Britain's Biggest Model Railway - Phase Two Is On It's Way!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2024
- It has taken 7 years of dedication from one man to create this ultra-realistic reproduction of Heaton Lodge. Now find out about phase two! The use of O gauge scale and the sheer scale of the model has resulted in the creator having to develop many unique ways to reproduce how Heaton Lodge looked in the autumn period of the 1980s. Many of these components and items used in the layout have taken many attempts to recreate the detail until the desired end finish was created, some using items you would just not consider a traditional material used for modeling. The 7-year passion of the creator has resulted in a unique layout which is hoped the public will enjoy and hopefully encourage others to take up the hobby, at whatever scale is right for them.
For Simon's car channel.....
/ @driverskeepers - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
It's not how big it is , it's what you do with it. The level of detail and attention to realism is second to none here.
Thanks Jonathan again your support is appreciated 👍
Simon, with the greatest respect to Pete Waterman, he may have the Guiness World Record but your layout is built with a passion that really shows in the detail.. you are a true inspiration to many, many modellers out there. Looking forward to phase 2, sounds and looks amazing!!
I thought that. Those making tracks layouts do nothing for me. Its only a box ticking exercise in trying to build the biggest layout, rather than build a big layout with soul and emotional connectivity like this one.
Fully agreed. This layout is superior in every way
Thanks for the kind comments. To be completely candid I think I probably got a bit frustrated with the motivation behind the building of the ‘other’ layout! It’s not the other layout itself - which is excellent. 😊
It's a shame Pete Waterman didn't stick with his 0 gauge which actually compliments this model in many ways - from an earlier era.
What a wonderful layout took me back to my childhood with Triang OO trains
Mind=Blown! Great work Simon and team.
I sometimes wonder about people. Who cares about who's got the longest shortlist smallest, both layout are an inspiration to everyone and great to see . Too many critics about
I have a small EM (18mm gauge) railway but the models I have made from scratch-metal and solder- the old way, from as far back as the 1960s. My relations refer to my work as 'toys' and 'a train set'. "Qualis artifex pereo"as Nero declared.
Yes you are right there. Fair comment!
Model railways rarely achieve an authentic sense of scale. This does. Amazing
Fantastic craftsmanship..!!!
YORKSHIRE, YORKSHIRE, YORKSHIRE ! Morley lad here
What impresses most about Heaton Lodge is that it's a one man endeavour Simon, unlike that other layout with it's army of workers. Your plans for the next phase sound really impressive. Say hi to Andy if you are still in touch.
Thanks for that. It’s been a long slog and there’s much more to do yet.
Thanks again for your support!
I have never had a model railway ( I am more of an aircraft modelling person). However, I love watching video's like this and others such as Chandwell. The time, the skills, etc to build something like this are amazing. I have subbed.
Thanks for your support!
OMG is monumental. The planning, detail and perseverance is much appreciated and highly commendable.
Thanks for that! Much appreciated. Simon
Can't wait to see Toton depot - if you need any pictures give us a shout!
It's only when one sees that loaded MGR pulling away from a stand, that one appreciates the scale of such coal movements, and how much they deserve to be modelled so well. I'm truly delighted to see your care and progress thus far and will watch regularly and supportively going forward.
Thanks I appreciate that.
Yes loaded coal trains really convey the power and size don’t they.
Thanks for your support 👍
What a fabulous setup . A proper layout with fantastic detail, amazing!
Absolutely exquisite. I've not seen this level of accurate detail anywhere else. impeccable Simon.
Thanks Simon much appreciated!
Absolutely gob smacked - my favourite. One important feature on your layout is that you have modelled people into the various tasks and I presume you will have passengers on the platforms when the stations are built not like another huge layout I’ve seen.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Haha yes I can assure you the platform will be packed.
Lots of other movement planned too apart from trains. To be revealed in the next video !
amazing layout Simon is your layout the biggest O gauge layout in Britain the level of detail is commendable look forward to phase 2 .i have geat memories of mgr trains in the 80s going through stalybridge well done on a superb model railway
I know you don't like ballasting, but it really makes the model ........ superb!
If it’s your passion, which it obviously is then why worry about any other layouts!
