It's all those subtle details; the dried leaves, the broken trough covers, the frosty theme, rail/wheel sounds that actually reflect real trains, the suspense of the distantly approaching train and the realistic wait to discover just what it is......collectively, it's just stunning!💖
I’ll be honest I would never have thought of half that stuff unless I had a real place to copy from. It was just finding ways to replicate the different details I suppose. Thanks again 👍
I'm not being rude to other YTs, but I always save your videos until last, I always look forward to them and they offer so much especially being so far north. I wish I had the funds to contribute toward the build. Please video whatever you want and talk about whatever you want, I'm never bored
I do tend to waffle sometimes but I’ll try and do different things on the layout! Thanks for your support just watching the videos makes them worthwhile doing! All the best. Simon
Great progress with the track laying, that must take copious amounts of patience/tea 😂 I quite like laying track but I've never done it your scale. Also, I love the level of realism and atmosphere you've managed to capture.
Great video Simon. Those RC trucks are amazing. I take my hat off to you, don’t think I’d have the patience to lay all that track. It is an amazing layout, and I’m sure the new section will be equally as good if not better than the existing layout. Love it. 👍
Thanks for your videos on your, and your friends, incredible and superb modelling. Hundreds of wagons - and there’s me with my handful of RCH 5 and 7 plank coal wagons lol! The RC trucks look amazing, great. Looking forward to seeing the cooling towers in place. Thanks again.
Derek size isn’t everything there’s some stunning layouts out there on 6x4 boards! Not many idiots like me take things to the extreme. Thanks for your kind comments 👍
As always a highlight of my week👍😊👍 I've got various brands of leaves, I make my own, from real old leaves, paper etc, using punches. I also use various herbs and condiments (e.g. to represent sand from sand boxes etc) too. Dave Lowery is a brilliant modeller and a thoroughly nice bloke, when I've seen him at shows or open days, good for a few laughs too, I'd like to see more of his layout if you and he can spare the time Simon🤞🤞👍👍😊😊 Giles is a clever man, ingenious miniaturisation of RC too, another nice guy 👍😊 More strength to your elbow, this hobby has seen me through tough times, it's a multifaceted, multi skilled broad church of a hobby. Railway modelling and Railway Modeller, pretty much taught me to read and write (undiagnosed Dyslexia) too. Tony Wright mentioned recently that budding young surgeons had no hand crafting skills nor hand/eye coordination, they're having to be taught at medical school nowadays!! Hobbies are important! Especially if we don't want tptb to get their own, evil ways. ✌️🙏🤞😊💜💜
Once again I can always count on you for supporting comments! Yes Dave & Giles are both geniuses in their own right! I remember Railway Modeller from being a child, I think Steve Flint was then a photographer. Used to love going to get it every month. I know what you mean about the hobby getting you through tough times. I kind of buried myself in the basement for two years during Covid! All the best 👍
Always look forward to watching g your weekly updates Simon. Your attention to detail is mind blowing, we modellers tend to forget about the smaller details. RC trucks are great, will you be fitting sound in them or is that not possible. Keep on doing what your doing 👍
Hi Robert it’s a good question about sound fitting on R/C road vehicles. I’m sure it’s possible but I guess it’s how far do you go! Definitely food for thought. Thanks for the kind comments
RC sound on trucks is possible, but a heavy drain on battery which is why we don’t fit it to our exhibition layout lorries, they need to run all day on one charge.
Fantastic work! Small nit at 2:13 - your caption says "Heavy MGR Trains", not Heavy MGR Trucks". My proof-reading skills can be a curse - sorry! Keep up the great work! 🙂
Love the philosophy of taking this layout to the sort of venues you have in mind ,similar I guess to the Pete Waterman roadshow and Chester Cathedral but shopping centres etc mean I assume you will reach a wider audience hopefully. Just out of curiosity how many helpers do you need to move this beast about ?
