There are many, many manufacturers of model rail equipment, locomotives and rolling stock, and they range from fairly specialist makes to two or three brands generally available on any high street, or via the web.
So, gauge by gauge, here is a guide to some of the most popular readily available brands for those just getting started with model rail.
OO - Hornby Railroad
Hornby International is one of the oldest established brands, with sub brands including Hornby, Hornby Railroad, and Lima.
Railroad is a hobby oriented brand, offering slightly cheaper, less detailed and lower specification locomotives and rolling stock.
Since the acquisition of Scalextric, some of the Railroad locomotives allegedly come with a Scalextric motor, leading them to be less smooth to operate, and with unrealistic acceleration and top speeds.
Despite this, it's a good starting point for a model rail enthusiast; but be aware that the couplers are not generally compatible with other brands such as Bachmann and more expensive Hornby models.
Railroad boxes are easy to spot, as they have yellow flashing on the bottom, below the window.
OO - Hornby
Within the Hornby range, there are also various levels of finishing and price. While any model from this range will be of good quality, some are better value than others.
Where Hornby does stand out is with the excellent selection of starter packs, which are available from many toy shops. Often these are laid out next to makes like Mehano, and Lima, which can make Hornby (and Bachmann) seem a bit expensive, but the additional investment is well worth it.
OO/HO - Bachmann
Like Hornby, Bachmann has a number of sub-brands in the group, some of which produce European outline stock in HO, US also in HO, and British outline in OO.
Personally, from the various models I have purchased, Bachmann locomotives seem to be better finished, and smoother than the Hornby equivalents, but that some of the Hornby rolling stock (brake vans, for example) offer better value.
Bachmann rolling stock also all comes with standard NEM pockets, making it easy to extend the collection with more rolling stock. It is organized by era to make it easier to cross-match rolling stock without needing to overload on research!
HO - Piko
For European outline stock, Piko is probably the most accessible, and is available in Expert and Hobby, mainly French and German stock, organized by era and region. This makes it easy to match up stock and keep a consistent rake together.
Piko also make good value packs of both freight and passenger trains, complete with track, controllers, and layout ideas.
Piko Hobby boxes can be spotted by the red flashing with Hobby written on them. Piko Expert boxes have blue flashing with Expert written on.
N - Graham Farish
While the smaller gauges (N and Z) are less popular, they require less space, and are gaining in popularity.
Graham Farish, a Bachmann sub brand, provide excellent quality models, at very reasonable prices.
Z - Marklin
Marklin is a bit of an odd-ball, having chosen to implement a 3 rail power system for its locomotives, rendering it incompatible with all the others mentioned here.
For all that, in Z gauge, it does have some interesting starter packs, and is a very space-conscious way to get into model rail as a hobby.
Finally, a few notes about track. Peco is perhaps the largest manufacturer of track, but Hornby also manufactures its own. Generally, it is not possible to mix track between manufacturers, so if a Hornby pack is bought, future expansions will also need Hornby track.
However, HO and OO will both run on the same set-track (i.e. pre-cut, slot together pieces) regardless of manufacturer.
Power is supplied to the track via a special adapter, as either DC or AC. 16v AC is used for so-called DCC (digital command control) trains, while DC is used for analogue sets.
If in doubt - start with a DC (i.e. analogue) solution, as DCC can always be added at a later date. It's far harder to start with DCC as it comes with a whole slew of options, settings, and possibilities that baffle even experienced model rail enthusiasts!
So, gauge by gauge, here is a guide to some of the most popular readily available brands for those just getting started with model rail.
OO - Hornby Railroad
Hornby International is one of the oldest established brands, with sub brands including Hornby, Hornby Railroad, and Lima.
Railroad is a hobby oriented brand, offering slightly cheaper, less detailed and lower specification locomotives and rolling stock.
Since the acquisition of Scalextric, some of the Railroad locomotives allegedly come with a Scalextric motor, leading them to be less smooth to operate, and with unrealistic acceleration and top speeds.
Despite this, it's a good starting point for a model rail enthusiast; but be aware that the couplers are not generally compatible with other brands such as Bachmann and more expensive Hornby models.
Railroad boxes are easy to spot, as they have yellow flashing on the bottom, below the window.
OO - Hornby
Within the Hornby range, there are also various levels of finishing and price. While any model from this range will be of good quality, some are better value than others.
Where Hornby does stand out is with the excellent selection of starter packs, which are available from many toy shops. Often these are laid out next to makes like Mehano, and Lima, which can make Hornby (and Bachmann) seem a bit expensive, but the additional investment is well worth it.
OO/HO - Bachmann
Like Hornby, Bachmann has a number of sub-brands in the group, some of which produce European outline stock in HO, US also in HO, and British outline in OO.
Personally, from the various models I have purchased, Bachmann locomotives seem to be better finished, and smoother than the Hornby equivalents, but that some of the Hornby rolling stock (brake vans, for example) offer better value.
Bachmann rolling stock also all comes with standard NEM pockets, making it easy to extend the collection with more rolling stock. It is organized by era to make it easier to cross-match rolling stock without needing to overload on research!
HO - Piko
For European outline stock, Piko is probably the most accessible, and is available in Expert and Hobby, mainly French and German stock, organized by era and region. This makes it easy to match up stock and keep a consistent rake together.
Piko also make good value packs of both freight and passenger trains, complete with track, controllers, and layout ideas.
Piko Hobby boxes can be spotted by the red flashing with Hobby written on them. Piko Expert boxes have blue flashing with Expert written on.
N - Graham Farish
While the smaller gauges (N and Z) are less popular, they require less space, and are gaining in popularity.
Graham Farish, a Bachmann sub brand, provide excellent quality models, at very reasonable prices.
Z - Marklin
Marklin is a bit of an odd-ball, having chosen to implement a 3 rail power system for its locomotives, rendering it incompatible with all the others mentioned here.
For all that, in Z gauge, it does have some interesting starter packs, and is a very space-conscious way to get into model rail as a hobby.
Finally, a few notes about track. Peco is perhaps the largest manufacturer of track, but Hornby also manufactures its own. Generally, it is not possible to mix track between manufacturers, so if a Hornby pack is bought, future expansions will also need Hornby track.
However, HO and OO will both run on the same set-track (i.e. pre-cut, slot together pieces) regardless of manufacturer.
Power is supplied to the track via a special adapter, as either DC or AC. 16v AC is used for so-called DCC (digital command control) trains, while DC is used for analogue sets.
If in doubt - start with a DC (i.e. analogue) solution, as DCC can always be added at a later date. It's far harder to start with DCC as it comes with a whole slew of options, settings, and possibilities that baffle even experienced model rail enthusiasts!
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