Model Railway Forum

Hi All,

(apologies for the long winded intro)

I thought it would be useful to join up, as I'm probably going to need the help of people that know what they're on about!

Besides, this does look like a nice forum to hang out on Your layouts look incredible!

Although I've been a modeller all my life (aircraft, tanks etc.), I've never owned any model trains (although I do like a nice layout). However my son, who is autistic, has asked for a 'train set' for his birthday, ''oh by the way, can I please have a steam and a diesel engine and can I have signals that work just like the model railway at Bourton on the Water...'' Now normally the answer would be, ''er.. no'' but... Being autistic, he's rather ''obsessive'' about certain things and alas those things are sadly handheld games devices, Minecraft and films/DVDS. He does love railways though, and as it's rare for him to ask for anything other than the above, my wife and I have decided to go all out on it (to an extent - can't quite afford DCC) and try and 'WOW' him onto a new interest - if it doesn't work I guess we can always sell it!

To that end, and after a conversation with a nice chap on the Hornby community forum and a fair bit of research, I've ordered a Hornby 'Flying Scotsman' starter set, enough track packs to give him a 2nd full circuit, a HM2000 Twin Controller, an old Hornby Intercity 125 set, a Dapol Station and Platform and some basic Hornby red/green signal lights and switches. I've also picked up a switch motor for later use.

Now I've got to figure out what to do with it which is where hopefully you guys come in! (Oh, and it's his birthday on the 28th!)

I'm not planning on basing it yet, as we're moving soon and I want to see if he gets into it first. So it'll be on the dining room table. I would like to build some scenery thought, like a tunnel or something and some hills etc. that can be just put around the track. Maybe the trackmat or some green felt to put it on, and some lights on the station.

Anyway, that's enough waffle - looking forward to talking to you all.

Cheers!

It seems like quite an adventure!

Regarding the cost. Things are certainly not cheap but tere are ways around this.
Secondly model railways even broken trains usually sell for reasonable prices so it is a sound hobby like that. Spending on other things like computergames will loose most of their value, so while this hobby is not cheap, it does retain its value much better then other things.

Welcome to this wonderful world!

And yes. Secondhand is a good plan. I usually buy secondhand these days for donor locos to convert into 7mm narrow gauge locos.

Hi Stuart - I think the Trackmat would be a good starting point. It's coloured and cheap to buy. I think the R8127 is the latest version, and you should be able to get the TrackPacks to finish it off (track wise) - the Trackmat is 1800x1200 - so I hope you have a large dining room table - although you say it will not be permanent at the moment as you are moving, a sheet of 9mm/12mm ply that size with a 3"x1" frame on the back, can easily be put up against a wall when not in use, and will be portable when moving time comes.. Many will say plan your own layout, but as you have said, you are hoping your son takes to this - if he does then the skies the limit - if he doesn't then the outlay has not been to bad - once you get going this is not a cheap hobby. As you have a "modelling" background I'm sure everything will be fine, but any questions just ask away, there will always be someone along to give you an answer. Best of luck. BB

PS: Welcome to the forum and I have read your thread on the Hornby Forum - many on here are also members of the Hornby Forum.

Welcome and good luck with your rail project.

You don't say how old your son is. Modern locos tend to have delicate parts that handling can easily destroy whereas older models don't. With a modelling background you can touch up and repair older locos should they get damaged from rough handling that someone on the autistic spectrum may be prone to. (Autism is a very wide catch-all for all sorts of issues as I'm sure you know.)

As suggested, getting a baseboard the size of the trackmat will enable some features to be permanently added (especially track) that laying on a table-top wouldn't allow. Station buildings can either be bought new, second hand or built from scratch. It really does depend on how much you're able to invest in both time and money and how much your son responds to the trains and modelling.

I have a spare trackmat somewhere if you need one.

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:09 pm I have a spare trackmat somewhere if you need one.

I have one lying around somewhere as well. What you have to be prepared for, is that for an earlier Trackmat (R8011?), the trackpacks are no longer available, and are different from the current mat. This is not a serious problem, but it would mean sourcing the track pieces individually rather than buying packs A,B,C...........

Hi all and thanks for the warm welcome and the advice!

bulleidboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:39 pm

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:09 pm I have a spare trackmat somewhere if you need one.

I have one lying around somewhere as well. What you have to be prepared for, is that for an earlier Trackmat (R8011?), the trackpacks are no longer available, and are different from the current mat. This is not a serious problem, but it would mean sourcing the track pieces individually rather than buying packs A,B,C...........

Thanks! Although I think one should form part of the Starter set I bought - if not I'll certainly take you up on that!

IanS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 5:23 pm You don't say how old your son is. Modern locos tend to have delicate parts that handling can easily destroy whereas older models don't. With a modelling background you can touch up and repair older locos should they get damaged from rough handling that someone on the autistic spectrum may be prone to. (Autism is a very wide catch-all for all sorts of issues as I'm sure you know.)

That's good to know - he'll be 11. he's actually quite careful in his handling of such things but the same probably can't be said for his driving - I'm sure we'll have a few crashes! But I'll certainly be careful of what I buy him in the future.

bulleidboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:39 pm

Mountain Goat wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:09 pm I have a spare trackmat somewhere if you need one.

I have one lying around somewhere as well. What you have to be prepared for, is that for an earlier Trackmat (R8011?), the trackpacks are no longer available, and are different from the current mat. This is not a serious problem, but it would mean sourcing the track pieces individually rather than buying packs A,B,C...........

I had to go and look. Mine is X11269. I have never opened it. I have used other trackmats as wrapping paper as no one wanted them and I had no use for them. Nice things if one wants to use them, but I prefer making my own designs.

Hi Stuart and welcome to our forum.

Stuart wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:01 pm
Thanks! Although I think one should form part of the Starter set I bought - if not I'll certainly take you up on that!

You are welcome to it anyway. Private message me with an address if you want it.

Here we are...

I will remove the photo after you have seen it as due to the size of the trackmat, I was not able to crop it to get it to a smaller size to prevent too much site memory from being used up, but it is a double track design with a level crossing and one siding goes to a station and another siding goes to an engine shed. There is a second smaller station on a curvebof the main running line. The design needs two left hand points and two right hand points so it looks nice and simple though one can always add extra scenery etc if one wants to.