All aboard the hobby express

The journey ahead

Heading into retirement, Paul found himself at a junction.

Since his youth, he had been fascinated by model railways; an interest sparked during a trip to a house with a train set when he was just a boy. Over the decades, this fascination grew into a passion that travelled with him across continents: from Scotland to New Zealand and finally to Australia, always with his love for trains in tow.

Paul’s dedication to authenticity is remarkable, involving extensive travel, precise in-person measurements and hundreds of photos, all to recreate various railway systems in intricate detail. It’s a pursuit of patience and passion.

And it’s a hobby that also requires considerable space.

“I already have one room chock full of railways in the main house,” Paul explains.

And with adult children also temporarily back at home, Paul’s house was starting to feel like a crowded station during rush hour.

The signal was clear – it was time for a new depot to be built.

On the right track

Until now, Paul’s hobby had been chugging along nicely, and his latest project – a scaled replica of Kingswear railway in the UK – was reaching the end of its journey.

Now, with retirement on the horizon, Paul was on track to begin some exciting new railway projects. But to do that, a new destination was necessary.

“I was looking for a simple and fast solution to building a hobby room,” he tells us.

As someone who had spent his working life on the periphery of the building industry, Paul knew how to ensure his plans would not be derailed.

“I saw benefits in the use of a kit-based approach, as this has potential quality benefits and reduces the dependency of the final result on the builder,” he notes.

Research into the ideal provider revealed a clear route forward.
“Greenspan has probably the most flexible and also was pitched at the right level for the type of building I was looking for,” says Paul.

He could embark on this journey with confidence, knowing it would be a first-class service and a smooth, fast ride to his new hobby room destination.

First-class service

And it was. So much so that the entire process was conducted remotely, without even a trip to a Display Centre – from the initial Discovery Call, to the virtual display visit, to the final design consultation.

“The process was fairly straightforward in terms of getting the basic design,” Paul recalls. But, like any journey, there were a few little bumps along the way.

The discovery of rock close to the surface of the site meant some last-minute switches to the foundation plans, while a significant tree and low-hanging power lines created some further obstructions.

But a pier-mounted flooring system and customisation to the building’s roof pitch overcame these obstacles, clearing the tracks for the hobby room that sits proudly in place today.

The final destination

Opting for a Cedarspan 2060 with an alpine porch, the final result is 3.8m wide and 12.6m long, resembling – naturally – a train carriage!

It’s a look that is enhanced with three sliding windows on each side, one to the rear, and double timber doors to the front providing access. Board and batten cladding, painted to match the doors, windows and “Surfmist” Colorbond roofing, adds timeless charm.

Inside feels equally as authentic, with strips of lighting running along the length of the low-pitched roof and Paul’s impressive hobby set-up stretching along the walls. With plenty of space, excellent lighting, and that subtle train carriage ambience, it’s the perfect depot for the intricate work Paul’s hobby demands.

And he couldn’t be happier.

En route to retirement

Paul is now able to comfortably drive his future forward.

“The new space for the model railways means I have new projects to work on in my retirement, which was the ultimate purpose of the building,” he states.

While Paul’s Cedarspan is primarily a hobby room and home for his expanding collection of model railway layouts, it also offers a second service. He tells us, “It has also become, at least temporarily, an escape for me to go to for quiet times and jigsaws…the house can feel a bit crowded!”

This unique Cedarspan has given Paul exactly what he was looking for when he first stepped onto the platform and began his journey. A simple, fast solution that overcame the obstacles in his path, and allows him to take his hobby full steam ahead into retirement.

The end of the line

As Paul settles into his new perfectly designed hobby station, complete with its carriage-like appearance and well-appointed interior, his passion is now running at full capacity.

The express service Paul requested has transported him to exactly where he wanted to be, quickly, efficiently and with all the space and tranquillity his intricate hobby requires.

He’s now ready to travel into retirement, where new projects wait in the sidings and plenty of tracks lie ahead, ready to be explored.

Another Greenspan journey, perfectly on track to its destination.

Yet, it’s not the end of the line – only the beginning.

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Paul’s hobby room is a Cedarspan 2060, measuring 3.8m x 10.8m, with an alpine porch measuring 1.8m x 3.8m and a custom low roof pitch.

It features board and batten cladding, timber double doors, sliding windows in “White” and Colorbond® roofing in “Surfmist”.

All measurements are approximate.

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