Which trains should I choose?

[Dave_01]

I've owned a 00 gauge track before, however had to sell it due to space and not having the time or money to maintain it. However, recently, after my mothers work friends ex-husband passed away, She offered to take his collection of N gauge stuff so that we can sell it all for her and give her the money. She wasn't up to this, as her mother passed away just two weeks before. I'd like another layout, so I've made a small loop you may of seen in my other post, and am going to choose a few trains. I shall give her some money for this, the rest will be auctioned.
The trains I have a choice from that fit my time period I'm going for are:
-Graham Farish Class 08 shunter in green
-Graham Farish Class 08 shunter in red
-Graham Farish Class 20
-Graham Farish Class 25
-Graham Farish Class 08 shunter in blue
-Graham Farish Class 08 shunter special edition with EWS, red
-Graham Farish Class 42 warship
-Graham Farish blue Class 55
-Graham Farish Class 47 D1622 Isambard Kingdom Brunel
-Minitrix 70000 "Britannia"
-Minitrix 70036 "Boadicea"
-Graham Farish flying scots man
-Graham Farish Mallard
-Minitrix Class 27, D3579
The ones in bold I am pretty much decided on, so I've got a diesel, a shunter, but would also like a steam train- which one is more unique, the 70000 or 70036? They both look nice. The Class 47 looks quite nice too.

[Kris]

I would not go for any of the Minitrix locos, as they are all 20+ years old and there are better more accurate and recent versions available.

[Dave_01]

I would not go for any of the Minitrix locos, as they are all 20+ years old and there are better more accurate and recent versions available.

I thought the Minitrix ones were better quality than the chinese made graham farish ones?

[PLD]

I would not go for any of the Minitrix locos, as they are all 20+ years old and there are better more accurate and recent versions available.

I thought the Minitrix ones were better quality than the chinese made graham farish ones?

No... They were good in their day, but times and standards have moved on significantly. The majority you find thesedays are much abused and very worn.
There is also the issue of unavailability of spares...

[Dave_01]

I would not go for any of the Minitrix locos, as they are all 20+ years old and there are better more accurate and recent versions available.

I thought the Minitrix ones were better quality than the chinese made graham farish ones?

No... They were good in their day, but times and standards have moved on significantly. The majority you find thesedays are much abused and very worn.
There is also the issue of unavailability of spares...

They are both the older ones I believe, and they run surprisingly well. Have they lowered production quality now?

[silly moo]

If the Minitrix ones run well and are in good condition, I would consider them but they won't be worth as much some of the newer locos because of the spares issue. I have quite a few Minitrix locos that I'm very happy with which despite their age, run very well indeed.

I wouldn't say they are better quality than the brand new Farish locos but they are good for their time.

The new Continental outline Minitrix (Minitrix don't make British Outline anymore) locos are better quality than the new Farish locos.

[Kris]

I would not go for any of the Minitrix locos, as they are all 20+ years old and there are better more accurate and recent versions available.

I thought the Minitrix ones were better quality than the chinese made graham farish ones?

No... They were good in their day, but times and standards have moved on significantly. The majority you find thesedays are much abused and very worn.
There is also the issue of unavailability of spares...

They are both the older ones I believe, and they run surprisingly well. Have they lowered production quality now?

It's not a case of lowering production quality, more that they withdrew from the UK market sometime in the 1990's.

[Dave_01]

More that Minitrix parts are like Hens teeth !

When were they produced?

[Jerry Howlett]

More that Minitrix parts are like Hens teeth !

An ebay myth by a clever seller had minitrix traction tyres selling for stupid money, when they were and probably still are available through one of the German spares shops. 

OK Minitrix British Locos may be old and outdated but so are many of us.  59 Today!

[Dave_01]

More that Minitrix parts are like Hens teeth !

An ebay myth by a clever seller had minitrix traction tyres selling for stupid money, when they were and probably still are available through one of the German spares shops. 

OK Minitrix British Locos may be old and outdated but so are many of us.  59 Today!

Except you can't get spare parts for 59 year old humans that much now a days...
PM me if you're interested in buying any. I'll do you 50% off.

[msr]

Here's the web site to give you an overview of the British Minitrix models:
http://www.minitrix.org.uk/HomePage/

Minitrix produced some very good locos, mostly based on German chasses, well constructed and still good runners. However, the compromises necessary to fit those chasses have resulted in some strange distortions, for instance the 9F and Britannia and the Class 27. Dapol have since produced some much more detailed and dimensionally accurate models of these prototypes.

Furthermore, it is not so easy to convert the old Minitrix locos to DCC, spares are difficult to come by, and running noise is significantly louder than with modern Chinese products.

[ScottyStitch]

More that Minitrix parts are like Hens teeth !

An ebay myth by a clever seller had minitrix traction tyres selling for stupid money, when they were and probably still are available through one of the German spares shops. 

OK Minitrix British Locos may be old and outdated but so are many of us.  59 Today!

Happy Birthday!!

[Newportnobby]

OK Minitrix British Locos may be old and outdated but so are many of us.  59 Today!

Happy Birthday, Jerry
I just hope your message wasn't sent from Casualty

[Dave_01]

More that Minitrix parts are like Hens teeth !

An ebay myth by a clever seller had minitrix traction tyres selling for stupid money, when they were and probably still are available through one of the German spares shops. 

OK Minitrix British Locos may be old and outdated but so are many of us.  59 Today!

Happy Birthday, have a good one