Model Steam Railways

Having received a Venice Simplon Orient Express digital control train set (Hornby R1073) for Christmas, my interest in trains has been rekindled.
Whilst I don't plan to become an anorak, I will be sharing my new found and no doubt short lived enthusiasm with our forum.

The set comes with a Merchant Navy Clan Line 4-6-2 and three British Pullman cars, Minerva, Cygnus and Ibis.

So mostly for my own benefit I will be listing some related Youtube videos for our viewing pleasure, until I am told to clear off.

Clan Line 35028 in action

More of Clan Line 35028

35028 - Locomotive Profile

Don't worry ...... I still had a Scalextric until my late 20's
Dont know if it is still there, but there was a huges model railway setup in Bourton on the Water years ago. Used to be a feature of a trip there ... Birdland, Model Village, Model train

Carry on Volty I have been a huge British Railways fan most of my life. I have around 25 model 00 scale Engines

Big fan of anything steam driven ,keep up the good work .

HO track is identical in size to OO.
The gauges are the same but the model scales are slightly different, with HO being a tad smaller then OO.
The track is based on Standard Gauge 1435mm/4ft 8½in, which at 1:87 scale is 16.5mm, which is correct for HO and a bit small for OO, which should be 18.9mm

OO models are 1:76. 4mm to a Foot
HO models are 1:87. 3.5mm to a Foot

It actually must be quite satisfying building up something like that. When I was a kid my dad made paper machee mountains incorporating tunnels for mine, and I loved playing with it. Havent really got room for such a thing now, as my photography seems to take up a whole room

Having bought both new and used Hornby stuff, I can definitely say that I have never met with a more frustrating load of crap in my entire life. They may be highly detailed models but they certainly don't work in their own limited enironment. I have two brand new loco's who's only object in life is to leap off the track. They are both made in China.
I have acquired four very, very old tank loco's, made in GB, who have no desire to leave the track but are occasionally chucked off by the poor quality Hornby points that came with my VSOE set. Even the Clan Class in the set has trouble going over points.
I have three brand new British Pullman cars that only leap for freedom when I am not looking,
I have seven eBay sourced cars that fall over only if they are expected to move. I did have eight but the wheels fell off one of them.
I even bought brand new track from Hornby but they contrived to rob me of the most expensive item by mixing the parts in a confusing manner

Well I seem to have got away with that, so moving swiftly on….

Here is a brilliant site about all things Hornby… http://www.hornbyguide.com/info.asp
It isn't run by Hornby of course, as they wouldn't give you the drippings off their nose and deny all knowledge of any item they no longer have for sale.

What you have forgotten to point out is that you could break Tonka toys.

Here's a nice collection of films at the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/collections.../steam-railways

If anyone fancies building a track layout then you will find that this free software is brilliant.
It covers loads of brands and scales and lets you build a layout on your screen.

http://www.scarm.info/index_en.html#download

Don't bother with Hornby Trackmaster, it's rubbish in comparison.

I have decided, a tad too late, that I will limit my area of interest to pre 1940 and mostly GWR.

I have found that there isn't a lot of GWR stuff by Hornby but there is loads from Airfix /GMR. I know they are now one and the same company but I was wondering if anyone has anything to say regarding the quality of the Airfix rolling stock and loco's?

Don't be limited by the Hornby catalogue. It changes all the time. over the years lists change out of all recognition. If you google Hattons Liverpool.
They have loads of 2nd hand and their quality will be stated ie Mint etc. Hattons are the biggest and will give you a much greater scope. Always worth keeping an eye on their stock changes all the time.

I have been looking at Hattons, they seem to be the fairest when it comes to P&P as well.

I am also going to collect anything related to Birmingam, such as wagons form local companies.

You could, it wouldn't be easy. Most are Railway companies.