Does any-one know anything about model railways?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:30 pm

My brothers 5 yr old little boy has asked me for a train for Christmas.

I have looked at some Hornby sets that start at around £150.

This little boy is extemely precious to me and I have always bought him gifts that he can keep throughout his life to pass on. I want to get him a model railway set but apart from the Hornby's, I don't know where to start. I don't know what I should be looking out for and what they should Include.

I bought him one when he was 3 yrs old that he has grown out of and he is fascinated by the real thing in railway museums.

I'm willing to spend up to £400 so does anyone know about these things? I don't want to buy the wrong type or model.

Help would be much appreciated. I can go on the web but I really don't know know what I'm looking for. I'd like to get him a set that other family can add to on birthday's etc.

Thanks,

Oscar.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:30 pm

oscar;1244085 wrote: My brothers 5 yr old little boy has asked me for a train for Christmas.

I have looked at some Hornby sets that start at around £150.

This little boy is extemely precious to me and I have always bought him gifts that he can keep throughout his life to pass on. I want to get him a model railway set but apart from the Hornby's, I don't know where to start. I don't know what I should be looking out for and what they should Include.

I bought him one when he was 3 yrs old that he has grown out of and he is fascinated by the real thing in railway museums.

I'm willing to spend up to £400 so does anyone know about these things? I don't want to buy the wrong type or model.

Help would be much appreciated. I can go on the web but I really don't know know what I'm looking for. I'd like to get him a set that other family can add to on birthday's etc.

Thanks,

Oscar.

With Hornbys you get a complete set, depending on what you want to spend. Also you can add to them. Other makers tend to sell individual items, engines rolling stock etc seperately, which can end up a dear game..Check this out, see if you see anything....

What Model Railway Train Set Should I Buy?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:34 pm

dubs;1244098 wrote: With Hornbys you get a complete set, depending on what you want to spend. Also you can add to them. Other makers tend to sell individual items, engines rolling stock etc seperately, which can end up a dear game..Check this out, see if you see anything....

What Model Railway Train Set Should I Buy?
Thanks mate... that's a great help. I will look at that in detail.

So you think the Hornby is the best? I looked at one set that was £150 upwards and seemed to have all the basics.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:44 pm

oscar;1244101 wrote: Thanks mate... that's a great help. I will look at that in detail.

So you think the Hornby is the best? I looked at one set that was £150 upwards and seemed to have all the basics.

I only really skimmed that site, but they seem to do them by age, so that a young un can get a basic set, see if they don't get bored with it and can then be added to with extra track, locomotives, freight trucks( they recommend freight for little uns cos they can put lego and stuff in...Passenger carriages, bit boring). The basics start around 40-50 quid I think, but you say he's already showing interest, so maybe one of the bigger, more interesting set would be better!

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:58 pm

dubs;1244111 wrote: I only really skimmed that site, but they seem to do them by age, so that a young un can get a basic set, see if they don't get bored with it and can then be added to with extra track, locomotives, freight trucks( they recommend freight for little uns cos they can put lego and stuff in...Passenger carriages, bit boring). The basics start around 40-50 quid I think, but you say he's already showing interest, so maybe one of the bigger, more interesting set would be better! Thanks... Yep, he's extremely advanced for his age and a babyish set would bore him very quickly. He's technical minded and I want something that will keep him Interested for a few years. He's asking Daddy when they can next go to the trains all the time so i'm sure this is not a fad. As I said, he showed an interest at 3 yrs old and I got him a young set which he loved but he wants the real thing now. Your right about the frieght trucks. His baby one, he loved to put his farm animals in them. :wah:

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:51 am

dubs;1244098 wrote: With Hornbys you get a complete set, depending on what you want to spend. Also you can add to them. Other makers tend to sell individual items, engines rolling stock etc seperately, which can end up a dear game..Check this out, see if you see anything....

