Hey Nick, I just wanted to let you know that though this might be my last video commenting as a control their patron due to my current financial situation, your channel and content are still endlessly entertaining and inspiring to me! I admire perseverance in the whole channel takedown situation last year! Your Tug's Trains series has been a treat, and with this new layout update in place, I'm highly anticipating to see how it will grow and what kind of content & stories we can expect as time goes on! Though sadly I may not be able to contribute to your patreon anymore, I'll still be cheering you on from the sidelines! Thank You so much for your continual efforts to pour out your passion in your craft of video editing, model railways, and funny talking trains, God Bless you, Unlucky Tug!

Around the time my fiancé (now my wife) moved in with me in 2021, I discovered you and even showed her why Thomas and trains in general have always been so near and dear to me. Now 3 years later, we both look forward to a new vid from you. Thank you, Nick.

I'm gonna miss the old multi-circuit suburban town layout, but I do love the additions to this newer layout. Plus the fact that this is a more camera friendly layout made this evolution well worth it.

I’ll admit I am more of a “endless Loop” kind of track layer since I like watching the engines run around, but I can admire the start to finish approach

Glad to be seeing the Duchess doing all the test runs. Seems like an appropriate treatment for your collection’s LMS minority lol. It’s gonna have to be years from now, but I can’t wait to build a layout of my own.

* If I may make a suggestion, I have a little extra idea that would add to running operations. * So if this is an island railway, they won't just be importing things but exporting as well. That requires regular goods trains, of vans, open wagons and tankers to deliver stock. * The plan for the layout mentions a goods shed at the harbour, and you said there's a lot of open space by the shed where you can put road and lorries. * Why not put another goods shed or siding in that space there, or else utilise the smaller unused platform to become a goods platform? Road vehicles can come in with their goods from farms and markets, load it up at the station, and have it run down to the harbour, where the vans can be unloaded and the engine can run coal trains back up. Once the coal is unloaded, the trucks can be run back down and swapped for the empty vans, so the journey can be started again. * This also gives the sidings by the turntable more purpose - rather than just storing coaches, they can store the goods stock as well. You can even add some sidings at the junction station to make it more of a pick-up goods, and involve some proper shunting in the layout. * Another idea I also had was to possibly add a little passenger halt on the outside line of the harbour. This could act as sort of a branch line terminus, allowing smaller engines to run their own passenger trains too, and would give some more explanation to the bay platform at the junction. Again, tying into the island idea, possibly small ferries and such would come in at the harbour for people to visit the island, and the branch line engines have to run down and collect the visitors, taking them back up to the junction where the main line engines bring them into the heart of the island beyond.

Wow Looking Amazing Sir.. Nice to Know i'm Not the Only One Working on A Model Railway Project

Thank you so much for the mention! I'm really glad you've been enjoying my videos and it's great to hear they've helped you on your journey. Looking forward to seeing more updates of your own layout in the future, keep up the great work 👍

This is quite amazing I must admit. Im also very excited to see where the layout goes film wise aswell! All this really makes me want to build a propper layout of my own.

[15:57] *"I love demolition!"* said Alfie *"It's when we get to knock buildings down!"* *"That's supposed to be fun?"* asked Thomas *"The best fun!* cried Alfie, and he swooped down the ramp

I love how you used James on the turntable 😂

Wow, the re-modelling was not what I expected! I mean, I get it was such hard work coupled with your wedding, but at least it was easier, and I think it looks much better, if I'm honest. Also, I had no idea there are those ramps to uncouple trains! I have so gotta get those if I get my model trains out again someday (not in the near future, because I'm in the process of moving house), so thank you so much for mentioning those, Nic! Model railways are super impressive, that it's a lot of fun watching how they're made! 😃👏

You're basically building the Layout of my dreams that I may never get to build myself. So to see this coming together makes me very happy. With that said, I would have kept a larger complete loop as I would like to have at least one continuous running train.

I'll admit I'll miss the old layout but this was probably for the better. I don't really know much about model trains as I've never really tried taking the plunge into this hobby but the end result is very worth it as this new layout looks pretty cool. I never get tired I've seen model trains running on a layout, the same thing goes for Tomy/Trackmaster as you did say it's like model trains for kids. Keep up the good work Tug and I can't wait to see all the process maid on it in the next part.

