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Appendix One: Outside the Railway Fence
Railway modellers have to consider two basic sets of data, information pertaining to activities inside the railway fence and also information regarding the world in which the railway operated. This section consists of notes on the 'outside the railway fence' and is intended to assist with 'set dressing' the layout. Please note that the bulk of this material was prepared in rough form in the mid 1980s and although some updating has been completed all sections will eventually require a proper re-write.
Roads and Road Traffic
Description of road building methods and general appearance.
Road Markings and Street Furniture
Covers the development of road markings and roadside signs as well as the general clutter seen on British streets.
Domestic and Street Lighting Systems
Background information on lights and lighting.
Road Traffic - Introduction, Licensing, Wheels, Suspension, Brakes and Transmission
Discusses the background developments that altered the appearance of road vehicles.
Road Vehicles - Hand Carts, Horse Drawn Vehicles and Bicycles
Discusses the evolution of horse drawn vehicles and bicycles.
Road Traffic - Steam, Motor and Electric Commercial Vehicles
Covers steam and motor lorries and light commercial vehicles.
Private Motoring - Motorbikes, Scooters and Cars
Discusses the history of the Motorbike, the Scooter, the Car and the Invalid Carriage.
Describes the evolution of the supporting industries associated with road transport.
Discusses the itinerant workers and traders, tramps, tents and camping and the caravan as a mobile home and as holiday accomodation (including Railway Camping Coaches).
Public and Emergency Services
Public Service Vehicles - Buses, Trams and Taxis
Discusses the history of buses, trams and taxis.
Postal, Telegraph and Telephone Services
Discusses the evolution of the postal, telegraph and telephone networks.
Water Supply, Sewage Treatment and Household Waste Collection
Background information on the development of water supplies, sewerage systems and domestic rubbish collection services.
Covers the changes to the police, fire and ambulance services organisation, uniforms and equipment.
Uniform was until recently seen as part of ones wages, the provision of working clothing went into decline for a time but with the growing importance of health and safety legislation it is once more on the increase.
Advertising Practice, Product Introduction Dates and Parades and Demonstrations
Discusses the methods used for advertising and how these influenced the general scene. Also lists a range of products with their dates of introduction.
Packaging Materials and Containers
A discussion on the methods used for shipping goods from the paper bag to the ISO container.
Common Cargo and Standard Packages
Some of the more common (and unusual) cargo handled by the railways with details of the methods of packaging used.
Civic and Commercial Life - Public Buildings, Shops, Traders and Tradesmen
Public Buildings, Law Courts, Parks, Banks, Cinemas, Swimming Baths, Churches and Pubs
Covers the design and characteristic features of various kinds of civic buildings (town halls, libraries (including mobile libraries) etc), churches and public houses) as well as parks and commercial buildings such as swimming pools.
Parks Playgrounds and Allotments
Covers public parks and amenities such as bowling greens, tennis courts, children's playgrounds and allotments.
Covers Games and pastimes that would be visible on a model railway, includes chalk games such as hopscotch, kite flying and various ball games. This section is currently being fully revised.
Covers the design and characteristic features of various kinds of shop, the unofficial 'uniforms' of shopkeepers and the appearance shoppers over time.
Street Traders, Hawkers and Buskers
Covers the people selling goods in the streets and people busking for a living.
Traders' Delivery Vehicles and Mobile Shops
Covers the hand carts, horse drawn and motor or electrically powered delivery vehicles and mobile shops. This section also covers the milk delivery rounds.
Covers the trades that one might see evidence of in the streets, knife grinders, chimney sweeps etc.
General Information
Outline History (Non-Railway History)
General historical narrative.
Social Sub-Groups and Youth Movements
Discusses various groups who, by dressing in distincive styles, can be used to identify a location or period in history.
British Politics and Trades Unions
Outline history of British politics and Trades Unions
Outline history of the British standard time system and the evolution of the financial system.
Outline history of British motor manufacturers.
Canals, Rivers and Coastal Shipping
Discussion on the development of waterborne transport systems.
Discussion on the development of British fishing fleets and associated ports.
Fuels (Coal, Gas, Oil and Electricity)
Outlines the various fuels used including coal, coke, gas of various kinds, oils and electricity.
Significant Engineers and Inventors
Brief biographical details and a summary of the more significant developments made.
Describes the basics of the engines and prime movers that powered the industrial revolution.
A brief summary of the inventions that pre-date the arrival of the railways.
A list of British industrial heritage sites and museums of possible interest to the modeller.
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