Al’s first model train set

The first train set we got for Al was – of course – a Hornby set. In the UK, “toy” trains and Hornby are synonymous. (Yes, “toys”; since Al was only about 4 year old). Hornby sets are available from all sorts of retailers, in real shops, as well as online, and of course in specialist model shops. We went to a small model shop with an upstairs dedicated to sets. Sadly this shop went out of business a few years ago. They were specialists and stocked other makes of train. Names which at the time I hadn't heard of, such as Bachman. You see this was a “model” shop, not a “toy” shop, and if you haven't found out yet there is a big difference between the two.

Hornby's Eddie Stobart Engine

The set was a great success with Al. He had seen a model train loco at his grandfather's and that got him asking about train sets. We found some of my old set – but this train set was his very own. The set we bought for him was Hornby’s R1061, Eddie Stobart Hauler. I think my review score of it would be “mixed”; it has a great little engine which is still one of the fastest in the family collection; it was an “operating” set – in other words it does more than just go around the tracks; and all of Hornby's train sets are great value compared to buying the individual components. 

  

I think Hornby is in a bit of a fix. It’s managed to build a great revival in its fortunes since the decline of train sets forced the previous owners to give up, and the company which is now Hornby Hobbies was formed. They built that revival, partly on moving manufacture to China, but also on higher degrees of accuracy. They shifted their market focus to adult buyers and away from toy trains. Many of their models are now highly detailed, and they work hard to be true to the original full size versions (what the modelling world calls the “prototype”). And of course adults have more money to spend!

Hornby's Eddie Stobart Goods Container Wagon 

 What I think they have missed is that adult modellers have usually started out as children playing with toy trains. Much of their catalogue is too expensive for kids – in fact even their catalogue itself is pricey on a pocket money budget. They have thankfully introduced the Railroad range in the last couple of years – which is going in the right direction.

  

  

Hornby's Eddie Stobart lowmac wagon

So for me the downsides of the Eddie Stobart set were firstly, the branding itself –Hornby and Stobart chose to use their original c.1950’s branding - but it certainly isn’t the brand image which the kids see on every motorway journey these days. Then there are the wagons – the lowmac and the bogie wagon are both low profile models which feel fairly delicate and are often a fiddle to place correctly onto the tracks. 

  

Finally the operating tipper is a clever piece of engineering, designed to have one edge tip up and unload a pile of – pretty unconvincing – “logs” over the side.  In order to drop over the side, the side rail has to rotate out of the way. But the hinge arrangements are incredibly fine pieces of plastic. With a bit of less than gentle handling, the side comes off, and its then quite a challenge for a child to put it back correctly.

But despite my whingeing, the set has its strong points as well. The inclusion of the Hornby TrakMat I think is a really great invention. It immediately transforms the track into a fantasy setting. It helps you visualise the setting of the railway – the platforms, the engine sheds, and the roadways to service the railway. And the little Eddie Stobart Loco, as I’ve already said, is still one of the fastest in the family collection. So we still look out for the Eddie Stobart lorries on the motorway as we travel around the country, and as we see them, every one is a reminder of the train set waiting for us to get back home again!