2:00 it’s moments like these that make me love your content. It’s about all that attention to the little details, like you can’t tell me he didn’t purposely fit James on the turn table because he’s the one who went for a spin. It’s just that caring touch that I love

Firstly, let me say say that ever since I started watching Tug's Trains, I have gained an interest in seeing people build their own model train layouts. Your videos are really entertaining, and it's inspiring to see the amount of work that goes into building a model layout. Secondly, while I have enjoyed the Thomas content and I am wondering when you are going to get back to Every Star Wars Ranked. I do understand that part 1 kind of flopped, but I would love to see part 2 since it will cover the Prequel Trilogy, which are movies I am most interested in seeing in this series. Either way, I enjoy your content, and I am excited to see how the layout evolves.

The amount of joy i felt when i thought the video was over only to find out i wasnt even halfway through was insane, i love this series so much

Looking forward to seeing further progress on this layout. If you don't mind, I have some suggestions that might help with operation a bit more. For when you're bringing coal trucks from the harbour to the yards, maybe have a run-around track on the left hand side of the tower, so that your engines can run-around the train and shunt them into place or take empty wagons to the sidings. For the station, Maybe instead of having crossover points in the station, but have an isolation track install at the end so that you can uncouple your train, move the loco forwards, isolate that track and then have a station pilot come in and shunt the coaches away to another platform or sidings. Then when that line is clear, you can un-isolate your loco and move it back and along to the track to the turntable to be turned round or to the sheds. Doing this could also mean adding more lengths of platform so that you can have more coaches. Just a suggestion, mind.

28:36 I'm imagining the big express trains chatting over there like employees next to a water cooler while the tank engines take the coaches away.

This is some amazing stuff, I actually rewatched parts 1 and 2 in prep for this! You said about having a NG line going around the cut off board? I wounder if there would be enough room to have a NG loop go around the first Church tunnel and then maybe run a double line behind the country station along the wall and cross over the main line too meet up with another loop at the cut off board? That way - it would connect the Narrow Gauge railway to the mainline, so that passengers could be dropped off at haults by the church or cut off board on either side? Maybe even a footbridge at the country station as a way to get to the narrow gauge line, kinda like the old plan from the orignal layout? It seems like there's just enough space for 1 or 2 NG lines! Anyway, great vid as always!

Seriously, Tug, you are living the life I dream of having. I can’t wait for my life to truly begin. You’re an inspiration, man. Keep it up. 🙏👌

Definitely extend those platforms and as you have a lot of locos just cycle them rather than running round all the time. So engine A runs into station, Engine B pulls it back out then engine A can move onto another train etc. Great start. Do not be scared to move to Peco streamline small radius points, i use these everywhere on my layout and they've not left me down yet.

I'm building my own layout right now with my Dad's help. I bought a Peco turntable from a hobby shop near me and it really is great.

"A true model railway is never finished" I think one example that comes to mind, would be one layout called the Ashdon & Midport, which has had about 6-7+ revisions from what I've heard

Honestly, the layout still looks good. The amount of space you have for those camera shots really helps. Compared to what the layout was before this is a huge step up in the progress.

2:47 I was so glad to see that Oliver was enjoying falling into the turntable pit. Look at that smile! And you should definitely put a narrow gauge line around the castle. Maybe even a little station if there is space. I can't wait for the next episode of Tug's Trains!

Oh my goodness, now I wanna see more little scene recreations from you, Oliver being pushed into the turntable well made me smile

I don’t wanna straight up copy + paste the layout, but this one has def given me major inspiration and ideas… Seriously it’s THAT good and I’m loving it!👏🏾👏🏾

My job had a profit sharing and I want give to share some to you for your new layout like buildings, scenery, tracks, etc. I know it isn’t a lot, but it’s something at least. I really enjoy watching this series of the layout as I really feel inspired to make one, when I have to the space and time. Can’t wait to see part 4. And congratulations on your marriage!

I love your videos; they've gotten me interested in modeling again. I don't necessarily have the funds to truly get started and all my engines are pretty much cooked, but I love seeing your layout go up and it gives me some inspiration to come back to the hobby and try building again.

