The layout has been designed around the geography of Middle Earth, the imaginary world of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings (written by J. R. R. Tolkien). The railway has grown in complexity with every relocation between a number of attics and garages over forty years, and the present layout is the most complete yet incorporating twelve stations.

The railway is 'OO' ("Double-O") gauge and is to a scale of 4mm to 1 foot (1:76.2), the most popular British modelling scale. A small number of locomotives are the slightly smaller HO gauge.

The railway has always been a layout requiring a set of operating principles, rather than something that goes round and round. It is not possible to set a train running continuously.

The first engines and rolling stock were Triang and Hornby-Triang pieces which are now close to 40 years old. These have been joined by newer items from other manufacturers, including Hornby, Lima, Bachmann, Wrenn, Airfix, Dapol, Mainline, Jouef, Piko and Gutzold. There are currently 85 locomotives on the layout, although not all can fit on it at the same time!