I started collecting trains when I was seven, a year later I got a lima 201. I bought another lima 201 and executive coaches in a garden centre with my communion money but I never had any interest or knowledge of building a proper layout so I lost interest in the hobby after a while. seven years on I opened a railway modelling magazine to find ads for 141s, 181s, cravens, mk2as, mk2ds and a 201s on the way. Two months later I bought a 141 class and I have been hooked ever since. No room for a decent layout though:mad:. No doubt that money is definitely an issue. No one can employ me until I turn sixteen so I'm making the money up for the 071s by cutting hedges and lawns on a stretch of the former Kilkenny to Portlaoise line which is part of the grandad's garden. Everyone I have shown my models to whether they are 3 or 16 or 80 have always shown alot of interest. I hope that there are more young people out there who will carry on this hobby in the future. But with no doubt with the releases of all the Irish models so far that there will be plenty of "young blood" in the hobby.