When I started building my N scale train layout, it was meant to be a fun creative outlet — a little world where I could design mountains, towns, bridges, and tunnels exactly how I imagined them. What I didn’t expect was that it would lead to me hosting my own show.
I launched the James’ N Scale Train Layout Project YouTube channel to share the build process, tips, and the joy of seeing it all come together. Suddenly, I wasn’t just gluing track and wiring lights — I was writing scripts, speaking to a camera, editing videos, and connecting with an audience.
It became more than a hobby. Filming updates and narrating my progress became a masterclass in public speaking, presentation skills, and even storytelling — all of which directly translate to my work as a screenwriter. Every episode was like a live performance, only my co-stars were miniature trains making their way through a world I had built with my own hands. Although the fanbase was small compared to "influencer" standards, I had loyal followers who followed me through over 50 episodes and TWO different layouts!
The best part? I got to combine my love for creating worlds with the challenge of communicating clearly, engaging an audience, and building a community.
Sometimes the best way to learn new skills is to find a project you truly love — and let it carry you someplace unexpected.
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James, I really like how you found such a strong creative influence in something that started as pure fun. It’s amazing how a project we begin just for the joy of it can suddenly open up whole new skills and directions in our lives.
My own creative process works in a similar way — except my worlds are built through music. I write songs in five minutes or less, letting them pour out without overthinking or rearranging a single word. I work entirely from imagination, guided by what is called extreme creative synesthesia, and I can jump between almost any genre — from country to jazz to heavy metal — depending on where the idea wants to go.
Sometimes I’m creating something for one of my TV or film projects, and sometimes it’s just a stand-alone piece that came to me out of nowhere. But like you with your train layouts, I’ve found that letting the creative current carry me without forcing it has led to some of my most unexpected and fulfilling work.
Your story is a great reminder that the joy of building worlds — whether tiny trains or full-blown cinematic visions — is just as much about the journey as it is the destination.
— Wyman
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That's really cool, James Tuverson! I just subscribed to your channel. I'd love to build/buy a scale train layout & other layouts and use them to come up with scenes and act out scenes.
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Maurice Vaughan I do the same thing with my layout! What I do is choose an awesome, evocative piece of music and create a "music video" around it, building the rhythm and tone with lighting, camera angles, speed (of the trains on the track) and the beauty of watching multiple trains on the track. I keep the videos short and try to always have something interesting for people to watch. One of my favorites is called "Episode #29: EMD Diesel Pulling Coal at Twilight!" The music, lighting and train movement just all came together in such a nice moment for me.
I'll check out your videos, James Tuverson.