Quote from: Foxhound on June 10, 2026, 08:40:25 AMI think that there's a degree of silly expectation on eBay from some sellers about the value of things, and I also think people need to realise that if it ain't boxed, you can shave a fair amount off the price.

I have gone from someone who hardly ever used eBay to someone who uses it a fair bit. I'm now only buying second-hand locomotives - my last new one was when Union Mills was closing down. Apart from the occasional Peco wagon, rolling stock is all second-hand as well. I find eBay to be a very good source of what I'm looking for - mostly ProperlyPoole Graham Farish and Minitrix models.

I agree completely with @Foxhound . I'm a Non-Collector and a train set player, so boxes aren't important to me. Finding space to store them is something of a menace as well. With regard to price, I'm happy to pay what I think is a fair price and never make so-called 'cheeky' bids or offers as I consider that to be disrespectful. If the price being asked for, or being bid up to, is too high - in my opinion - I won't normally buy.




[Three lovely old Minitrix wagons - the 'Sutton Manor' one was made in the Wrecsham factory - purchased for a reasonable price from eBay. All were stripped down and given a thorough clean, including de-rusting and polishing the steel weight. ProperlyPoole Graham Farish SuperShiny wheelsets have been fitted. These 'roll' better than the Minitrix plastic wheels and give the colourful wagons the agreeably 'train-setty' look I hope to achieve. Hours 'N' hours of enjoyment for a modest sum. And no boxes to clutter the house!]


I think there is another thing to be considered. This is a hobby in which I participate for pleasure. It's sometimes difficult to put a price on pleasure. I had been looking for Union Mills 'D11/2' 'Scotch Director' 4-4-0 No. 2680 Lucy Ashton for several years.

One came up on eBay - I bid and was successful. But I paid more than it cost new - probably on par if inflation over the intervening years is taken into account. I am absolutely delighted with the locomotive.* George Mortimer Pullman's famous saying comes to mind - "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten." I hope I'll still be enjoying the locomotive once I've forgotten how much she cost. So, sometimes, it might be worth paying a bit more for something that will give pleasure.

In conclusion, I consider eBay to be a valuable resource and one that makes my participation in our wonderful hobby more enjoyable.

* Lucy Ashton was the tragic heroine of Sir Walter Scott's Bride of Lammermoor - a novel set not far from here, between the Forth and the Tweed, so the locomotive is of local, historical and literary interest. Well worth an extra fistful of pounds.

'N' Gauge is Such Fun!

With all best wishes.

John 

Quote from: kusojiji on June 08, 2026, 06:24:32 AMHaha, at least the wife didn't leave with the dog this time...

My ex tried that, and the dog demolished her mother's kitchen in protest. I got the dog back the next day.....

Quote from: eddief83 on June 09, 2026, 02:03:21 PM

Quote from: Ben A on June 08, 2026, 06:49:53 PMThe deadline for pre-ordering these models is the end of August, and we will be posting an update and more images, on our website shortly.

Hi Ben

The progress poster at DEMU says the pullman deadline is July, which is correct? I need to get the funds together for at lease one rake of pullmans so wondering how long I have

Mike replied to this question on farcebook as 31 July

Indeed! 

Quote from: Bealman on June 10, 2026, 09:58:18 AMThanks, John. The bridge was built by the same firm, but when I've returned to England, I'm reminded just how much bigger it is!

Yep Dorman Long

Thanks, John. The bridge was built by the same firm, but when I've returned to England, I'm reminded just how much bigger it is!

Quote from: Graham on June 10, 2026, 04:55:25 AMsometimes when I see a picture like this, I yearn for my trips to Sydney, then I kick myself and thank retirement that I don't have to be there almost every week.

Isn't retirement absolutely fabulous?

I know exactly what you mean, as I sometimes experience the same thing in the context of London. I used to go there a lot on business, almost always by train. Inevitably having to leave the house at stupid o'clock and not returning until late in the evening. But I enjoyed it.

However, I'm now six years older and have SuperSilly mobility problems so I tell myself that was then and this is now. And then go and play with my electric train set instead!

With all good wishes.

John

PS Splendid photograph - reminds me of Newcastle and Gateshead!

Quote from: Will_J on June 10, 2026, 07:27:53 AMMy wife says the same thing, strangely! She says N seems more lifelike to her because there's often more scenery to give the moving models a "place to exist" if that makes sense. Of course this is all just personal subjective taste, but it's an interesting observation.

I'm in the lucky position of having a wife who likes to do my scenery for me. She also considers OO to be toy-like. The resurgence in TT came too late into our relationship (we've been together 17.5 years) for me to even think about buying it, space being a primary driver. She actively encouraged me to return to the hobby at 40, which I hadn't touched since my very early 20s. Even if we don't work on the layout every week, it doesn't matter, the time we do spend on it together is always worthwhile and good fun.

We're working on plans for a second layout currently which was going to be a twin-track dog-bone basic set-up to run my foreign stock, but she's now looking at European landscapes....

I think that there's a degree of silly expectation on eBay from some sellers about the value of things, and I also think people need to realise that if it ain't boxed, you can shave a fair amount off the price.

Quote from: Bealman on June 10, 2026, 07:43:13 AMIt's basically true, though. N gauge allows for a 'railway in the landscape ' approach as exemplified by Pendon. This just looks more realistic. Larger scales appeal to folk who appreciate and concentrate on stock rather than scenery. While the stock looks more detailed and has 'mass', the scenery correspondenly looks more toy-like.

My opinion only.

Agreed, if you look at a layout like Pettleworth Downs, I think it's it's got that Pendon magic despite being the size of a small dining table. You need drastically more space investment to get the same effect in OO, and I rarely see that kind of thing at shows.

It's basically true, though. N gauge allows for a 'railway in the landscape ' approach as exemplified by Pendon. This just looks more realistic. Larger scales appeal to folk who appreciate and concentrate on stock rather than scenery. While the stock looks more detailed and has 'mass', the scenery correspondenly looks more toy-like.

My opinion only.