I'm glad here in the UK we had Kames Burke

I agree that prices of new locos and rolling stock are utterly staggering.

I am lucky, in that I probably could afford to buy new wagons for 2-3 hours' minimum wage or locos for 15-20, but I refuse to.

The vast majority of my collection is (at least) second hand, and I enjoy customising it all the more because it's old, worn and cheap (like me!)

Mike

Everything is expensive these days and/or is getting more so, but you can contain you outlay by not purchasing every new product that is launched, making things from cheaper materials, and budgeting your expenditure over a longer period. Set monthly limits on hobby spending to what you can afford and stick to it.

Still waiting for that Class25/3 

Nice!

These just arrived downunder.  From the S&DJR Trust

Hi matey,

Thought this might put a spark in your day...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkocaEcx26c

Hope you are both on the tracks again soon.

Mark

Quote from: Western Exile on March 20, 2026, 10:11:32 PMThis hobby may be expensive, but it's not compulsory.

   You sure? 

This hobby may be expensive, but it's not compulsory.

Any hobby can be expensive! I spend far less on model railways than my wife does on musical instruments. Golf, boats, pets, they can all cost a fortune, but you can do hobbies on the cheap if you don't mind having to accept second best sometimes.

Cheers,

Chris