I hope to see more videos charting your progress!!👏👏
No you are quite right. I think I was questioning the motivation about the other layout rather than that layout itself!!
Nice to see things moving on a big layout.......
A good video looking forward to seeing it finished
What a layout
This layout has proved a huge inspiration for my own, forgetting the battle of the sizes, this is next level when it comes to the design, landscape and development of new ideas which push model engineering to the next level. Really looking forward to seeing the next steps!
Excellent update, truly remarkable this layout. Whilst it's not about being the biggest layout, this is easily the greatest O gauge layout out there at present and the addition of the station and Toton depot rendition (you'll need those forthcoming green class 20's to number up as River Sheaf and Don) and the marshalling yards etc the public will be inspired. Good idea to display out of model railway show environments as it's a new avenue to explore.
I've subscribed and also subscribed to your other channel
The Andrew Carnegie 47 I had off you via eBay a few weeks back is superb, what a loco. Thanks Simon.
Great you are still enjoying the 47!
Thanks for subscribing too.
There will be regular videos on the extension from now on 👍
The current Guinness Record holders of the longest model railway are all about the hype . This track is a real model railway with excellent attention to detail. The record breakers are all in it because of the fame.Their modeling is done quick without much thought and there is certainly no comparison to this railway . All this Record breaker rubbish remind me of a neighbour who decided his shed be bigger than my dads shed so he added on to it to make it look longer. However like my dad said in 1984 when someone look at the neighbour shed they say how ridiculous but when they look at our little shed they say now that looks better. Its not how much of the material you have its how you use it.
A great look at the layout, hope that one day I'll be able to see it when it goes out to the public
How about 'Britain's Longest Model Railway'?
Blummin brilliant Simon, this has always been fab. Been following since Alans thread you jumped on after he sadly passed away on the forum you care not to mention! Looking forward to seeing this progress liked shared and subscribed.
Cheers mate all the best to you 👍
Exciting times ahead Simon, your plans and ideas for the future of Heaton Lodge sound amazing. I look forward to seeing your progress with the canal and the water effects you create. Be interesting to go see your layout when it goes on the road, definately one that needs to be seen in the flesh. All the best and good luck with the build. Brian
Thanks Brian I’ll be documenting it all on here going forward from now on 👍
Hi 👋🏻 Simon. Been watching your videos from the start as it’s a location I can remember in its hart day 😊 Both layouts are fantastic in their own rights and it’s absolutely brilliant that two train enthusiasts can make such awesome model railways 🤩 I’ll be following your progress absolutely Simon 👍🏻 cheers Stevie 😊
Cheers Stevie much appreciated !
At least your layout is populated...not like ghost towns on the other big one lol...look forward to your updates on the extension
great attention to detail and a consistent standard overall - you have recreated the past!
Thanks it was a long slog but much more to do yet!
I loved the original and can’t wait for phase 2😊.
You can’t beat O scale. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
One word wow ! . It looks good now but with the new bit . Going to be fantastic. Can't wait to see this. 😀
Nor can I ! Thanks much appreciated!
Sir, this is an astonishing layout. Not wishing to upset people, but I've never liked PW as I feel he does more harm than good to the hobby.
Completely agree about PW. Arrogant chap. Not keen on him at all.
Absolutely love this brilliant.
By the way, Triumph Stags is my classic.
Dear Mother of God this is going to be ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I SERIOUSLY can't wait to see this. MGR trains, Toton depot, power stations are all right up my street. Keep the progress videos coming and a MASSIVE THANK YOU for all the very hard work you are doing to create this masterpiece. Brilliant.
Andrew thanks for your kind comments. Much appreciated.
I too can’t wait to see all these heavy coal trains it really will be awesome. Thanks again
Just when I thought your layout couldn't get any better, you go and announce all these extra bits 😂 Fantastic work and I can't wait to see more!!
Thanks Alistair there’s a bit to do yet! Cheers. Simon
Very exciting stuff. I knew you had some plans a while back to make the back side scenic too, but these plans sound great. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress!
Simon
Thanks I’ll be updating every month from now on. New video out in a week or so 👍
It will look much better when you add some signals before the junctions to protect routes and stop movement conflicts. Remember, it's not the driver (or whoever is holding the controller) in charge, they just do what the signaller permits them to. The signaller is the one in charge of any raolway operations.