Hey, I'd argue that the "part 3" is still meaningful with this new layout. Throughout this series you've been crafting THE Layout for your model trains. The series wasn't just about that layout you had to start over with, the way I see it the title is instead referring to that ideal layout that you've been working towards throughout these videos. All passion projects like this inevitably hit those few major roadbumps along the way so don't let it get you down.

Love that James was the prop used for the turntable spinning easily without resistance. Nice Tenders and Turntables reference Tugs!

These are my favourite videos from you - there’s something really satisfying about watching the process of working/re-working things. This new layout seems to flow much better - really like the addition of the harbour too!

One of my favorite series to watch is it building a modular model Railway series from that model Railway guy. I watched the progress of his route over the course of the last year.

The new track plan looks great and now I'm even more excited to get some more work done on my own layout! Baseboards are thankfully almost done and then I can move on to getting the track joins between sections done and the track laid. I'm depicting a small station just off the Mainline so it basically has a built in loop with a couple Wyes for Mainline access, but the local yards and perhaps a Fiddle Yard hidden in the tunnel underneath the town can help w/ adding some variety.

30:00 I'm sure you have got plenty of scripts written. It is amazing today thanks to composers like SA Music we have all the recreations of the classic music to create our own authentic Thomas stories.

I also own that Duchess of Gloucester model, and it is a joy to run. Seeing yours run every bit as smooth as mine brought a smile to my face. This wlso reinforced my plans to measure loco clearances before I start building. Especially important since I own a Big Boy and other articulated giants.

Cannot wait to see how the harbor and major station turns out! The harbor ramps look really cool! If you ever want to expand the layout and miss having a full circuit, you could possibly make a through track at the station and add another turnaround.

It looks amazing, and has definitely inspired me to build my own layout sometime in the future, and tell stories on it like you have with your harbour. For me, it's the lore and storytelling of a railway that appeals to me most, and on my Grandad's layout I would always imagine where the passengers would be going to and 'play out' their journey. Your updates never fail to entertain, and I like the idea of the inclusion of the narrow gauge line around the castle, though perhaps joining it up to the mainline like a Crovan's Gate junction might be cool too.

I have a suggestion. If you have the space, (always the biggest thing with us model railroaders), how about having a branch line come down from the right side to a quarry via a tramway. This would provide operating interest as Mavis can fill trucks and arrange quarry trains for Toby to bring to the Knappford/Tidmouth goods yard. (Depending whether you want book or TV cannon for the big station). I think that this is the only thing your layout needs. Keep up the great work! You are such a huge part of the Thomas fandom.

I have so much respect for all the amazing stuff you manage to make. Your video editing and passion for trains is great. You describing the railway as an ecosystem really made the hobby click for me. Amazing stuff!

You are one of the people who inspired me to really truly start model railroading. Thank you. Also, that layout makes me jealous!

You should definitely extend the narrow gauge loop into the suburban station and over the tunnel area on the corner. I think it would give much space for running narrow gauge trains, and it preserves the previous idea before rebuilding the whole thing!

As someone who's also a model railroader and has studied some of the philosophies behind track planning, you made a wise decision in choosing to alter your original expansion plans as well as actively testing the track plan to make sure it works before going ahead with scenery

Idea: on the western tunnel, you could have a track that diverts back to the countryside station, and have a dogbone style complete circuit loop.

Some smart design choices here. The circle at the reverse loop for running in and diagnosing problems is a great idea. Also moving those platforms forward to accommodate longer trains and clear the points worked out nicely. Colour me impressed.

I can't wait to see the stories you will create when your layout is finished. This series has been very enjoyable for me to watch, and I hope it will continue further on.

I can see you doing a short and hilarious retelling of the story "Edward and James" AKA "Edward to the Rescue" AKA "Old Iron" by throwing your realistic Edward into a 'Fast' state and taking that famous "Edward can beat you in a race" thing to a whole new level. 😂

And you, Mr. Tug... We will watch your layout with great interest. (You're a Star Wars fan, you should get this).

I suggest, if you still want to make a little town, well just put it on the hill (behind the big sheds)

I do miss the old layout, but this one is sure to be splendid! Hopefully with a new layout means more of Tugs Trains coming soon.

When watching your railway in the past I thought 'Oh it's just a simple loop, nothing too special and not really realistic with all that track together'. Now however it feels and looks like a really good layout and something that can become really realistic. The addition of the return loop to the terminus station would already be quite nice but this new plan is very good!

