Noel

JM, I wonder how many on this forum now, never had a toy train set at some stage growing up? I suspect few. Yes current hobbyists have it good, therefore the hobby is doing ok right now, but if half decent toy train sets disappear from the market, and fewer youngsters get that first exposure to model trains hurtling around their bedroom floor the long term future for the hobby may not be as bright - the supply of hobbyists diminishes, market constricts, prices rise, market constricts further, etc. Todays modellers are little boys who grew up, but less kids now = less grown up modellers in the future. It does seem to be sunset industry but the sun probably won't ever fully set, leaving a small thriving hobby of specialists and higher prices. 30 years ago most major high streets in the UK had a really good model train shop or toy shop that had a decent Hornby railways section, but most seem to have closed. It's not so long ago Dublin had many more than just one decent model railway shop. I remember three that had fabulous layouts in store! We are lucky here in Ireland that the hobby got a major lifeline from Murphy Models and the supporting cast of small symbiant suppliers that supply Irish RTR stock, kits and accessories. I do hope Hornby return to profitability and have fond memories of the introduction they gave me to this hobby when they had different shareholders and were called Hornby-Dublo.

Hear hear. The only constant is change. PS: Youngsters today are getting extra experiences from LCD panels in all shapes and sizes, but loosing out in tactile interchange, dexterity and imagination skills triggered by physically playing with wooden blocks, meccano, lego, toy soldiers, airfix, drawing, painting, etc. Perhaps not better not worse just different.

Looking really good Dave. This looks like it is going to be very special when its finished. Is the track work in the photos permenantly fixed or is it temporarily fixed pending further work such as ballasting, wiring, etc? Cheers Noel

How to make track work LMS style

A question about the materials train above. Is track laid in short sections like the loads above on main running lines, or just in sidings and yards, etc? I thought main line rail was predominantly continuous welded rail laid in long sections, or are short sections like the above welded together? PS: Nice photo btw.

My first model train was a clockwork 0-4-0 tin plate set on a circle of track. Hornby-Dublo freight below was my first 00 gauge model train set. My favourite of all time was the BR/exGWR "Cardiff Castle" set I stopped buying Hornby gear about 20 years ago and switched to Bachmann, BUT I do have a nostalgic and very fond affinity for Hornby and hope they turn the business around.

Aside from anything else, we as consumers need healthy and continuing competition between Hornby and Bachmann. The last thing we need is a monopoly.

rolf

It was only a very marginal improvement but a dreadfully unrealistic runner with either motor. It just could not run slow and smooth. The scale start speed with the new motor was still grossly unprototypical.

What Ho - Jolly hockey sticks

Major brand names never die, sometimes they just change ownership. Hornby, Hornby-Dublo, Triang-Hornby, Hornby Railways, etc.

Fabulous street scape details - its alive.

That's it in a nutshell. The world is gone backward - gone is supersonic passenger flight, gone is the space shuttle, manned space travel is finished, real dining coaches are gone from long distance trains, flying RC model aircraft has been replaced by drone cameras that have no challenge and need zero-1 skill to fly, gone is the HST ferry, where will it all end Ted?

Possible multiple cause for the loss of interest, fewer folk around nowadays who remember seeing steam trains in their youth, the decline of loco hauled trains with rather bland looking DMUs, ICRs and HST125s. Modern passenger trains seem to have less 'machine' about them. Many young folk only have memories of trains as short rectangular buses on rails that sound uninspiring unlike guttural locos and hissing steam locos of even 30 years ago. UK TV and movie dramas still make significant use of iconic steam trains so despite folk not seeing them in the flesh they remain part of acquired subliminal memory.

A pity. It doesn't bode well. Toy train sets seem ludicrously expensive now, and the older modellers market who grew up with toy train sets 60 to 35 years ago has accelerated its shrinkage due demographic age profile. Add to that, social networking now seems to be many youngsters primary leisure activity. The industry will never die, but as a 'sunset industry' it may become a lot smaller and more specialised.

Same here especially on iPad. Flickr seems to be particularly sluggish on lower broadband speeds (i.e. <7mb), but probably not noticeable to 20mb+ connections.

Interesting gradient. It almost looks like a model layout.

Nice to see Black&Tan. I hadn't the heart to cut this SW1500 up especially as she was sort of Black&Tan (and yellow) She was destined as a donor but I've decided to keep her.

Enjoy Stephen. Just S T U N N I N G Top class - a different class altogether. That raises the bar to a new level for model diesel locos. I've never seen any RTR nor kit built diesel loco get within a country mile of that level of quality and precision detail. 3D, resin, plasticard and brass simply cannot compete with injection moulded plastic for quality. Would love to see a video of her running at some stage especially low speed tasks, stop and start, etc.

Cliffs of Moher eat your heart out! Nice authentic job

This forum has some wonderful nuggets. Only found this post. This Roco train set is spectacular. When it comes to model engineering there is little doubt German companies have always been the worlds leaders by a long margin.

Yes it does look rather plain. I assume it will get some sort of coloured lining.

Sorry I can't see it in here - too much snow!

Any joy with this issue? I have to login every time on my iPhone but the login "remember" ok on my iPad and Mac. I suspect it is to do with cookie storage due to the mobile theme's different url.