LCDR Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Just received an email from Hornby, they will be selling a Hogwarts train set, Hall class loco with Mark 1 carriages, battery powered radio controlled on plastic track and at Gauge 1. I thought it looked familiar, it is a Lionel product, US manufacturers of model trains with a long association with Tri-ang in the old days. I already have a Lionel Gauge O version in GW livery, but mine is three rail electric. Sounds really wacky, and at £150 it sounds like a fun thing to play with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 It looks quite tempting - will certainly impress a younger market. Werre it have been a few years ago, it would have been ideal for my now-7-yo. Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howbi Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Could be the first step towards a Garden Railway, plenty of 45mm plastic track available....... 🤔.........HB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Gauge 1 train set for <£150 can’t be bad and it looks pretty reasonable quality even if the controller is a but noddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 I expect these are intended for children who are too old for the Hornby Junior Train Sets, who do not want to go into proper model railways yet. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Not so sure about children, fancy one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 You fancy one, even though it is battery powered radio controlled? It sounds like a toy to myself, not a model or a model railway product. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 This from a Thomas collector 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Very funny Brian (walkingthedog)! 😆 😉 😀 The Thomas models run from electricity and not from batteries and / or radio control, so therefore they are models and not toys. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Yeah right Jacob. Must remember that things that run on batteries/radio control such as garden railway, radio controlled aircraft and cars etc. are toys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howbi Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Many garden railway models run on batteries with radio control........can be very expensive.........HB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Afraid not Howard, they're toys. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howbi Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Really?........says who?.......On a more sensible note, Brian, are you free to meet at Risborough on Sat 22nd where we might find some models, tea and cake?...........HB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Yes I shall be there. Look forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 Get real chaps, are we kidding ourselves? Model railways ARE toys, toys for big girls and boys but toys nevertheless, they are not one of life's essentials. I am not ashamed to admit that I will occasionally (well frequently) play with trains, and it is always for amusement. As a pastime it cannot really be described as a sport, although it can occasionally get quite competative, Some people keep a high powered sports car, for runs out at the weekend but wouldn't dream of taking it to the supermarket, so that too is a toy, and what are these boxes of tricks that plug into the telly so one can blast away at invading aliens or fight dragons or zombies in cyberspace? Surely these are toys. The Harry Potter Gauge 1 set is not age defined. In fact the advertisement specifically says it is for boys and girls of all ages. The Harry Potter series of books was originally conceived as a children's story but appeals to adults as well. I can see the set being incorporated into future Christmas decorations as it only requires a space slightly larger than 6 feet by 4 feet. Let us continue to play with our trains and have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rana Temporia Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Well said LC&DR. Alongside my 'serious' models I have quite a large collection of OO and HO clockwork locomotives from various manufacturers with the appropriate fun rolling stock. That's how I got into model railways as a child as a step up from push along. I did have some BIG BIG train equipment but when there were no batteries left the clockwork ones were out! Setting up a layout with various loops using Playcraft sectional track (12.75" radius including the points) and letting them go round is very therapeutic. No power supply problems, no batteries, just highly colourful toys doing exactly what they were designed to do. I always feel more chilled out after a session running them. I still think the Jouef set i had as a child with the D6100 clockwork diesel, two bright red French coaches and a car transporter with level crossing and large oval of track was my favourite set I ever had. The mechanism was fantastic and it ran better then the hornby clockwork locos I had then. Some of the clockwork top tanks I have now are very fast and without a couple of wagons in tow will fly off the track. They have the same mechanism as all the other Tri-ang and Hornby locos so why they are so different I don't know. With the weather forecast tomorrow I doubt we'll be doing anything so I might get some out for a change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I have some of Tri-ang Prmary Series clockwork and the Playcraft diesel shunter, but not the D6100 although I will certainly buy one if I find one at a toy fair. I do have the electric version though. I love old gauge O tinplate clockwork, it is what I grew up with and have aquired a lot to replace that which I destroyed when I was younger. I have also got a lot of the wooden railway, ostensibly for my younger grand children to play with, but guess who helps them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Well I think I may end up with one. Got plenty of other toys and this one looks fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 I am certainly tempted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bexhill Donkey Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Lionel Lines also make an O gauge version of the Hogwart's Express. It would be good if Hornby supply Lionel because there is only one UK stockist. This Gauge 1 battery-powered version of the Hogwart's Express is available in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 @walkingthedog I assume you like Harry Potter then, if want one of these sets? GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I have grandchildren Jacob. I do like Harry Potter but wouldn't buy an OO loco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I see and understand. Thanks. 😀 GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pidder Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Basis for a cheap garden railway? Wonder what the range of the RC would be, and whether cheap plastic track is available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1707817926 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Not Gauge 1. I was contemplating buying one for my garden railway as something for fun but glad I didn't. I have just found out that it is actually 50mm track and not 45mm gauge 1. Disappointing but true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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