EMUs

Electric Nose thinks EMUs.

Talking of multiple units, I travelled from London Waterloo to Woking the other day, and was reminded just how intense suburban operations can be. With other trains frequently passing mine on both sides, this fascinating experience is about as far removed from the typical model railway stereotype as it's possible to get. Exactly why I use a computer and DCC to provide a more realistic traffic density around whatever train I happen to be running.

Clapham junction in the rush hour is something that has to be seen to be believed; twelve running lines with trains at something like three minute headways on each one. That works out at one train every 15 seconds, with up to five or six moving trains visible at any moment.

I don't think I've ever seen that sort of really intensive suburban EMU operations modelled. This probably isn't helped by the fact that EMUs have always been the poor relation to everything else when it comes to ready-to-run models. Yes, there are kits, but not everyone has the time or skill to build them all. The complex modern liveries aren't always easy for the average modeller to paint convincingly, especially when you're talking not about one or two units, but an extensive fleet.

Something like the approaches to Waterloo would take up an inordinate amount of space in 00, but might be feasible in N if only the stock was available.