Hi Simon.
Seen your fantastic layout when you first started.
Sorry but your layout leaves the celebrity you mentioned standing. Did see that one at GETS and not just my opinion.
I love anything from Yorkshire anyway so a bit biased.😁
Thank you really enjoyed this update.
Thumbs up thumped 👍
.... Pete....
Great Stuff Simon, Meeting or coming across a lot of Simon’s lately in the hobby but, another Yorkshire lad is always a bonus. Also good to hear who’ve stood by you ie Heljan, Dapol & Peco. The latter two, pretty sure were absent from quite a major event lately and yes, loved the crossing shots too. All the best with the next phase, shopping centre marquee ideas and new backdrop👍
Thanks much appreciated.
As always the railway looks stunning, such realism, and it does give the thrill of train spotting as a kid, for me it was the class 56 at the head of the Ardingly stone train, but to see it coming out the valley gave me butterflies, your railway evokes the same real life feelings, stunning, thank you for sharing and good luck with all the new work planned, I'm sure it too will look sensational. Making tracks is one thing, your railway is in another universe of realism, motive power, and achieving the atmosphere of a real railway, thanks again Jo
Thanks Jo really kind comments cheers !
Twoz really lovely to meet you at the Manchester ex, a few years ago.
I hope you remember to do yourself & maybe me and my nephew, standing
At the side of the water tank, at Healey Mills.
Good look to ya.
Thanks really appreciate that. Thanks for your support 😊
Can’t wait to see the canal. It’s something I would like to do when I get a chance to move and create a railway. Fantastic video
It might end up a disaster yet but I’m going to give it a crack!
Wow, loving the idea of a real water canal
It will be a challenge for sure!
Remarkable! Mind-blowing, I dont know how you do it all, almost seems overwhelming 💜✌️👍
Yes you should try walking in here first thing on a morning! Sometimes I feel like turning back round 😀
@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 I can only imagine - dedication and a labour of love👍✌️😊💜. I have small garage-garden-garage trunkline, numerous timber failures etc (Ive had help with that), so with health challenges and age, it's a labour of love, albeit a lot smaller than your line. It's all relative I guess. I'm working towards RC (dead rail) and magnetic couplings to ease the burden. O Gauge is a hard habit to kick though😀 I hope to see your line, HLJ, when day, when health permits 🤞🙏💜😊
impressive
My O gauge layout is 25' long and I know how much effort went in to that so it is easy to appreciate what you are doing here. Such a great layout and inspiration (which i know is your intention). Have subscribed and will continue to follow the build with interest. Now, I need to go ask my wife for some more real estate. However, I may not survive that encounter...
Mark thank you for your kind comments! Made me laugh. All the best. Simon
Superb stuff! Will the new sections continue the Winter theme of the original layout? Looking forward to seeing it progress over the coming months 👍
Interesting question. I’ve gone off the overtly winter look as I think I overdid it slightly in some areas. Going forward I’ll probably retain the winter theme but with less frost I think.!
Magnificent layout. Epic and superbly done. Much nicer than that other one IMO and local to me too. Still need to get to see it 👍
Thanks. It will be somewhere near you one day hopefully!
@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 I'm over near rothwell so just down the road 👍
I saw Heaton Lodge at the Bath at West showgrounds a couple of years ago, when I was back visiting family in the UK. It was amazing to see in the flesh. I’m looking forward to seeing the extensions in a couple of years time.
Thanks much appreciated!
being a novice mind boggling project so love to see what's coming
Thanks lots more to come !
Loving the layout I am currently working on a section at addingford junction just after healey mills where I used to spot years ago
I’ve been there! Good luck with it 👍
‘Record’ or not, Heaton Lodge is still Britains biggest portable layout is it not? As its much wider whilst just a smidge shorter.
If you listened to the media youd think the other layout was also a one man band half the time!
Plans look great. A true 0 gauge challenge. Looking forward to when it’s on the road.
Thankyou !
One for you. 58002 was a class 58 that was named at the colliery i used to work at for 36 years. DAW MILL COLLIERY. Would look great pulling your coal trains.
