Like many amongst us, I dream about a house with a loft to build a permanent layout. For the time being I play trains the boys' way: on the floor. The only difference with my childhood is that I am now able to build layouts and run trains I could only dream about in those days.
My main collection is L.N.E.R. Hornby O-gauge, but some B.R. items and modern vintage railway items from ACE Trains and Darstead are added to the collection. Recently I started to appreciate Bassett-Lowke too, and have added some locomotives and rolling stock to the collection.
At the start of the Covid pandemic and lockdown I built up a floor layout and ran my trains for a few weeks. I made a series of short videos, which were shared in the HRCA Facebook group and other groups. The short videos have been combined in a four-part video report which you can view using the links directly below.
A closer look at the engine depot with Hornby and Bassett-Lowke locomotives.
Hornby Brakedown Train made up with stock from the early years.
I take pride to build a layout which gives plenty of opportunities to shunt, change and alter trains during running days.
Right and below you can see some of the interesting point work on the layout.
Collecting Hornby trains is a good alibi for collecting Dinky Toys and figures as well.
A picture of a layout made many, many years ago.
Next to my Hornby O-gauge, I have a modest collection of Biller Bahn. These charming little trains (O scale but narrow gauge) where made in Western Germany just after the war until the sixties, and famous for their superb clockwork mechanism. Some also run on battery.