Hi John, I usually try to assemble a team of 6 to dismantle and transport the layout. I’ll put the call out nearer the time but hopefully it’ll be ok. Thanks for your support 👍
Could you make a video of weathering the HAAs using both airbrush and brushes? I have a dozen or so to weather and not sure where to start, As you have hundreds you will be well practiced! I am following your extension with great interest. Well done.
Sod all the naysayers & the green eyed brigade with the negative comments,you've built this to your spec & your abilities,we all wish we could do the same,I usually watch a few videos of model railways like yours,River Road (Boomer diarama) Dean Park,Deresley (before it was put into hibernation) & a few others that I can't remember off hand (Chadwick ?) we are all individuals & have individual tastes,& whether we build a layout from a real place & whether we build 1 from our own imagination is what makes the hobby so diverse 👍
Another cracking video! Not sure if this comes across as ignorant, but as a OO gauge modeller, I haven't experienced O gauge for real. So the sense of scale with what you are doing, I (and maybe others) might not fully appreciate what you are doing. In one of your next video updates, would it be possible to include something OO gauge (like rolling stock or buildings) in the Healey Mills marshalling yard, so we can truly see rhe scale of things! For fun, maybe stick something N gauge down as well. Hope that isn't coming across as negative - it really isn't. I'm in awe of what you are doing. Best regards, Tim..
Hi Tim, no problem at all I take your point it’s a very good suggestion. In the next video I’ll show the difference in size! Thanks for watching! Best regards Simon
Amazing layout simon,the detail is incredible especially considering how big this layout is,but not britains biggest apparently 🤷♂️ when is it going on tour again ,
It’s actually something you get used to. I’ve said it before the secret is never to end a day doing a job you either can’t finish or hate. If you do it’s difficult to find the motivation to go back the next day! Thanks for your support 👍
Hi Simon I may have missed this in the past but how do you run the layout. any sort of automation if not how many operatives do you need to run a busy layout........Tony
Hi Tony, it was automated first time round but with a manual override. This time round it’s probably going to be just manual DCC as it’s just going to be too costly to reliably automate it 👍 Cheers. Simon
I’m the only person working on the layout yes. That said Tim Horn from Tim Horn Baseboards laser cuts the large building. It’s quicker working on your own so I’ve learnt to work fast. Thanks for watching Stephen 👍
It's all those subtle details; the dried leaves, the broken trough covers, the frosty theme, rail/wheel sounds that actually reflect real trains, the suspense of the distantly approaching train and the realistic wait to discover just what it is......collectively, it's just stunning!💖
I’ll be honest I would never have thought of half that stuff unless I had a real place to copy from. It was just finding ways to replicate the different details I suppose.
Thanks again 👍
Always look forward to these videos , can’t wait to see it at an exhibition
Thanks Martin all the best 👍
The closer you get, the better it gets. Great detail.
Thanks 👍
Another great video to start the weekend
Cheers Chris 👍
Really appreciate all your hard work Simon the layout is taking shape ,,,,,, The rc trucks are a work of art also ..
Thanks much appreciated 👍
Another very enjoyable video Simon thank you 👍
No, thank you for watching 😊
Amazing - the R/C trucks are really convincing. This layout is definitely my favourite 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Paul all the best 👍
I'm not being rude to other YTs, but I always save your videos until last, I always look forward to them and they offer so much especially being so far north. I wish I had the funds to contribute toward the build. Please video whatever you want and talk about whatever you want, I'm never bored
I do tend to waffle sometimes but I’ll try and do different things on the layout!
Thanks for your support just watching the videos makes them worthwhile doing!
All the best. Simon
The amount of work you put into this layout is phenomenal, the details and the future plans are top notch. Look forward to seeing it live one day.
Thanks it’s appreciated I’m sure you will. All the best. Simon
Fantastic coming along nicely keep up the great work 👍
Thanks 👍
Great progress with the track laying, that must take copious amounts of patience/tea 😂 I quite like laying track but I've never done it your scale. Also, I love the level of realism and atmosphere you've managed to capture.