As someone who worked at Coalville at the start of my railway career and then over this route between 1987 & 2002 it brings back happy memories. You are also partly responsible for my switch to O gauge, I'm looking forward to seeing Heaton Lodge progress. Does this mean lots of class 20's whistling away, Explains the Heljan rerun perhaps! I know of one modeller who incorporated a small tidal harbour into an O gauge layout exhibition layout(Tollersbury Quay)
Well in the next video I’ll be talking about locos - there will be Class 20’s but DRS versions you’ll see why next time! Cheers
Really looking forward to watching to build. How are you planning to reload the MGR wagons as my long term goal in 00 is to model the Hunterston Rapid Loading facility or a rendition of it.
The reloading is much more difficult to be honest! Until I work out a reliable way of doing it I’ll resort to hand loading off scene!
I thought the record of PW was world's largest portable layout. Anyway, his is too modern for me, your's covers the most fascinating era of britain's railway. Looking forward to seeing progress.
Regards from Germany
Thank you. Germany is a possible for when the layout goes out again. Best regards. Simon
Fantastic update, Simon. Looking forward to seeing it come to fruition.
Can I ask where the layout is housed? Clearly a very large basement but what is the building above? A department store??!
Best wishes from over here on Wirral.
Hi Darren it’s in the basement of an old factory in Wakefield. It’s the same temperature all year round so great for a model railway 😊
Stunning layout Simon and the details are absolutely superb. Met you at GETS I think, are you going this year? John
I didn’t go but hope it was good! 👍
its great to hear whats going on since you left RMweb
Thanks I appreciate that. Lots of videos forthcoming with techniques and progress 👍
Do I taste sour grapes? Your layout is superb. Why bother about anyone else?
It’s tongue in cheek 😊
you could use resin to make a liner for the canal it would be light and watertight if you just coat the canal trench in a layer of mixed resin and let it cure and your done
Hoping to see it again. (Last time was at Bath & Wells showground). If you are bigger than Making Tracks in terms of total track metres then contact Guiness to see if you meet their categories.
Thanks John. I won’t get into that but good advice !
When your model railway is 4 times the size of a large house its perfectly acceptable to put down your tools and not be able to find them again 🙂
Having seen the massive (70'x40') Eastfield O gauge layout by the South Tyneside O Gauge Group at Modelrail Scotland earlier this year, gave me a much better appreciation of the shear scale of your project.
One thing with Eastfield was it was their first time transporting and exhibiting it, so it suffered from a lot of snagging and while the mainline was running just fine, there was a real disappointing lack of activity in the depot itself.
It will of course be extra impressive when they get the Queen Street extension finished off.
Not sure I agree with the canal idea, feels like a mistake to put the audience further away from the running trains, but if you can make it work I'm sure it'll be super impressive.
There's also the new "miniature wonderland" clone opening in London soon, so that'll probably beat the Railnuts as well anyway ;)
I take my hat off to Mick Worrall and the Eastfield team. I know how stressful it was to move mine and it was designed from the outset to be moved. Eastfield wasn’t - so to get it running at all was a real achievement in my book!
Excellent layout buddy! New subscription from me. I assume your going to need alot of vehicles for the new scenery so please let me know if I can help you out.
Thanks. Most of the vehicles will be converted diecast 1:43 into radio control this will be mentioned in the next video
Simon, technically Heaton may have lost out in overall length, but by god the level of detail and passion far out-seeds Petes. Lets not forget, Heaton in 0 gauge and probably 3 times wider so technically Si , your's is still the biggest and certainly the best (in the UK) and I can't wait to come and see it again.
Thanks I appreciate that 👍
Ironically there bringing heaton lodge back (rail wise) to when you and I trainspotted back in the 60/70s, with a little modification.
If you keep losing your tools get your nearest and dearest to make you a tool pini ,one like mine with a wide pocket in the front .Great railway ,don't make this hobby a competition ,just enjoy yourself
Cheers & yes you’re right 👍
so am i correct in thinking that there wont be a fiddle yard anymore but with a massive marshalling yard and depot a fiddle yard wont be needed?
