Probably my very first 3 purchases in N gauge - Minitrix Ivatt 2MT, 9F and Britannia. All still running well albeit noisier than more recent offerings

They all look in good nick, Mick. You've looked after them well.

Cheers,

Chris

Ta, Chris. They're still in their original boxes, too

I still have a Minitrix A3 "Flying Scotsman" and A4 "Mallard" bought new in the late 80s so in the "jewel case" type box. Neither have been much used so both still in decent nick (a tiny bit of cosmetic "edgewear") and still run well. I have no idea why I kept them so long, neither is a very good representation of the real loco in model form, I guess it is a nostalgia thing  . 

I also have an old Minitrix A4, a present from Mrs Grumbeast from more than a few years ago.  It still runs beautifully but I have no box (it was another surprise find, spotted by her at the back of a dark cupboard in a store in Exeter on a visit back to the UK in the 90s)

I know they aren't the most accurate but I think they do capture the overall look of the A4 well enough and I love it!

Funnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Quote from: TeddytheSpoon on May 14, 2026, 08:28:26 PMFunnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Geneva had 4 or 5 model shops with good stocks of railway models back in the 1990s and I bought quite a few British profile minitrix items there including a Flying Scotsman, Evening Star and Britannia ... now I think there's only one left! A couple of the others went over to the dark side of RC cars and planes ...

Quote from: madchadbrad on May 14, 2026, 09:03:33 PM

Quote from: TeddytheSpoon on May 14, 2026, 08:28:26 PMFunnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Geneva had 4 or 5 model shops with good stocks of railway models back in the 1990s and I bought quite a few British profile minitrix items there including a Flying Scotsman, Evening Star and Britannia ... now I think there's only one left! A couple of the others went over to the dark side of RC cars and planes ...

Yes - on my last trip to our HQ office in Lausanne back end of last year I had some scheduling reason that I cannot remember to stay near GVA and took the chance to pop into town and look for the model shops. It was late in the day and I manage to get to a couple however it was nearly disappointing. There was Bollets Jouer which I had visited once before maybe 15+ years ago when they had much more N-gauge and I found the selection to be quite limited, mostly Fleischmann. And then there was Expertrains @ 8 rue de Berne where I had a good chat with the owner who has indeed largely transitioned to RC and planes - he was lamenting the decline in interest in trains and as such he has had to change his business model. I don't even think he has the company name on the street signange any more, although he has a massive model of a tank wagon (Gauge 1 maybe?) in the window - cannot miss it. Anyway in conversation it turms out he does have some N-gauge but largely not on display. So has dug several boxes of old inventory for me to dig through - a mix of Minitrix, Arnold &c. I ended up buying several items from him including this Arnold E16 that I have previously posted about here on the forum.



So worth a visit if passing - there is some treasure in those boxes, just need to ask.

There is a model shop that I do recommend if visiting Lausanne. I have been to it several times. Le TGV on Rue Saint-Martin. Significant quantities of 2nd hand N-gauge - bought my Krokodil there (also previously posted):


 
Cheers,

Colin. 

My Minitrix Mallard has worn it's traction tyres out, unfortunately.

Quote from: madchadbrad on May 14, 2026, 09:03:33 PM

Quote from: TeddytheSpoon on May 14, 2026, 08:28:26 PMFunnily enough the Ivatt 2MT was my first N gauge purchase as well - and funnily enough, also bought second-hand in (or near) Geneva! Must see if I can dig it out of my folks' storage one of these days...

Geneva had 4 or 5 model shops with good stocks of railway models back in the 1990s and I bought quite a few British profile minitrix items there including a Flying Scotsman, Evening Star and Britannia ... now I think there's only one left! A couple of the others went over to the dark side of RC cars and planes ...

Yes, I grew up in Nyon and the one model shop they had there has done the same - seems to be a worldwide trend. Must admit I'm surprised it's still going, even without trains!

I must check out that Lausanne shop next time I'm there though...

Quote from: Bealman on May 15, 2026, 02:35:46 AMMy Minitrix Mallard has worn it's traction tyres out, unfortunately.

Easy to replace.

https://www.petersspares.com/p/trix-minitrix-e12087800-s-traction-tyres-for-britanniaa3a4-formerly-72087800-pk20-n-gauge

I still have four Minitrix Britannias; all are runners (some better than others), though not now used, and all are chipped. The first was bought in 1975, the last 1989. They are all repainted and renumbered, though, and are mostly on, I think, the third set of tyres. My Dock Tank still exists under a class 04 brass body, but the 2MT and 2MTT are now gone, as are my original 9Fs.

I also have a P+D Marsh 'factory built and painted' cl 47 and Peak cast body, though currently no chassis for them. The peak went on to a modified cl 40 Poole chassis (and was written up in the Journal) after the original stretched Mehanoteknica chassis failed. They date from circa 1978.

I also still have, though not in use, some Poole early mk1s with the window 'strip'; they are all fitted with Ultima etched replacement underframes.

No doubt I also have some early Peco and Farish wagons hiding somewhere.

Martyn

Well I've just returned from a holiday in the Kawartha's (lake area in Eastern Ontario) which was lovely, and as I was only 1.5hrs away from a fairly famous model railway store, Larkspur line in Merrickville I thought I should visit.

What an amazing old fashioned full of everything kinda store! And the owner was friendly and welcoming (I was in the store for an hour and a half, chatting and browsing). There is a SPAM point to all of this I promise, but before that, if you ever find yourself within a couple of hours of Merrickville its WELL worth the visit.

There is a pretty varied quite large, new and 2nd hand selection of N scale (its mainly a HO store though), books, art, supplies. Just a ton of good stuff.  But now onto SPAM.

First off, I found a locomotive I've been looking for for 30 years! In 1996 at my first show in Canada I bought an 8 car set of old Concor NYC passenger cars, The NYC J3a that went with it was wrecked so I didn't buy it (I'm an idiot!) but last week lo and behold a Dreyfus styled J3a for only $125CDN, but wait, upon testing part of the valve gear detached, so it needs work, so the chap said 'Its yours for $25!!).  So I have a little work to do with this one.  I'm unsure if its one of the pre-1987 or post ones (I suspect its 90s)

What a beauty!








Now for something totally different and sold again at a very reasonable price because at the moment she doesn't run, but again a locomotive I've always wanted, A peco Jubilee, 5713 Renown to be precise!.  I've not had time to open her up to see whats up, but she does seem in good cosmetic condition





And finally, for only $65 each, and in the running order that you would expect from a Kato 2 F3s (from 1988 run I suspect) in the wonderful CN Green and Yellow livery.  Both run beautifully though I think they would benefit from a service.




I think they all qualify as SPAM and I look forward to bringing them fully back to life!.

Incidentally I also visited probably the most famous model train store in Canada in Markham, some good stuff, some N scale, very overpriced and absolutely terrible sullen service so I just left without buying anything, its worth the 4 hr drive to visit larkspur instead

G.

Bargains, mate.  

My own Peco Jubilee started life as maroon LMS loco. Bahamas but was repainted by a late friend as Renown complete with yellow warning stripe. It also developed running problems, but was fettled by @Ozymandias of this parish.