Trainmodeller35

It is actually DCC fitted. I didn't realise it was going to be DCC fitted and it ran fine with my DC controller so I just ran it like that. Guess I'll be shopping for a DCC controller then!

I have a class 105 DMU that I just got second hand. It runs quite well but when I turn my controller up a bit it won't start. It won't move at all until I turn the power to almost full and then it shoots off. After it's moving, it runs fine and I have very good control over it, it just seems to be starting it that's the issue. My best guess is that it's the controller, rather than the train. I'm using the basic hornby dc controller so perhaps that's the problem. I was just wondering if someone more experienced had any other ideas about this and how to fix it.

Thanks, I thought that would be the case but I just wanted to check. while I'm here, another question: is hornby's track compatible with other makes? I think I've read some places that sleeper spacing is different between different manufacturers.

I have a standard hornby starter loop of track which has not yet been pinned onto my board. Maybe this is an obvious question but is it worth buying new track before I lay it onto the board or should I just keep the track from the starter loop? I was wondering weather the starter track is perhaps not as good quality as other track you can buy perhaps? Again this is probably an obvious question but as this is my first layout I want to get this right.

Thanks for fhe info. All the kits have been out of stock for a while now but I wasn't aware they were no longer being sold.

It's hard to tell from their website what is included in the kits, although you are probably correct in saying there are pantographs and seating included. I do understand now that these kits have higher prices because less people buy them, however I still do feel that £80+ is a bit much for what is basically an unpainted plastic shell. Looking at other offerings, DC kits' prices seem quite reasonable compared to some I've seen, like a class 313 shell for £240! I don't see how you can justify that. Either way these are all too much money for me so I guess I'll wait until these EMUs are produced RTR, although I'll probably be waiting quite a few years...

I guess I hadn't considered the demand issue, with few people buying them I guess the prices have to be fairly high. Still, I'm surprised there's some plastic kits out there for over £200 and you still have to buy your own wheels and motor... It's odd that DC kits sell DMU kits for very cheap (as little as £25) but EMUs are all at least £70. Doesn't really matter though as they seem to be all out of stock for now...

I was looking on DC kits' website and I was surprised at the price of some of their EMU kits. £81 for a class 308, £96 for a class 304 and £1,200 for a class 504! I'm sure these are quality kits but considering you have to build and (I assume) paint them yourself these prices seem a bit high... There don't seem to be many other companies making multiple unit kits but they do show up on ebay occasionally sometimes over £100! Is there a reason these seem fo cost so much? Maybe I'm just underestimating the quality of these?

The 313/314/315 EMUs are pretty much externally identical so they could be built using the same tooling. 313s operated on the East Coast Mainline, 315s on the Great Eastern and 314s in Scotland so they would suit multiple different areas being modeled. I think they'd be good to fill the current lack of AC EMUs.

I'd love to have a class 251 Blue Pullman in my collection, but the only two I can find are the old Triang one and the new Bachmann one. The Bachmann one is incredibly expensive, and the Triang one is old and doesn't look the best, plus they seem quite hard to get hold of. Has any manufacturer made a class 251 more recently at a more reasonable price, perhaps without DCC fitted?

Thanks that is very helpful. Luckily Hornby do seem to make an N2 so I will look into that. It appears the N2s operated short services out of Kings X as you said, similar to what the class 313 did and now the class 717. Admittedly I am trying to model the area a bit further north between Peterborough and Stevenage as my local station is in that area, but I do appreciate the information and now I have a better understanding of what ran local services at the time.

I'm considering doing a layout based on a section of the east coast mainline between London and Peterborough set in the 1960s. The problem is I'm not really sure what trains ran at that time. I'm aware there were the Deltics doing express services, but I can't find what trains ran slower, stopping services. I imagine there were some steam trains still running but I can't find a lot of information online. I was also considering doing the 1970s instead but it would depend on what is available in OO gauge. So if anyone could help me out on what trains ran stopping services between London and Peterborough in the 1960s and maybe the '70s that would be great. Thanks in advance.

I'm trying to design my first layout, but I'm awful at drawing so it's really hard to put my design on paper. Does anyone know of a good computer programme to use to create my design? Should I start building and not worry about the design?

True, it would not make sense to use an EMU to pull freight. It's just a shame the people who don't want to model with steam aren't really catered for.

I can understand there being less EMUs than steam trains as I guess more people prefer them, but it's ridiculous that hundreds of steam and old diesel trains are available but but barely any EMUs.