Correct Rob. The marshalling yard will just be a much more protypical fiddle yard. There will be passenger trains but most of the traffic on this new extension will be heavy freight & mostly coal 👍
Of course, it is all about having the biggest train set.
Halfords primer. Tip, Boyes stores sell primer. It's the same as Halfords but with a different label. It's cheaper about £7 rather than £11. I've been using it for years. There is a Boyes store in Brighouse. Worth a try seen as you will be getting through so much of it.
Thanks Chris I’ll definitely try that. You’re right I use a lot of the Halfords stuff. Thanks again!
Regards the ballast... drop a full bag, if you get your ballast in like 25kg bags, down the centre of the board and use a plastic rake to spread it out to track top level, then use your normal method of taking it down to sleeper height... and regarding keeping the water from leaking through the baseboards... I saw on Grand Designs where someone was having a house built with a basement (next to a railway line in London i think it was) and Kevin McCloud did a demonstration of this liquid spray on stuff, that they were going to use on the internal walls to stop water penetration, on a cardboard box, where he put it all over on the inside of the box then filled it with water and the water didn't leak out of the box.
I’ll try that James thanks!
WOW, that is one BIG layout... I WISH you the best in adding the rest of the plans. You mentioned adding a " REAL " water canal might I suggest that you use this idea and that is using false water but with a " chain " link system placed into the false water, this SHOULD work and make it easier to move from place to place, but this is ONLY an idea....
Once again, BEST WISHES in your second phase of the layout....
Thanks for that..I just want to incorporate slow moving wash from propellers but you are correct it’s certainly more difficult with real water
Hi from Glasgow please please can you coming to Glasgow
Yes it will definitely be coming to Glasgow at some point 😊
It looks great. I want to see it in real life. This work is going to take you a few years before its ready I would have thought.
Do you work on your own? It must be quite disorientating spending so much time in that basement working on something that's so large.
I do work on my own. The hardest thing is to battle your way through difficult jobs. I usually leave the basement doing a job I enjoy then I know I’ll be back in the morning 😀
may not be the biggest but bar far the best, just a question the film of the two 56's at the end passing each other i would have thought the one heading west would be loaded with the ones going east would have been empty
Hi John when I was there in the ‘80’s it was often the case where empties and loaded MGR’s went in opposite directions. A couple of times a day you’d get loaded in both directions. Must have been a particular power station they were heading for!
Hi Simon, Don't take this the wrong way, but do i sense you're not happy about the Guinness world record of pete waterman and the Railnuts team for the biggest portable model railway? That a side your O Gauge model railway is way up there with the best. I have watched your layout for some years now, and I am a bit like you. I used to love watching the MGR'S in real life. Especially when they were a class 58 on them. I would like to see an insight on how you got your railway to where it is today. The new Marshall yard will look awesome, and Toton yard.
Yea watching the video back I probably did come across a little frustrated.
In all honesty I think it’s peoples motivations for building something big that I question and I’m not talking about me 😀 all the best. Simon
Still Britain's largest (O) portable layout! Fixed frame metal base will be very inefficient to transport, surely you can make metal frames that can collapse?
The power station, cooling towers and all the giant structures are permanently fixed to the steel carts. It’s easier to roll them onto a truck then carry the building given their huge weight. The cooling towers will be fibreglass and over 3m high
Lovely to see the 'monster' again and growing in size...but leeds Liverpool canal no where near Heaton Lodge...calder and hebble perhaps? Think you have been sniffing too much woodland seanics 😅😅 good luck with future plans😊
Why not use commercial guttering then make the scenery like the canal sides on it.That way whatever scenery you use for the canal doesn't have to be sealed.Much easier.
Great idea and one that’s already been suggested. I think I’ll be doing this. Cheers !
I can understand your disappointment with the claims made by Pete Waterman, he was very careful to frame the record in such a way that it does not compete with you or others like you who model in larger scales.
I am surprised that its O Gauge, even more surprised that its a one man job. Then you're telling me that you can take it to Model Railway shows. Just Amazing.
This is the most impressive extention..... it could be a complete layout in its own right.
A cetain celebs layout isn't in the same league as tjis amazing layoit.
You sound a bit bitter.
Don’t mean to be!