Where should I put the canopies on my platform?

To ensure your model railway platform looks realistic, consider the following placements for canopies:

1. Main Platform Areas: Position canopies over the central sections of the platform where passengers are most likely to wait. This includes the areas near station buildings, ticket offices, and main entrances.

2. Along the Platform Edges: Place canopies along the edges of the platforms, especially where trains regularly stop to allow passengers to board and alight. This provides shelter from the weather while passengers are waiting.

3. Near Important Features: Canopies should be situated near key features such as seating areas, information boards, and ticket machines. This ensures that passengers have shelter while using these facilities.

4. Length of the Platform: Depending on the size of your platform, consider having canopies that extend along a significant portion of the platform length. This can vary, but typically, a well-sized canopy will cover at least 50% to 75% of the platform length in busy stations.

5. Station Type Considerations: For smaller or rural stations, smaller canopies or shelters might be more appropriate, typically located near the station building or main waiting area. For larger, urban stations, more extensive canopies are suitable, often covering most of the platform.

6. Historic Accuracy: If your model railway is set in a specific era, research the typical canopy designs and placements from that period. For example, Victorian stations often featured ornate, decorative canopies, while modern stations have more streamlined, functional designs.

By following these guidelines, you can create a realistic and functional model railway platform that accurately reflects a typical UK station.