My five year old has been fascinated with the Thomas stuff for several years, since about age two, maybe three. That's what prompted me to put a train under the Christmas tree this past year and is resulting in a 6X12 layout in the basement, a place where he and I can go chill while my wife spends time with our daughter (arriving in July).
I'm certainly not Anti-Thomas, but think it's a bit overblown, the brand name syuff is overpriced compared to other wooden railway stuff (of which my some has a veritable mountain) and the Bachman engines are priced 50% over what comparable Bachman engines cost. So, we're not doing Thomas in HO. He's moved to being intersted in all trains now, so I'm planning on buying a couple lower end engines and one good one (MTH 4-6-2) to run initially, replacing lower end with higher as he gets older and less apt to have an "OOPS! - SMASH" moment.
Interiors and people figures make such a difference. Especially the people.
I believe Lionel also make a ready to run Thomas in O gauge, and some of the other locos too, including the evil diesel shunter - a fair representation of a British Rail class 08 shunter.
I remember seeing the Rev. Awdry's OO layout at a model railway exhibition in Bristol, England, many years. Some of his models, including those of the narrow gauge Skarloy Railway (based on the real life 2' 3" gauge Tal-y-llyn Railway in Wales) are now on show at the Tal-y-llyn Railway's museum at Tywyn in Wales. Well worth a visit, even if you don't have time for a ride on the TR!
From a modelling point of view 16.5mm track is not really accurate to represent 4' 8.5" gauge in 4mm: 1' scale but most UK model railroaders have always lived with that. For modelling the Tal-y-llyn Railway however in 4mm scale, N guage track is spot on so this scale/gauge combination has been popular here for many years.
ONEHAGGISI'M JUST CURIOUS, IS THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE A STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY OR IS IT A NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY??? MARK.
Thomas and friend's are std gauge trains for the most part,there is also a 2' line refer-ed to in some stories
All of the original Awdry text was most railway like in its operation (UK) unlike the Brit Alcroft rubbish.also all of the Thomas characters are based on real UK locomotives coach's and wagons.
Hornby does quite a range of buildings and trains from the Thomas stories I believe Bachmann also does some of them between the two quite a layout is possable all done to 4mm scale which is the scale of English OO trains but they run on 16.5mm gauge track a compromise a lot in the UK are prepared to live with.
regards John Busby
WJSTIX IF I READ YOU RIGHT, SINCE 00 SCALE IS A BIT LARGER THAT H0 SCALE, THAT WOULD MAKE THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE A NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY.
NOW IF H0 SCALE TRACK IS STANDARD (4' 8 1/2") FOR AN H0 SCALE ENGINE, WHAT WOULD THAT MAKE AN SLIGHTLY LARGER 00 SCALE ENGINE RUNNING ON A NARROWER H0 SCALE TRACK? 48"?
MARK.
One thing to keep in mind - although it might not make much difference - is that I beleive the Thomas characters available in the US are actually OO scale not HO. Both run on HO track, but OO's linear scale is 4mm=1ft whereas HO is 3.5mm=1ft.
OO is the most common scale by far in the United Kingdom, you can find many kits for buildings and many UK style figures available in OO scale if you search around online. British equipment is about 1/8th smaller than their US counterparts, and back many years ago British model makers found the smallest motors then around were too big to fit in British outline engines in HO scale, so they increased the scale so the motors were fit, but kept the HO gauge tracks.
First of all I would like to make one thing quite clear: I never explain anything.
However, I will make an exception just this once. I find computer friendships with a person you have never met personally to be worthless and a waste of time. And its not possible to hang with someone you have never met through the computer. Its just plain senseless.
I am flattered that you asked though, but again i must say Thanks, but no thanks.
Yours,
Cheese
Nick! :)
Hmmmmmmm, No.
Indeed,
He has his charm, that little blue bugger. But, I should think that the older you grow, the lesser you would be interested in Thomas, or at least you'd be more anxious to hide the fact you like Thomas.
He's okay I guess. Thats what got me started on trains, but I won't be the first to raise my hand and say I like it. Especially with the way the series has been going as of late. I'm sure the Reverend is turning over in his grave right now.