What Model Railway Train Set Should I Buy?
Thanks for all your help Dubs. I went with the Hornby in the end as like you said, other family can add to the stock at a later date. There is quite a bit of rolling stock with the set which he'll enjoy sending his farm animals off to market in. ( I must have a word with that boy).

I hope to get a pic of his face when he opens his present at Christmas.:-4

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:27 am

What gauge did you end up choosing for him?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:38 am

spot;1262033 wrote: What gauge did you end up choosing for him?

00 Guage

LNER Class A1 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman locomotive

Two LNER composite coaches

LNER brake coach

Track: 3rd Radius Starter Oval

Track Packs A and B (with two points and two buffer stops)

C990 Wall Plug Transformer

R965 Train Controller

R8206 Power Track

R8217 Hornby TrakMat (1575 x 1143mm)

Thats the basic set, then there are extra's.

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:13 am

I overtook the Flying Scotsman once, passing the Watford Gap. It was on a colossal flatbed heading south after a major service in York. It was a startling moment.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:17 am

spot;1262048 wrote: I overtook the Flying Scotsman once, passing the Watford Gap. It was on a colossal flatbed heading south after a major service in York. It was a startling moment. I've never had the pleasure myself. Do you think he will like this set?

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:27 am

oscar;1262049 wrote: I've never had the pleasure myself. Do you think he will like this set?

How could anyone not enjoy it? It's ideal for his age, given his curious predilections. Soppy brainless children apparently like Chuggington. Feeble witted three year olds hanker after Thomas, something I could never understand. Fifty tons of anthropomorphic post-war rationed jollity have no place in any child's imagination. What you've found is far more interesting and usable.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:39 am

spot;1262054 wrote: How could anyone not enjoy it? It's ideal for his age, given his curious predilections. Soppy brainless children apparently like Chuggington. Feeble witted three year olds hanker after Thomas, something I could never understand. Fifty tons of anthropomorphic post-war rationed jollity have no place in any child's imagination. What you've found is far more interesting and usable.
Thankyou... Yes, he grew out of the Thomas stage at around 2 and a half years old. I can't wait to see him using It and I hope It will be something the family will add to and he can pass on.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:42 pm

Glad to see you got it sorted Oscar... My dad was a fireman on the railways in his young days, and has crewed the Flying Scotsman.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:53 pm

dubs;1262259 wrote: Glad to see you got it sorted Oscar... My dad was a fireman on the railways in his young days, and has crewed the Flying Scotsman. Thanks... I will tell him that when he gets his present at Christmas. He's just had his 6 th birthday but he will be Impressed. Henry gets very Impressed by facts like that.

He likes things to be real if you know what I mean which is why I chose the Flying Scotsman. Thanks again Dubby baby

:-4

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:02 pm

oscar;1262264 wrote: Thanks... I will tell him that when he gets his present at Christmas. He's just had his 6 th birthday but he will be Impressed. Henry gets very Impressed by facts like that.

He likes things to be real if you know what I mean which is why I chose the Flying Scotsman. Thanks again Dubby baby

:-4

Well they're restoring it now, and are hoping to have it back on the tracks at some point next year.. So it would be cool to show him the real one, when it comes down your way.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:08 pm

dubs;1262268 wrote: Well they're restoring it now, and are hoping to have it back on the tracks at some point next year.. So it would be cool to show him the real one, when it comes down your way.

Wow... I didn't know that. I will have to google as he would love to see It. His a very low maintenence child on days out. You can stick him in the Swindon railway Museum and leave him for hours.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:28 pm

oscar;1262271 wrote: Wow... I didn't know that. I will have to google as he would love to see It. His a very low maintenence child on days out. You can stick him in the Swindon railway Museum and leave him for hours.

It's at the NRM..

http://www.nrm.org.uk/home/home.asp

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:58 pm

dubs;1262279 wrote: It's at the NRM..

http://www.nrm.org.uk/home/home.asp
Thanks for the link. I'll send It on to my bro and see If we can get him there :-6