I know that Uncle Al knows of my own backyard railroading activities, but just in case anyone else is interested to see where we're at (well, mostly taken last year) there is a two part video at my website. The line is to a scale of 16mm to the 1ft (1:19) and both live steam and battery power is present.
It keeps me amused.
The website is here: http://www.petechandler.webs.com
Also there has been a revisit by James May (UK TV 'Topgear' presenter) recently in a re-run of the 9+ mile Barnstaple to Bideford '00' railway challenge, which passes behind my village, and was staged 2 years ago. Except that this time the goal was not to break records but to race between a British and German team. The German team was represented by the largest public model railway layout in Germany (if not the world), so no pressure then.
Our team started from Barnstaple, and the German team from Bideford. Judging by the speed of the German train as it passed me, the outcome (which so far is undisclosed until the TV show is broadcast) is more than likely Germany 1 Britain 0.
But we shall have to wait and see. It'll probably air among repeats of J. May's 'Toy Stories' about Christmas time again.
Pete