Thanks for your kind comment. Yes indeed speed control is a near impossibility with the old trains and track and the only hope on a relatively long track like mine is multiple power rails attached to the same circuit. The truth is that my ancient Hornby Dublo 3 rail would never be a serious modellers choice - it doesn’t even look “realistic” let alone permit proper speed control. However one must remember that it was designed to be “The perfect table top railway”, very much aimed at the son and father market back in the 40’s and 50’s and not for serious modelling. What is remarkable to me is that both the track and rolling stock (all metal and no plastic) are still going strong over 70 years later! A real credit to the manufacturers 😀

Great layout. Old Trains and old Track don't lend to slow running as you say. This is lost on the younger generation. Same with my vintage Tri-ang layouts. Great work Grandad. 👍 Happy modelling

What a super layout, and how very similar your story is to mine. Our layout started with Thomas the tank engine when my grandson was 5, and it's slowly evolved over the years with a great deal of input from him in very much the same way as you and Finn are doing. Anyway, he's now 12 and is building a 009 layout himself. He also now films our model railway for his Dylington Model Railway channel, and to be fair, he's not doing a bad job of it. He's just started doing some stop-motion animation to the videos and they are quite fun. If you get a chance have a look at his channel. Anyway well done for engaging with Finn and creating fond memories for him, and we've subscribed... Cheers James 🙂👍

Thanks for your kind comment Ray. I still enjoy putting it all together each year and making little improvements but the real joy for me is all in Finn’s face 🚂🥰

Excellent layout and a lovely explanation of your thoughts behind it.

what a fantastic layout, i used to have a hd 3 rail layout many many years ago, nowhere near as good as yours, great that you and Finn model together, subbed

Lovely

Wonderful, makes you realise what the passengers and crew have to suffer at HD speeds.

Absolutely incredible!

Fantastic.I agree with your ideas

And that's exactly it , toys are made for playing with . Not to keep in boxes or display cabinets . You and your grandchildren can make up your own stories and encourage them to use their imagination . Great layout and have you thought of using a dehumidifier in the garage during the winter .

Marvellous, I can smell the Ozone coming off the engine, thanks for taking me back fifty odd years😊

Hi David. Thanks for your comment and question. The circuits for the two outer lines are each around 80 feet long. When I decided to try and do the footplate video for my grandson I really struggled to find an appropriately sized camera for a “sensible” price. Eventually I discovered a mini body camera on Amazon which had good reviews and decided to take the risk that I could make it work 🤞. It’s a Yijiaoyon version 3. It’s battery powered and small enough to attach to a flatbed or the like. I used a fairly large amount of Bluetak to attach it. I found this had the advantage of allowing me to experiment with the angle of the camera vis a vis the track. Obviously the Bluetak can be adjusted to any shape and therefore any angle you like. I must admit I was quite pleased with the eventual results 😊. I’ve just finished dismantling the layout for this season - it fills my double garage so has to come down for the winter months😢. Never mind - it’ll be back - with improvements - in the Spring 😀🚂

Fantastic, as a fellow Hornby Dublo enthusiast, it's lovely to see your amazing layout and it's very long circuits. What camera did you use and what did you mount it on, it gives a great low level effect.

Wonderful video, I like what you have set out to do for your grandchildren, not too serious, but very enjoyable.I’m in my 70’s and had a Hornby Dublo set for Christmas 1956 which I kept for many years until I took up railway modelling more seriously when it was sold for more up to date stock. Now having disposed of that model railway I keep considering starting off another small HD layout.and your video has inspired me more so now.

A fantastic layout and a superb collection of vintage Hornby Dublo. Lots of buildings and scenery add to the whole experience, quite different to the table top layouts of old - it's an interesting track plan and fills quite a large space from the looks of things - lots of fun for you and children I think.