Indeed, this is a great thread and something a bit different.

My first trainset was a Hornby clockwork set #21 which I obtained was I really was a child (5 or so). My set is long gone and probably well down in a rubbish heap somewhere in Cooma Australia, but here is the same set bought by me about 20 years ago in an attempt to relive my past. The locomotive number is 60985 which is a non existent number but which fits between the V2 and the B1 classes of locomotives.



Next train set was an electric O Gauge train made by Maurlyn, an Australian manufacturer. I must have been about 7 when I got it. It looks to me like a class 38 NSWGR locomotive which I now have an N scale version of and which I showed on my Deadwood thread 6 months ago. Shown is a photo from the web as my set too is probably also buried under layers of rubbish in Cooma Tip. This is unfortunate as this set has become a collector's item.



Next train that I obtained when I was about 8 was a Trix Twin passenger set OO gauge which featured a rather crude representation of a Hunt Class 4-4-0 locomotive, 'Pytchley' with two overly short maroon coaches. This is the TTR make referred to by @Greygreaser in the previous post. The loco behind Pytchley is my fourth locomotive and is an even cruder representation of #30951 which in real life was a powerful 0-8-0 shunter, but which is represented by Trix as 0-4-0.



Next up was the acquisition of the Trix Britannia which was the first of a string of realistic Trix models. I'm now 11. This model was introduced in 1959 along with a few other similarly realistic locos such as the Class 5 behind it in the photo. At this point, my dad became interested and started to buy things and construct a scenic layout in the basement i.e. he was taking over. The Britannia was the last loco from my childhood that I could really claim as mine.

For some strange reason, Trix decided to go with a 3.8 mm/foot rather than the 4mm/foot of proper 00 gauge. Consequently the Trix locomotives and coaches appear significantly smaller than the Hornby Dublo and Triang offerings at the time. Note that H0 is 3.5 mm/foot so Trix chose a scale halfway between 00 and HO. The Trix locos and rolling stock had become fine looking models.



Webbo

I will be purchasing a couple.

"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so." Douglas Adams.

Cheers,

Chris

Tried to make a layout in my early teens ('55ish) using a TTR set and a sheet of hardboard! Looking back this was probably the most complex way of starting in model railways.
The principle of running two locos on three rails was fine but the esthetics were horrid, only 0-4-0 tank locos and those Kato style track pieces but without any finesse. The double pick-up shoes must have been made of the softest steel as they would 'groove' within a few hours of use - perhaps deliberate to stop the rails wearing? Speed control seemed to be nothing or quite quick to avoid stalling and trying to match two locos was nigh impossible.
If you've tried to attach anything to hardboard the you'll know it's the least suitable material for a layout base. Attaching one section of track would invariably loosen a previous section!
Add to this my friend had a superb Hornby 00 set with detailed loco and coaches(possibly the green princess set) which made the TTR stock look very childish!
After that you wouldn't see me near MR stuff until my son wanted to try modelling, choosing Ashburton in 00 gauge about '83. From this I bought a few N items that eventually got used during covid lockdown about 2021.

Got most of mine done easily enough, but the one on the cooker was a bit of a beggar - managed it in the end, though;



 

Quote from: trkilliman on Yesterday at 11:02:53 AMPurely out of interest, who will be interested in purchasing the new Farish Hall class locos?

I will look to buy two, maybe three of them. I am hoping the Hawksworth tender version is released at the same time as the Collett tender.

I'd think about renaming/numbering two modified Halls,to locos I stood on the footplate of back in 1965. Sadly these plates are not currently available. I imagine the range of plates could be extended with the release of these new Halls?

I have a sound one on pre-order - Kinlet Hall in BR green, it will have it's identity changed to 6911 "Holker Hall" a Banbury loco for the final few years of it's life and regular visitor to the Great Central on cross-country services. Edit: thankfully Fox Transfers do both name and number plates for this loco and they have already been purchased.

I'm waiting for a late crest with Hawksworth tender to be announced. Just the one for me as I have a couple of Dapol Halls and won't be disposing of them.

Quote from: trkilliman on Yesterday at 11:02:53 AMPurely out of interest, who will be interested in purchasing the new Farish Hall class locos?

I will look to buy two, maybe three of them. I am hoping the Hawksworth tender version is released at the same time as the Collett tender.

I'd think about renaming/numbering two modified Halls,to locos I stood on the footplate of back in 1965. Sadly these plates are not currently available. I imagine the range of plates could be extended with the release of these new Halls?

I'm very interested but the ones listed for pre-order at the moment do not suit my era.

Purely out of interest, who will be interested in purchasing the new Farish Hall class locos?

I will look to buy two, maybe three of them. I am hoping the Hawksworth tender version is released at the same time as the Collett tender.

I'd think about renaming/numbering two modified Halls,to locos I stood on the footplate of back in 1965. Sadly these plates are not currently available. I imagine the range of plates could be extended with the release of these new Halls?

I hope you all remembered and no one is still operating on the wrong time.
Anyone got a dashcam fitted to their car (nudge, nudge, wink, wink )?