Model Railway Forum

Hi just bought my grandson 00 gauge hornby track which he will run his playtrain on but what do I need to buy to make it run an electric train when I decide what he wants as his first please and thank yours

At a very basic level you will need a loco that runs on 12v and a 12v controller. Some wagons or coaches to go behind it as a playtrain set is unlikely to use the same connections.

After that the limits are the depths of your wallet and his interest level!

Probably the easiest way of getting these are a 'trainset' as they're usually provided in the box. You will see a post from MG (and others) https://www.modelrailwayforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4420 about the price of everything in this hobby but also see that for around £100 you can get started. Having already bought some track, the track in the box will connect to it and make a bigger layout.

Oh, welcome to the forum too!

Welcome.

The easiest way to start is to buy a trainset but there are two small issues here. One is that sets in 00 gauge tend to go for £80 and up these days, and the second issue is that the controllers in the new sets (If we are talking about Hornby) tend to be a bit annoying. They work well enough but if ones train comes off the track and the overload cut out trips (Where there is no indication that it has done so on these Hornby controllers. Other makes will make a noticable clicking sound or have a warning light if it happens) and with Hornby controllers, one has to turn them off at the mains and wait 30 seconds or more before they reset themselves which is really frustrating. The other thing is the speed knob has to be forced into the "Off" position before the controller would allow one to change direction. It was not simply a case of turning the knob to off with the one I had. One had to put pressure in the off position before it would allow one to flick the direction switch.
My first reccomendation is to buy a trainset and later get a better controller from the likes of Gaugemaster and a few extra pieces of track as the first upgrades. The loco and the rolling stock it pulls sometimes can cost more individually then buying the whole set so one may as well start with a set, even if one will end up upgrading things as one goes along!

And one thing to note. Always check any mains wires or wires from transformers for splitting near to the supporting plasticky rubber grommets for safety. These days the supporting moulded on grommet type supports near the case of a transformer or controller are much stiffer then they used to be and can cause the wire to split and short, especially if the wires are often being moved, so do check these areas now and again especially as kids are involved (Not to say that one should not check if an adult).
While controllers are safe to use I did have the rare event a couple of years ago with a budget trainset controller so I will say to everyone do a little check now and then just to ensure that the wires are safe to use. It is rare but it is best to be safe.

Other than that, a nice trainset of ones choice and it is hours and hours of fun! I started in the hobby as a child and I am still enjoying myself and I am in my 40's. So it really is a great hobby to enjoy!