Model Railways Part 1 1980s TV series Bob Symes

[Mayner]

Saw this on an RM thread on older inspiring layouts. Part 1 includes the ground breaking 2mm scale Chiltern Green. In a way the overall standard of modelling has not moved on since the 1980s

[Galteemore]

1 minute ago, Mayner said:

Saw this on an RM thread on older inspiring layouts. Part 1 includes the ground breaking 2mm scale Chiltern Green. In a way the overall standard of modelling has not moved on since the 1980s

Dear old Bob Symes! I don’t actually disagree with you, John, but would be interested in further comment from you on what you say….

[amdaley]

Remember Bob Symes programs well.

Had the pleasure of meeting him at a rail festival in Budapest back in the early 2000's.

A lovely man to talk to & a real gent. RIP.

[dropshort105]

I came across his tv programs on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, there are loads of them, very dated obviously, but well worth a watch.

[Galteemore]

34 minutes ago, dropshort105 said:

I came across his tv programs on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, there are loads of them, very dated obviously, but well worth a watch.

Incredible man. European aristocrat who served in Royal Navy WW2 and did much to popularise railway modelling with intelligent and accessible broadcasting. His enthusiasm is infectious! 

[dropshort105]

Yeah, he was an MTB skipper in the med.I love his TV shows, 

[Darius43]

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

Cheers

Darius

[Flying Snail]

Very nice, it popped up in my Youtube feed this weekend too .. the Lartigue Monorail gets a segment too at 28:29

[dropshort105]

On 3/2/2026 at 11:34 PM, Darius43 said:

Cheers

Darius

I never new he spent time Ireland.

[Darius43]

On 9/2/2026 at 10:18 PM, dropshort105 said:

I never new he spent time Ireland.

You’d be surprised how many people did…

Cheers

Darius

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, Darius43 said:

You’d be surprised how many people did…

 

I'd laugh if the late Ayatollah Khamanei appeared on that footbridge....

Edited Tuesday at 16:26 by Horsetan

[Darius43]

42 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I'd laugh if the late Ayatollah Khamanei appeared on that footbridge....

I don’t think that the layout could withstand the collateral damage from the subsequent US/Israeli airstrike…

[Patrick Davey]

3 hours ago, Darius43 said:

You’d be surprised how many people did…

Cheers

Darius

A relative of Berkley Dean perhaps.....

[Galteemore]

They inspire a lot of my kit construction  - all the right bits are there but not necessarily in the right order…..

Edited Tuesday at 19:29 by Galteemore