Omg the layout is soooooo good now! The harbour, the station, the loop line, and just the revamp in general! It all looks amazing and I can’t wait to see where it goes next! It also looks great for filming too!

Hey! Just as a little suggestion! You should totally make the hidden part where the dock spur trails off a countryside scene. As I think that your layout might be missing some of that countryside viewpoints! And I also just want to say that this whole series has inspired me too make my own layout! So thanks alot!

While it is a shame to see the old layout go, I do think it's for the best as the new layout has a more streamlined way of operation along with better accessibility for derailments or other issues. Best part too is you've designed the layout (either intentionally or unintentionally) in a modular-like way, so should you ever change your mind you could very easily add another set of points that diverge near the harbour ones, possibly leading to another board on the right side with a branchline loop (to make up for the old mainline one) or an area for the engines to drop off passengers to a small narrow gauge loop/line, thus making an upside down U shape layout surrounding you without compromising anything else.

Something to note, the scenic divider on the loop doesnt have to bisect the loop perfectly, it could lover somethjng like 1/3 of it. So you can have more scenic space for the branch line, basically both the lines not being in the tunnel as much.

An idea for the end of the mainline station. Since you have opened up the end for the release points and will use that space for water facilities, It might be worth turning the end of board retaining wall into an angled bridge/street scenic break giving the illusion that the tracks continue on further. They could even be used for future expansion cassette storage for trains etc.

I can’t help but look at this layout and think… “you know what? This has got to be the Coolest! Model Train Layout I Ever seen” You put it together very well and it does feel like a real place with work and things going on, I love it! and at some parts I was seeing care and thought put into this layout, good job. 👍 (Edit: Wait… This piece looks like it’s broken… Look at the turntable… 26:20)

Well it’s nice that for the tunnel you decided to make the roof removable so next time Henry doesn’t want to have the rain spoil his lovely green paint and red stripes, you can just open the tunnel and pick him up

It's still an evolution of the layout, it still has the soul of the original plans, even if things have had to be completely taken up and restarted

As someone who changes his mind often, this is why I usually shy away from permanent layouts. That way if I need to move something, I can always slide it, or easily take apart to reapply

I love the new design of the layout, very clever with it! I think the narrow gauge line around the castle ruins near the tunnel is a great idea! But what if the narrow gauge line ran down to the harbour as a single line?

I have a maybe stupid or good idea for a video when you finish the layout. Its about making a runaway train without the engine rolling down to the harbour and "crashing" at the siding. Or a runaway train that hits the buffers and derailes into the "water".

I got a sugguestion for the junction and harbour line. Something you could have is a small goods shed in the area, maybe have a small saddle tank like Percy. Perhaps make it like the goods line on the Ffarquhar branch. For an operation you could have a medium sized engine take trucks from the yard and to the junction where the tank engine would collect them, everything else you had for the harbour line would be the same. Could maybe make a story on the saddle tank wanting to go to the big station, like Mavis' stories. As said its just a sugguestion and you may not have the space for the shed. Anyway love RWS Tidmouth station like area

I’m loving how this layout is coming together. I ever await the day to it fully complete, and see if your creativity will allow you to expand the layout a little more to allow your models to run further and more space to do your videos, and give you some ideas to put your narrow gauge layout

The problem many beginning model railwayers run into: having a too big board making it difficult, if not impossible to reach by hand. It's something I was luckily prevented from doing by a fellow model railway builder😅

as much as i adore your content Nic, and i was so happy to see this... I just hope you and your beloved are doing well and nothing gets in the way of your family life. _I just hope someone brought you and her a good luck package_

This must’ve been expensive to get all of these materials in retrospect… I think the redesigned layout looks much better in my opinion! Hopefully whenever the turntable gets motorized, you could DEFINITELY recreate James spinning like a top.

Woah! This is some great progress! Keep up the good work. 👍

You continue to inspire me with your modeling skills and layout ideas! I might need to make something like this for my layout!

I would love to see the Narrow Gauge loop play a role in the little world you have. Maybe add a pathway to the loop's station that people can use to access the narrow gauge trains to go whatever destinations are hidden in the mountains.

It's fun watching you tell about how you solve various challenges and problems with your layout. It's going to be amazing once you get all the scenery and stuff built, but that's going to be a long process. Please keep the updates coming!

