The Red Stag Lumber Company is an absolutely sensational On3 exhibition layout. Constructed jointly by Michael Flack, Geoff Nott, Steve Pettit and Ray Walter this layout has drawn immense crowds when on display. A four-part series in Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette, beginning with the March/April 2001 issue, has introduced the beautiful and exquisitely detailed layout to those unable to attend the exhibitions. Even here in Australia that number is high, as due to the sheer size of the layout, difficulty in transportation and the logistics of exhibiting have restricted its appearances.

To the best of my knowledge there have only been five occasions the full layout has been displayed and operating: at the "Hills Exhibition" at Castle Hill twice, at the NMRA Convention held in Sydney in June 2001, at Epping in 2002, and finally at the 6th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention at Easter 2003. Rumours abound that the appearance at the NG Convention will be the last ever for this wonderful layout.

It is difficult to judge the size of the modules from photographs, but this is an enormous piece of work. When fully assembled the layout is 32' long (almost 10m) and at its widest, 3'6" (1m) across.

As well as the Gazette series of articles mentioned above, the layout has more recently featured in Narrow Gauge Downunder, in the Winter/Spring 2002 issue (number 14) and the most interesting "Planning and Building the Red Stag" article in the following issue, Summer/Autumn (issue 15).

Enjoy the photographs, and I would strongly recommend purchasing the Gazette or Narrow Gauge Downunder to read the full story of this amazing model railway.

track plan
Track plan reproduced courtesy of Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette