On this site we will follow the construction of two model railroad layouts, learn from two existing ones, and along the way consider aspects of model railroading, especially those that explore the boundaries of the art. We may not move too many boundaries of model railways but we will sure go out there and have a look at them.

If this site has a focus, it is - for now - model railroad engineering. Not the modelling of prototypical engineering feats like bridges, but rather the engineering required to build a model railroad: lighting, backdrop, benchwork, roadbed, movable track such as lift-up and elevator, control panel, electrical systems, DCC, computers ...

As the layouts mature I'm sure we will look more at buildings, scenery, rolling stock, operations, and so on.

The South Pacific Lines are three model railroads, all at a home in New Zealand, hence the name (also influenced by a certain fondness for the US Southern Pacific Railroad). The koru and the fernleaf in the logo are quintissential New Zealand icons.

The three current model railways (and one past one) are very different: three scales G,HO and N; a permanent built-in layout, a portable unit, a sectional layout and a garden railway; one started, one on the way, one finished, one scrapped; differing engineering standards, differing prototype fidelity.

The SPL model railroad layouts are owned by Rob England, and crewed by Peter Garrett and Jack England.

We hope you get some good ideas from this site, enjoy following our projects, and make use of the site's resources. Follow along with our ups and downs on the SPL Journal blog We welcome your participation. Contact me. Register to post comments or questions. We won't spam you or use your email for any purpose you don't give us permission for.

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