Thanks Alistair I’m going to be doing some content on the track laying soon. Thanks for the comments 👍
Great video Simon. Those RC trucks are amazing. I take my hat off to you, don’t think I’d have the patience to lay all that track. It is an amazing layout, and I’m sure the new section will be equally as good if not better than the existing layout. Love it. 👍
Cheers Geoff thanks for the comments. Yea laying track isn’t the best job in the world! 👍
Thanks for your videos on your, and your friends, incredible and superb modelling. Hundreds of wagons - and there’s me with my handful of RCH 5 and 7 plank coal wagons lol! The RC trucks look amazing, great. Looking forward to seeing the cooling towers in place. Thanks again.
Derek size isn’t everything there’s some stunning layouts out there on 6x4 boards!
Not many idiots like me take things to the extreme.
Thanks for your kind comments 👍
What you say is true, wishing you every success with the layout.
Supper layout looking forward to seeing wen it's out about👍
Thanks & so am I 👍
As always a highlight of my week👍😊👍
I've got various brands of leaves, I make my own, from real old leaves, paper etc, using punches. I also use various herbs and condiments (e.g. to represent sand from sand boxes etc) too.
Dave Lowery is a brilliant modeller and a thoroughly nice bloke, when I've seen him at shows or open days, good for a few laughs too, I'd like to see more of his layout if you and he can spare the time Simon🤞🤞👍👍😊😊
Giles is a clever man, ingenious miniaturisation of RC too, another nice guy 👍😊
More strength to your elbow, this hobby has seen me through tough times, it's a multifaceted, multi skilled broad church of a hobby. Railway modelling and Railway Modeller, pretty much taught me to read and write (undiagnosed Dyslexia) too. Tony Wright mentioned recently that budding young surgeons had no hand crafting skills nor hand/eye coordination, they're having to be taught at medical school nowadays!! Hobbies are important! Especially if we don't want tptb to get their own, evil ways. ✌️🙏🤞😊💜💜
Once again I can always count on you for supporting comments!
Yes Dave & Giles are both geniuses in their own right!
I remember Railway Modeller from being a child, I think Steve Flint was then a photographer. Used to love going to get it every month.
I know what you mean about the hobby getting you through tough times. I kind of buried myself in the basement for two years during Covid!
All the best 👍
I love the new strap line. It may not be the biggest ................but it's the best. Cant wait to see the new layout. Well done.
Thanks 👍
Always look forward to watching g your weekly updates Simon. Your attention to detail is mind blowing, we modellers tend to forget about the smaller details. RC trucks are great, will you be fitting sound in them or is that not possible. Keep on doing what your doing 👍
Hi Robert it’s a good question about sound fitting on R/C road vehicles. I’m sure it’s possible but I guess it’s how far do you go! Definitely food for thought. Thanks for the kind comments
RC sound on trucks is possible, but a heavy drain on battery which is why we don’t fit it to our exhibition layout lorries, they need to run all day on one charge.
This layout is a "tiny" bit bigger than my N gauge layout 😅. Fantastic layout ! Cheers Euan
Size isn’t everything Euan 😀 Thanks for your kind comments
Could you show us how you create such fantastic coal loads in your wagons, they are the best that I have seen . Fantastic , thank you 👍
No problem I might do this on this weeks video actually good idea 👍
That marquee idea is exactly what Heaton Lodge needs.
Thanks 👍 I’ll find a way!
Fantastic work! Small nit at 2:13 - your caption says "Heavy MGR Trains", not Heavy MGR Trucks". My proof-reading skills can be a curse - sorry! Keep up the great work! 🙂
Haha my mistake! All the best Steve
It is all coming together…. 👍
Thanks. Yep I think so !
Nice job
Thanks 👍
Thanks 👍
Love the philosophy of taking this layout to the sort of venues you have in mind ,similar I guess to the Pete Waterman roadshow and Chester Cathedral but shopping centres etc mean I assume you will reach a wider audience hopefully. Just out of curiosity how many helpers do you need to move this beast about ?
