Tinplate rail auction

Talking of model rail, here's an auction for a gorgeous item of retro railiana that's going on right now. It's with Tennants the live auction site, and this Hornby set consists of a O-Gauge Electric E220 loco, the Bramham Moor Special Pullman LNER train Set TS2415. The 20 volt set contains the 4-4-0 locomotive and tender in green and black, two brown and cream Pullman coaches Verona and Loraine, plus track and accessories in a sturdy blue card box.

Also included are extra boxed rolling stock and accessories, including a breakdown van and crane, a meat van, plus a trio of wagons - side tipping, gas cylinder and fibre.

There's more in three extra boxes, including a signal cabin, level crossing, footbridge, junction signal and various lengths of track - there's even a platelayers' hut to add a bit of interest to the trackside.

The whole thing's just terrific for any classic rail lover, and with a guide price of £700-10o0 GBP ($1100-1600 USD), in SMN's opinion it's worth every penny.

Visit Tennants here.

GREAT OFFERS FOR HORNBY CLUB MEMBERS IN 2010

Own-brand clubs are a powerful marketing tool that can cement brand loyalty among users like few other things. But let’s not be too cynical here - virtually all such clubs go out of their way to offer value to their members, and the Hornby Club is no exception. For 00-gauge rail fans it’s almost a no-brainer, as Hornby offers a number of useful items, such as:

* A welcome pack, including membership card, stockist list and service dealer list.
* The Collector - a bi-monthly enthusiasts magazine, and the Collector Plus twice a year.
* Exclusive competitions in every issue
* 10% Discount from selected Hornby stockists, as well as Hornby.com
* Fully-working Hornby locomotive, exclusive to club members (while stocks last)

All of which is a pretty good deal. The free loco is a 0-4-0 saddle tank, while there is also a good discount offered on a Limited Edition 4-4-0 Class T9 LSWR locomotive, an express passenger design by Dugald Drummond, introduced in 1899. Sixty-six of them were built over a three-year period, and Hornby's video shows the attractive lines of the T9 in closeup. The 00 gauge model looks pretty good, especially if you look at the care taken with the detail in the open cab.

The pictures show, top to bottom:
1 Saddle tank 0-4-0, supplied with membership.
2 T9 4-4-0, available at discount to members.

Visit the Hornby Club here.

Other Hornby rail equipment is available here.