Now here’s a fine narrow gauge station platform (from the Messenger Bradford Barton book again), which is to say, not much of a platform at all. Barely a raised mound of earth with rough slate edging, this was Abergynolwyn station on the Talyllyn prior to its rebuild by the preservation society.

The minimal, stone-built shelter adds to the effect. One still sees echoes of it in the little stone bus shelters that pepper the sides of remote Welsh roads and villages. Indeed, the old Esgairgeiliog station on the Corris currently is a bus shelter until the trains return. Of course, earth platforms and small huts arel a cinch to model, which appeals to lazy people like me.

But hold on, how about…no platform at all? The old Welsh Highland dispensed with them altogether, such as at Beddgelert station (picture from Branch Lines Around Portmadoc, 1923-46 by Mitchell & Seymour). (The new WHR, of course, has proper tarmac platforms, even if the budget isn’t yet there for the buildings on them.) This is possibly even more appealing (reminder: laziness), although I guess it means that strictly speaking, all the coaching stock ought to feature running boards or steps.