Wikipedia

[Stephen Rainsbury]

From teh Wikipedia article on "Rabbit Warren" layouts

"By the 1980s rabbit warrens had lost their popularity. 00-9 had developed as a serious modelling scale and the diminutive models of the first generation were dismissed as toys; encouraged by their small H0 scale, and quality problems under their later manufacturers.[6] When a rabbit warren, or its flatland cousin the pizza layout,[ii] is made today, it is in a knowing context as a deliberately retro- and ironic effort."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_warren_layout

Shame I quite like the idea of making one, but then I would have to be retro and ironic, where in reality I an just old and sarcastic  :angel:

[Nigel Matthews]

As a young lad at exhibitions I loved the rabbit Warren layouts. I think these and a layout called "under milkwood" first attracted me to 009. A holiday in North Wales sealed my fate.

[B.Meldon]

It is true that the 'rabbit warren' layouts are not popular with many 009 modelers.
I have a very good example myself: 'Meanderbahn' made by my good friend the late Jack Carter and completed in 1981.
Although it is in as new condition, this layout gets very few exhibition invitations these days. I think it has been out only twice in the last ten years.
It is perhaps not ideal for a specialist narrow-gauge model railway exhibition, but it is always a hit at general model railway exhibitions where there are more members of the public and children.
It is also quite boring to operate.
Here is a link to a photo from Stephen Clulow's blog site of Meanderbahn when it was last out of its storage box at the Beccles exhibition in 2018:



(Originating web page: https://009adventure.blog/2018/09/07/beccles-exhibition-2018/

The other comment I will make about rabbit warren layouts is that they are by far the most difficult layouts to design and build.
Meanderbahn has no 'baseboard' as such, the 1/4 plywood track bed is supported on a wooden frame, the scenic areas between the track are formed of expanded polystyrene. 
To get it right you need to make sure that there is more track visible than there is hidden, that the grade is constant, the curves are not too tight, and all the clearances are the same. Jack did this with Meanderbahn, it is one circuit about 35 feet in length with three passing loop stations, one out of sight at the back. We run three trains in each direction using one controller, when each train arrives in a passing loop it stops on an isolating section. When all three have stopped we switch the points, change the controller direction and set the other three trains off in the opposite direction.
However even with three trains and more track on view than is hidden there are still times when no moving trains can be seen.
The 9 inch curves (and 9 inch Peco 009 electrofrog points) on Meanderbahn are quite restrictive on what locos and rolling stock we can use, mainly down to coupling overhangs.

Brian Meldon

[Julian Evison]

There is nothing wrong with a 'rabbit warren' type layout. I think at one time they were the main thing seen at exhibtions representing 009 and became a cliche. We are no longer at that point now and if you want to build one, go for it, they are not easy to get right, but do bring lots of enjoyment.

Julian

[clayliner]

It would be interesting to know who wrote that Wikipedia article.

I've certainly nothing against them either - judging by the comments here already maybe they will come back into favour?!

At least they have the potential to entertain rather more than some of the layouts at exhibitions these days (though I accept that 'entertainment' is only one justification for an exhibition layout).

David.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

It would be interesting to know who wrote that Wikipedia article.

It was somebody called Andy Dingley on 12 August 2015.  Here is his first version:  https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit_warren_layout&oldid=675819305

[Graeme Dunbar]

He's been a busy boy!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Andy_Dingley/My_created_pages

[Stephen Rainsbury]

BTW - if anyone has a copy of that original CJ Freezer plan please send it onto me.
Iain

Me too please :)

[Simon Hargraves]

I'm another one whose early interest was probably sparked by a Rabbit Warren...I have a very vague memory of seeing one at an exhibition as a small child (probably at Bexhill in its glory days at the De La Warr Pavilion), this would have been in the late 1960s/early'70s.

They can certainly be entertaining though I recall a comment by CJF in a Model Railways (successor to MRN) 1980s planning special that some used them as an excuse for what he called "grotty modelling"...this accompanied a plan for a Rabbit Warren that he called "Koniez" (a sort of Germanicised version of Coneys). I think this and an H0/H0m plan called "Swiss Treat" were the only NG plans in the publication.

I suppose a variation on the Rabbit Warren is the kind of plan proposed in a similar space but featuring a quarry terminus at the upper end and a tiny port at the other, possibly with a hidden return loop somewhere in the equation.

With modern equipment, scenic techniques and control/automation I'm sure that a Rabbit Warren could be built that is highly entertaining, smooth running, great fun and quite a draw at exhibitions though it would be far from an easy option to build.

All good fun...and unusual enough nowadays to avoid being cliched.

Simon.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Just a thought (at the risk of over analysing the Rabbit Warren), when was Peco 009 Crazy track introduced? A Rabbit Warren layout would certainly show off the attributes of flexible track. Some canny marketing by Cyril Freezer???

[Hobby]

Mid/late 60s I think, Graeme. Also sold his Plans books as well!

I have scanned the two plans he published in 60 Plans and Track Plans and have asked Dave from Peco on NGRM if it is OK to publish them on here. If he gives the go-ahead I will!

[Hobby]

Permission granted as long as I quote the sources!



Taken from the following two Peco Publications:

60 Plans for Small Railways, 3rd Edition
Track Plans 2nd Edition

Both I think are still available and well worth buying for that armchair modelling and inspiration time!

[Stephen Rainsbury]

Permission granted as long as I quote the sources!

Thanks for that Blair, a little bit of history falls into place :-)

[MickT]

The article in the November 68 RM covers plan S33 in Blair's scan in his posting earlier. If anyone wants a copy of the RM article, it is page 343 of the above issue and I can send you a .jpg scan if you send me a PM with your email address. I'll also include the other page that I scanned from the same issue which is a letter from (I believe now, the late:) Pat Henshaw in Weymouth with a photo of his 009 layout "Corfe Castle and Kimmeridge" for those interested in early 009 in the "formative years" of the 1960's!

Mick

[Nigel Matthews]

I always quite liked S34 from the 60 Plans book. I seem to recall in the 009 News recently a couple of layouts loosely based on this plan.