most indoor layouts cannot. But I do think layouts can sometimes cross a barrier into what you might call magical realism. Magical in the way that good theatre design is. I always think of Dennis Sever's house in this context. https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/ In the same way that as you walk round the house you feel you've just missed the family a good layout can convince you that any minute now the local Rector will walk down to the station. I think that is why I dislike layouts that over do the cameos, they don't leave that space for the imagination to fill in gaps.

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    1. James H22 April 2021 at 11:52

      Ah now that is a different interpretation James, and an interesting view. One to consider, and I agree with the thoughts on cameo ‘scenes’ with figures.

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    2. Colin22 April 2021 at 14:53

      Thank you James Finister. What a fascinating 'installation'. Coming from left-field, I read the Severs' House as an approach to narrative (I'm a writer not an active modeller) where the 'story' is kept at the edge of perception, to be guessed at from the narrative but not explicitly present.

      So, to refer to James's point, it's not creating cameos with figures (figures are always static so destroy the illusion) but creating cameos that suggest where the figures have just been.

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    3. James H22 April 2021 at 15:03

      I love how my blog has started this conversation. Thank you all :)

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    4. James Finister22 April 2021 at 15:11

      Colin, yes, hints of humanity. We now have a new generation of very good 3d scanned and printed figures, but they still need to be used with caution and care.

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  3. Philip Lockwood22 April 2021 at 15:55

    I can almost see the heat shimmering over the track on a hot afternoon. Is that a locomotive whistle in the distance. What will it be. Anticipation is everything. If it wasn't narrow gauge I would be waxing lyrically about the smell of creosote and the sound of signal wires moving. More please James. Truly a most inspiring railway.

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