Hi John, I usually try to assemble a team of 6 to dismantle and transport the layout. I’ll put the call out nearer the time but hopefully it’ll be ok.
Thanks for your support 👍
Could you make a video of weathering the HAAs using both airbrush and brushes? I have a dozen or so to weather and not sure where to start, As you have hundreds you will be well practiced! I am following your extension with great interest. Well done.
That’s a good idea for another video. Sure I’ll do that. Thanks for the idea. Simon
Sod all the naysayers & the green eyed brigade with the negative comments,you've built this to your spec & your abilities,we all wish we could do the same,I usually watch a few videos of model railways like yours,River Road (Boomer diarama) Dean Park,Deresley (before it was put into hibernation) & a few others that I can't remember off hand (Chadwick ?) we are all individuals & have individual tastes,& whether we build a layout from a real place & whether we build 1 from our own imagination is what makes the hobby so diverse 👍
Totally agree Steven.
I guess if you put your head above the parapet you’re going to get shot at!
Thanks for watching 👍
Another cracking video!
Not sure if this comes across as ignorant, but as a OO gauge modeller, I haven't experienced O gauge for real. So the sense of scale with what you are doing, I (and maybe others) might not fully appreciate what you are doing.
In one of your next video updates, would it be possible to include something OO gauge (like rolling stock or buildings) in the Healey Mills marshalling yard, so we can truly see rhe scale of things! For fun, maybe stick something N gauge down as well.
Hope that isn't coming across as negative - it really isn't. I'm in awe of what you are doing. Best regards, Tim..
Hi Tim, no problem at all I take your point it’s a very good suggestion.
In the next video I’ll show the difference in size!
Thanks for watching! Best regards
Simon
Love it!
Are you doing any tours in 2025 or are they all in 2026?
Realistically it will be 2026 I think. You never know though! Thanks again
Amazing layout simon,the detail is incredible especially considering how big this layout is,but not britains biggest apparently 🤷♂️ when is it going on tour again ,
Thanks it’s going back on tour in 2026 😊 thanks for your support 👍
@ ,ok simon thanks for that,I will look for reminders nearer the time 👍keep up the good work
I do feel for you Simon, toiling away on the track in that old mill...I hope you have a good selection of motivational music playing!!!
It’s actually something you get used to. I’ve said it before the secret is never to end a day doing a job you either can’t finish or hate. If you do it’s difficult to find the motivation to go back the next day!
Thanks for your support 👍
For your cooling towers try putting atomizer’s in the base. They give a lot of ‘steam’, (Amazon,) some don’t need the expensive ones!
Great idea. They’ll definitely need something coming out of the top!
Hi Simon I may have missed this in the past but how do you run the layout. any sort of automation if not how many operatives do you need to run a busy layout........Tony
Hi Tony, it was automated first time round but with a manual override.
This time round it’s probably going to be just manual DCC as it’s just going to be too costly to reliably automate it 👍 Cheers. Simon
Sorry Simon, Woodend Road bridge went about 9 months ago.
Great shame as it was one of my favourite spots as both a kid and now...
Crikey I didn’t know that I haven’t been down there for a couple years.
How sad. Thanks for letting me know 👍
Umm, how are you going to attach/anchor the extra carts to the existing layout to ensure stability and security?
With clamps. And shims to adjust the height where needed. It’s a lot of mucking about I know but easier than lifting more boards etc 😊
8:56 what is this little itty bitty flat car in the consist? Is it used as a spacer car for anything thats a little longer than the car?
It’s just a Conflat wagon. The odd one was still in service in the 80’s I believe 👍
It’s just a Conflat wagon. The odd one was still in service in the 80’s I believe 👍
@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 thank you! Being an American railfan and modeler, never seeing a car like that around here. Neat little car.
Simon, are you the only person building this mammoth 🦣 layout, track weathering, buildings, wiring , scenery. Steve
I’m the only person working on the layout yes. That said Tim Horn from Tim Horn Baseboards laser cuts the large building. It’s quicker working on your own so I’ve learnt to work fast. Thanks for watching Stephen 👍