Whenever you post Nic, it turns my sometimes bad mood happy. I love your work on everything that you do. Keep it up!

I love the changes, and I can’t wait to see it all decorated and painted. It’s going to looks FABULOUS!

Can't wait to see the complete results of your Layout. Looking forward to it.

It is nice to see a update on the layout, you can add some other lines not to block the coal tower to it and you need a hut for operating the turntable. If you got space you could have the narrow gauge run around the ruins castle.

This layout looks amazing! It gives me some inspiration to create one when I will have the money for it. I mostly want a junction station on a main line wich can hold suburban trains and branch line trains. I'm only 17 but when I get older I definitely want to create my own layout.

I just want to say that these are my favorite videos out of all the videos you have made thus far, Tug. Its always interesting just to see the progress done on the model railway and seeing where you draw inspiration from. Excited for part 4!

Amazing as always, Nic! Your craftsmanship is certainly eye-popping, you are truly talented!

Absolutely amazing layout and incredible how you've overcome problems and still kept the main goal. Could add an extra point off the return loop to a fiddle yard could send trains off from the main station and have time between them leaving and make others return

Can’t wait to watch this i’ve been loving this series. It’s amazing to watch everything grow as time goes on with more layout videos. Keep up the awesome content

Just wanted to say think your “new” layout looks amazing so far. Think you should rightfully be really proud of yourself. Yes it’s changed, but now everything works just as YOU want it to-no more issues or hard to reach areas. Besides, isn’t YOUR enjoyment the first thing to be considered? Can’t wait to see what further improvements/progress you make on this

Wow. Just wow. This is an amazing layout. Can’t wait to see how it evolves in the future.

I love all the progress put into the layout! It makes me want space to build one myself.

I've actually been expirementing with my own Wooden Railway layout, been planning on getting more track to expand it, you kind of inspired me to do that, especislly with this layout here, I really dig it!

Layout looks awesome! I like how you’ve managed to squeeze so much into such a small space, and on seeing the way you chose to organize the big station, I wonder if it’s possible to put a reversing loop after the station, possibly even squeezing a fiddle track in there

Spectacular work Tug! I've always been a big fan of Tug's Trains, and the layout series has always been a fun watch. It's so interesting seeing how it evolves and getting to hear your thought process behind it all. Can't wait for part 4!

Awesome, I’m very captivated with modelling. But this is really a inspiration for me as I get a understanding how you do it, not many do this but you do, gotta Thank You for that. Also congratulations on your marriage! :) Awesome to hear that dude!

Always love your Tugs Trains videos, shame to see the old layout taken down though, but it had to be done. Can't wait to see where your new layout goes!

Great stuff. To have better running on your layout I would recommend adding feeder and bus wires. Don’t always rely on just the fishplates to keep power on the track

I am gonna miss the old layout but we can always go back and watch part 1 and 2. After seeing the redesign layout I can already picture what it’ll look like when it’s done.

Nice to see the layout love the improvements.

As much as you tried to include narrow gauge elements on the layout, I believe you could still maintain the Skarloey railway later on down the line. All the same, well done for your expansion!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Thank you for all these videos it brings me back my inner child and shows me its okay to do that from time to time hope to see loads more and i wish you and your wife all the best!!!

Sick layout, I love how it’s all in place. I think you should add a turn table to the Harbour so the tender engines can return normally instead of backwards, but still insane layout

Omg I love this update! So cool! And totally agree this is an evolution to your layout. Totally going to and build something similar to your layout in TANE so I have a place to run my UK trains. AND CONGRATS ON THE WEDDING! 🎉🎉🎉

Heya MrTug - I've had an idea. On the head shunts by your big station, an idea you could do is take a couple of tunnel portals and kitbash them so that they look bricked up, implying that the Beeching cuts affected this neck of the woods too.

The way you make your layout is unbelievably amazing Nice Work!

Some major UK terminus stations didn't even have escape roads. Engines would either back their train out or wait for the station pilot to remove the coaches (in some places like Euston the pilot would pull the coaches into the station and help bank the departing train on its outward journey due to the lack of escape roads to run round). Might add an extra bit of operating potential? (Also free up space for an extra carriage in place of the removed point?)

Top tier video mate, I’ll definitely be joining your patron as soon as I have the money!