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I don't know, if it isn't snowploughs when they aren't supposed to be there. You seem to attract criticism on YT, perhaps it is jealousy.

Brexit has a lot to answer for. But that aside.  HO track has the same 16.5mm rail spacing as OO, hence you'll be as well going for whichever is the most common HO track available locally. The trains will still run the same. Rolling stock will be harder, unless you know someone in NI willing to do a bit of smuggling. 😂.

I had another session on the layout yesterday (Sunday), after I'd firstly spent some time tidying up the shed and giving it a good 'hoovering' out. I even went over all the track inside the shed and gave it a thorough cleaning as it only gets done very occasionally. The running session was restricted to just the Black 5 No.45010 and the 6 coach rake of excursion stock in West Highland green & cream livery and I recorded video clips to show the journey from the larger Stack Gill viaduct through to crossing Low Shott viaduct and into the shed entrance. [above] Mid-way through its journey 45010 approaches Watch House tunnel. [above] The end of the line as 45010 coasts across Low Shott viaduct into Shieling Bridge station. Uploading a video of the journey I was a bit surprised that the sound from 45010 should receive a couple of negative comments. Sure it's not brilliant by any means but it's technology that's now more than 10 years old and I ask you, has the quality of RTR factory fitted sound improved that much over that time? - I would argue not. What I can say in defence of 45010 is that it sounds much better running round the garden where it creates an ambience that can never be captured on a video. It's an element of a garden railway and it certainly adds much better atmosphere than a non-sound fitted loco ever could. Video is of secondary importance to me as it's simply a record to look back on in later years. There was a suggestion that adding synchronised sound from actual recordings to your video was a way to go and I must admit that some of those I've seen sound pretty good but then it's no longer an actual video of my garden railway. Anyway, I wouldn't have the patience to do it.  

You've made amazing progress since March Ken. You must be very pleased to have got so far in such a short space of time. I'm sure the weather has helped although perhaps not during the heatwave last month when it was unbearable to even step outside here, reaching 41 degrees according to my weather station. Did you manage to get anything running last week?

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum. The electrics on my layout are extremely crude and very basic to say the least. I'm of the opinion that the simpler the installation the better but that's not to say that what you're contemplating isn't possible, it's just that I can't get my head around anything too technical. What I can add is that in the past I have used DCC Concepts accessory decoders (8 way output module) for point motor control and the dampness in my shed destroyed it despite locating it within a plastic housing. I've lost several accessory decoders and frog juicers located in housings alongside the layout that I thought were pretty safe but again I believe it just gets too damp at times. But then you have to remember that there are several well-known OO garden layouts that are way more complicated than mine that appear to operate successfully with some quite sophisticated electronics behind them. I think your main priority would be to ensure that the electronics and associated modules are located somewhere that's free from damp. It's an expensive hobby as it is without writing off your sophisticated electronics.  

Thanks Mick again for your comments and how to mix text and photos . Will try once I get the chance to take some shots. Had a good afternoon soldering and did not burn myself once. Now awaiting some more points to finish off Howey Exchange station area. Then a few board fillers in each loop. I think this weather is making me to get carried away outside. I have also got the cat flap to get the trains in and out of the shed.

Hi, welcome. I don't have any experience of block detection but I do follow Chadwick Model Railway on YouTube who uses it. I imagine that the Digitrax PCBs aren't weatherproof? Which would be the biggest problem to overcome. Chris will have more of a clue about weatherproofing stuff like this I think. What level of track plan complexity were you thinking?