Mike - Ages ago, I had an American Flyer layout (S-gauge - roughly 1/64th scale) and I tried to figure out a way to capture the locomotive's perspective. By the way, the American Flyer was A.C. Gilbert, not the modern Lionel junk.
My only option at the time was an 8mm movie camera, mounted to a flatcar coupled ahead of one of my engines.
It looked ok and of course, I was excited at the outcome, but the quality and finish was nothing like what's available today in the way of imaging.