Locomotives on the H&DLR pick up power from the track in the conventional manner, although there are a couple of battery powered locomotives with radio control, and one live steam locomotive. Trains run all year round, and the track and buildings remain outside all the time. Rolling stock is kept indoors.
The railway is constructed round the garden. The garden slopes quite sharply, and so different techniques have been used in different parts of the garden. Along one side, the line is cut into a raised earth bank; most of the more scenic photos are taken here. The former rack railway ran up and over this part of the garden. The rack line was constructed on a base of decking boards, set into the earth (as far as tree roots would allow!) and edged with hardboard. Although the hardboard rotted (as expected) and was replaced by slate edging, eventually the decking boards also rotted and the dense tree and shrub cover rendered the line inoperable for much of the year. The rack line was lifted completely in 2019.
The main line is mostly on decking boards, either set into the ground (where the line is at ground level) or up on fence posts. The railway is up to 2' above ground level. The raised sections are generally hidden behind plant growth or otherwise disguised.
Track is a mix of Tenmille G Scale flexi track, with LGB and TrainLine 45 point work, some LGB track on curves to hold a consistent radius, and some Aristocraft track which made an appearance because LGB track was all but unavailable at the time of construction. The points are all manually operated, and LGB third radius – around 4 feet – is the rule on the main line, although there are some space saving first radius points in the shed.
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