With his birthday looming I suggested to his dad that we should make up a train set for him. We'll get the train, I said, and dad can get the track since there is no off the shelf train set with a class 66. I had in mind a simple oval with a siding, a class 66 and a container wagon to get him started.
At the present time an EWS livery version is only available second hand and only Bachmann do a Freightliner brand new. Well the first shock was the price. A diesel at well over £100? I am used to that for intricate steam locomotives but for a box on wheels?
The demand for class 66s on Ebay is very competitive and whilst a second hand Bachmann may be won for less than £40 on a good day they usually push towards a hundred. Having looked at reviews of the cheaper Lima version (later adopted by Hornby and re-released with enhancements) I decided that, whilst not as detailed as Bachmann, it would be ideal for a 6 year old. After a couple of failed bids in auction I bought a Lima Freightliner version on a 'buy it now' sale.
Later on I won a Hornby Railroad dual container wagon. So, that is my side of the gift sorted.
Next I went to town with his Dad to see about some Hornby track (BTW I was also donating a Hornby controller and a circle of 1st radius curves from my stock, which once belonged to another son of mine.)
Dad spotted a level crossing on the shelf and insisted on buying it because his son has a fascination with those as well. But, this was not a single - no it was a double level crossing. Can you see where this is going?
We needed some standard track of course and Dad spotted a track extension pack that included a double level crossing. Of course, my simple oval idea was now turning into a double track layout with cross over and link wiring! He bought the extension pack and I volunteered to spec. and source the remaining track on his behalf to make a usable train set.
I won a set of second radius curves off Ebay for about half the high street cost and bought the extra turnouts, straights and link wiring in town.
I just totalled up the costs and it's come out to about £130. That's good for a train set of this complexity compared to boxed train sets but far more than my original expectation.
Birthday and Christmas presents are now sorted for the future - we just expand this and Dad is already talking about boarding the loft.
For a seasoned modeller like me this has been a refreshing exercise to get back to basics in the hobby.
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