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Christmas Trainset

Live up the road from Hornby Factory in Margate.
They have now moved to Canterbury to just a warehouse .
Their old building as now become a Railway Museum.
Already got 4492 and a Black 5 in there ,more to follow
Plus their shop and exhibition of model trains for sale
 
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The Northern Nevada ran from the early 20th.c until 1983. It was principally a copper ore carrier. In 1986 it became the Northern Nevada Railway Museum where loco 109 resides.
The following link is unusual as instead of scrolling down you have to move the page to the right and left to view.
 
Scale is the most important: it is 1:29. Track gauge is 45mm., but many scales run on that gauge from 1:19 to 1:32. It is loosely Gauge 1 (1:32) is correct for that. 1:29 was considered as it is HO gauge X 3 and models were more mathematically simple to scale upwards. It was chosen by Lewis Polk of Polks Model Hobbies and became a dominant scale due to its reasonable price and fidelity to prototype. USATrains, a retailer, joined in the manufacture of 1:29 (they also make 1:24) but their product is more detailed and more expensive. Bachmann make 1:22.5 (cheap) and 1:20.3 (expensive) products. They also produce 45mm track compatible with other manufacturers. A 32mm. track is popular in Europe and the narrow gauge models than run on it. (not my cup of tea however). The rail heights do vary but the taller versions are, in my opinion, far more durable and will take more foot or paw punishment. Most purists prefer the lower heights for authenticity.
The major issue with fine scale and highly detailed models can be their exterior fragility. It is disheartening, I guess, to find bits broken off due to derailments, twigs and other obstacles fouling the ROW (right of way). Outdoor modellers are fortunate in the UK as tunnels and one or two other structures can be sited. We do not have the nasty critters found in much of the USA and Australia such as snakes, scorpions etc. that set up home in such places. Moreover, few of us have, bears, deer and so on that can wander over and damage our tracks and buildings. Our climate temperatures are also much less aggravating. Friends in Canada for instance pack all away from early October until May. They are usually knee deep in snow. Very high temperatures, found in some countries, can cause expansion issues to track - just like the big railways! Leaves can be problematic as well - again same as the big guys. But maintenance and visual checks are part of it - just like the big guys again!
 
Providing the battery (rechargeable types) are charged locos usually start straight away. If they don't then the wheels are not sat on the rails correctly. ;) Many people operate track power but I find battery mode far easier.
 
Thanks Alan I am a lover of American railroads, spend hours on You tube watching some of the freight train films. Interestingly enough someone has just bought me Michael Portillos Great American Railroads book, which is snippets of railroad history from the beginning in the states. Very interesting.
Bob
And me i love loco videos.BOB. the one one the Australian railway is good with Bernie.the one legged driver.
 
The most interesting magazine, quarterly, with the occasional 'special', is Classic Trains. Lots there about the USA and its Fallen Flag railroads.
 
Watch those U Tube films of American Railways.It Amazes me how long they are and sometimes how slow they go.
My wife and I were once stood on New Jersey station when on a line that passed behind the opposite platforms, five diesels suddenly appeared and then the first of goodness knows how many freight wagons of different sorts and sizes, and they just went on and on. Afterwards I wished I had counted them.
Bob
 
My wife and I were once stood on New Jersey station when on a line that passed behind the opposite platforms, five diesels suddenly appeared and then the first of goodness knows how many freight wagons of different sorts and sizes, and they just went on and on. Afterwards I wished I had counted them.
Bob
Bob, I used to live in NJ and know what you mean...……..Recently late on a Tuesday evening we were in SC on a two lane road and approached a RR crossing with just a single small light. We were stopped for thirty minutes while the trains came though. When you are that close in the dark with know one around and just the clank clank of the wheels on rails, pretty scary. I also never counted the wagons, particularly because I had nothing else to do!
 
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