John Emerson has had a lifelong interest in railways and railway modelling. In the 1980s, he began to write articles for the railway modelling press and produced the regular 'Lineside Look' illustrated column in Model Rail. He went on to have a seventeen-year association with British Railway Modelling and became the magazine's editor. John has built several model railway layouts including the highly acclaimed Hayley Mills. However, his most well known layout is his large 0 gauge exhibition layout, Gifford Street, which remained on the show circuit for several years. He now runs his own model-making and metal casting business in Lincolnshire.