Knowing the ECML since the late fifties from Grantham to Peterborough there are a great deal of different senarios within that length.
IMO both of you are right in your observations and comments. Going south from Stoke Tunnel to Werrington Junction was the World's fastest racetrack, anything modelled which is along that stretch needs open space and length to appeciate the full length of expresses at speed. Little Bytham achieves that goal to the extent that it sends shivers down my spine watching it in the posted videos, it is just as I remember from 1958. Peterborough North is again just as impressive, and you score because although compromised very slightly in length, it is not at all noticeable because the trains are running in and out of the station due to the dog leg at a fifth of the speed at Little Bytham, and are probably "on stage" for far longer, so IMO that makes both layouts very compareable in what they have achieved in regards of realism.
Grantham is another layout that achieves its goal. It is compromised at the north end but it does not detract from expresses running through at speed.
I would love to model Werrington Junction from Walton to Hurn Road including the water troughs but I haven't got a 100ft shed and compromising on length would not do it justice. So I am greatful to come to this forum and just drool over the offerings that you, Tony and others have produced which takes me back in time so I can daydream once again like I used to on those long summer days spent at LB and Essendine.