Best model train sets to build your own iconic miniature railway scene

Everyone has a hobby, but it certainly wasn’t on our bingo card for the 2020s to see a deep enthusiasm for trains and railways resurface.

Perhaps the most well-known 21st-century ferroequinologist is Francis Bourgeois, who rose to fame in 2021 for his charmingly enthusiastic, alternatively filmed trainspotting videos. Within a year, Mr Bourgeois had become the face of a railfan-themed campaign for a collaboration between The North Face and Gucci.

Francis Bourgeois in the Gucci x The North Face campaign (Gucci x The North Face)

Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg’s enchanting biographical movie The Fabelmans saw the filmmaker reminisce on the first motion picture that he ever created. It was a dramatically filmed thriller with the model train set his father gifted him for Chanukah front and centre.

A testament to the enthralling nature of model trains in the 1950s, the widespread appeal of locomotive miniatures was largely due to the fact that trains remained a relatively novel representation of engineering expertise that fascinated adults and children alike.

Nowadays, many of us don’t give trains and railways a second thought – except to complain about their tardiness or the advent of yet another railway or TFL strike.

Yet we think it’s about time that we show the locomotive industry the appreciation it deserves, and there’s no better way to do so than by engaging in the hobby of collecting model trains. Now, we’re not necessarily talking about collecting dioramas of the inside of London Underground carriages – because who would want to experience the Central Line when they simply don’t have to?

Rather, we’re talking about iconic representations of locomotive expertise over time – from the Orient Express to famous fictional trains like the Hogwarts Express. It’s a slow hobby which requires building up a collection of train carriages, tracks and accessories over time – but it’s an incredibly rewarding experience seeing your miniature infrastructure come to life.

We’ve curated a selection of some of the most iconic model trains on the market, from the UK’s finest Hornby models to options from Bachmann and Lionel.

Hornby R1230M GWR High Speed Train Set

The ideal model train for beginners, the Hornby R1230M GWR High Speed Train Set serves as an entry point to the world of miniature infrastructure building. Easier than ever to set up with its pre-built carriages and click-in-place tracks, this set is also brilliantly expandable.

Before you know it, your GWR will be rolling through hilltops and cityscapes. The set is also compatible with additional Hornby 00 Gauge locomotive tracks and accessories for additional expansion opportunities.

Buy now £119.99, Amazon

Lionel Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Ready to Play Model Train Set with Track

Though the Venn diagram of Harry Potter fans and model train enthusiasts isn’t exactly a circle, there’s certainly some overlap. As such, we’d be remiss not to include the Hogwarts Express Ready to Play model train set by Lionel.

Battery-powered and equipped with lights and sound effects, this beloved showstopper is set to be the prized locomotive in any model train collection.

Buy now £118.36, Amazon

Bachmann Graham Farish 370-052 Western Rambler Train Set N Gauge

An old-school GWR western rambler, this set includes one of the most revered tank locomotives of the 20th century – the GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank. Another beloved design was the ‘Toad’ Brake Van, which was an essential vehicle to have at the rear of any goods train. Both are included in this brilliant Graham Farish set by Bachmann.

Buy now £198.98, Amazon

Hornby R1281M Red Rover Train Set

For contemporary model train enthusiasts looking to build a modern set-up, look no further than the Hornby Red Rover. From contemporary raw materials used for manufacturing to complete consumer goods, this modern diesel locomotive is a highly efficient means of transporting supplies across the country.

Buy now £189.99, John Lewis

Hornby Train Set – R1282M Mallard Record Breaker

Named the ‘record breaker’ for a reason, the LNER A4 locomotive Mallard set the world speed record for a steam engine at 126 mph at Stoke Bank, just south of Grantham. Add this iconic piece of railway history to your collection thanks to Hornby.

This set includes 1 x Steam Locomotive, 3x Coaches, 3rd Radius Starter Oval, with Track Pack A (includes point and buffer), 1x Train Controller (R7229), 1x Wall Plug Transformer, 1x Power Connecting Track (R8206), 1x Hornby MidiMat.

Buy now £219.94, Amazon

Occre 1/32 Scale Pacific 231 Train Locomotive Model Kit

Crafted from wood and metal, this locomotive model kit is for nimble railfans looking to build a train from scratch. Paint and glue are required to complete the model, but aren’t included in your purchase. You can nevertheless add manufacturer-recommended paints to your Hobbies basket with ease.

The Pacific 231 locomotive initially arrived in Spain in 1911 having been built by the Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques, in Mulhouse, France. Ideal for pulling large passenger trains, the Pacific 231 was an incredibly popular locomotive throughout Spain and France, continuing service up until the 60s. This particular locomotive was also referred to as ‘La Princesa’ and was known to have pulled the iconic French train, the Fléche d’Or.

Buy now £439.95, Hobbies

HN4465 CIWL, 5-unit pack “Orient-Express”, 140th anniversary pack, ep. II

Synonymous with Agatha Christie’s nail-biting murder mystery, the Orient Express is a beautifully luxurious locomotive known across the globe. This officially licenced 140th-anniversary model set comes with an array of the train’s instantly-recognisable carriages, including the iconic passenger trolley.

Buy now £217.49, Hornby

Trix 21360 KBayStsB S 3/6 Bavarian Express Train Pack I (DCC-Sound)

The Bavarian Express train is realised in a beautiful forest green hue and is constructed mostly of metal with a partially open bar frame. Engineered due to increasing train loads at the beginning of the 20th century, the Pacific compound locomotive was commissioned for the Bavarian State Railroad, and by 1911 there were 16 mostly identical units.

Buy now £995.02, eBay

Bachmann 31-934 LMS 4P Compound 1119 LMS Crimson Lake (LMS)

A brilliant addition for those developing their very own steam-era locomotive layout, the Crimson Lake LMS was released by Bachmann in the Summer of 2021. This model features a pristine LMS Crimson Lake livery, an accessory pack, an adjustable tender drawbar, a poseable Loco-Tender fall plate and more.

Buy now £199.99, eBay

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