Copyright © 2002-2010, Crawley Model Railway Society [Apr 10] Made with Xara Web Designer Made with Xara Web Designer ‘Mere Vista’ 3.5mm:1ft Scale HO Gauge For more pictures, visit  Mere Vista started life in May ’07, as a simple switching (shunting) layout that the public could operate as an against the clock puzzle.  Originally intended to be a basic, plain track on baseboard, 5’-0” by 1’-6” layout, based on the Timesaver design by John Allen, an American layout designer, and builder of the famous “Gorre and Daphetid Railway”. The layout was later extended into its present form; a 10’-0” by 5’-6” oval. This has storage sidings opposite the original two boards, connected by two semi-circular ends.  One end has open country scenery, with rock cuttings, a river and waterfalls and a timber trestle bridge.  The other end is a continuation of the Downtown area, with over fifteen buildings of all shapes and sizes, streets, another grade crossing and more vehicles and people.  A train is glimpsed as it curves through the buildings either side of the track. The layout is operated from inside the oval. The operator’s side is as detailed scenically as the viewer’s, and although intended for occasional exhibition use, the layout spends most of its time erected at home. The track is about 4’-0” from the floor, not too high for children or wheelchair users to see comfortably with a realistic viewpoint. Most adult viewers tend to bend down to achieve the same effect, and there have not yet been any adverse comments on the absence of a backscene. As for the layout’s name? Mere Vista is simply an anagram of Timesaver. [Some pictures couresty of John Pitty.]