Hi - from England

Welcome to the OGR Forum. Lots of interesting and informative discussion on this website. What type of model railroading do you pursue?

MELGAR

Welcome to the Forum.  I'm sorry I can't help you with O gauge in the United Kingdom!  It's been 6 generations since my folks came here from Scotland and Northern Ireland!    We do have UK folks here, I hope they find you.

This might be of interest to you http://www.lccuk.org.uk/show.shtml

There are about 80+ members in the U.K. who collect/operate Lionel, Flyer, MTH, Marx etc in Standard gauge, O gauge and S gauge.

Hello!

there are a few of us UK people who lurk and occasionally post in these forums.

I live in London and collect MTH, Lionel, 3rd rail etc - also some of the 3-rail "tinplate" items made by ACE trains, SevenMill etc.  

there is a Lionel Collectors' Club (unrelated to the US club) which has its annual meeting and public exhibition in Leicester on Saturday 2nd (?) June.

I can give you more info if you would like it!

best

Andrew

Welcome aboard Tim!!!

Welcome. All I have from the UK is a wind-up vintage Hornby engine and passenger car. However, it is on display.

Hi-ya Tim! 

Greetings from Midlothian, Virginia!!

Welcome to the forum! I'm from the US and model Amtrak but I have an appreciation for British steam. If British steam was more available in 3 rail scale I would probably have an army by now.

Greetings, Welcome to the Forum From Maryland, USA!!  My cousin's wife is British. They live in San Diego California, have 2 kids, 1 son, 1 daughter.  

Hi Tim, Welcome to the OGR.

There is quiet a bit of activity in 3-Rail O gauge but you have to know where to look. The LCCUK have roughly 80 members that are spread right across the U.K. From Scotland to Cornwall. 

As Andrew mentioned the best bet would be to come along to the Clubs annual show. I’ll have my LCCA/Lionel modular layout running there.

Nick

Guys,

Thanks very much for your welcome and advice. I had visited the LCCUK web site (I'm sure there was a forum there someplace but I don't see it now?) Also I tried joining but failed to answer a test question correctly so gave up. I'll try again sometime.

Any how, I got interested in 3 rail & O gauge having recently inherited a Hornby clockwork locomotive. In the search for track for it, I came across a YouTube video of a Lionel Visionline Bigboy. Game set and match! So, the Hornby loco goes in a display cabinet, and I have ordered a Lionel Legacy Berkshire BTO (NKP), some Atlas track, a few coal hoppers, a caboose, a transformer, and a 110v 60hz pure sine wave inverter. Then I shall see how all that goes and maybe start a serious layout. (This is all strictly in the interest of investment and entertainment for the grandchildren you understand). The postage and duty (ouch!) are a pain, but hey! its all in a good cause.

I have had Hornby 00 in the past, (numerous layouts). I must say, whenever I have mentioned Lionel or 3 Rail to any modelling friends in the UK I get some very odd looks!

Any tips for my plans welcome. Since purchasing the sine converter I have heard from Lionel technicians that all 50hz operating issues, (our native juice here in these fairest isles), are resolved for the latest models...

Welcome to the OGR forum Tim. Bottle up some of that great U.K. modeling talent and send it this way in the form of progress images of your layout. Always happy to see new members.

Charlie

Nick12DMC is your best contact in the UK for things Lionel. He has gone through trials and tribulations to resolve 50hz issues.

Welcome to the OGR forum. There is a global membership here. The experience and knowledge here will definitely save you a lot of time and flatten your Lionel O or any O learning curve.

Welcome to the Forum, Tim. Good people here. I'm a Chicago born and raised Lionel guy, but have a bit of everything O Gauge, including some British stuff, i.e., Hornby and Bassett Lowke. Enjoy!

Tim,  The LCCUK website was given a small update recently. It was decided that the forum was not being used enough to justify it. 

Most people who were into computers hang out on the OGR  (other forums are available). 

There is a large proportion of the club that are not bothered about online stuff. 

Once you pick up a Lionel die-cast locomotive there’s no going back

I would definitely suggest you come along to the Leicester Show on Saturday 2nd June. It’s open 10:00 to 16:00 hrs.

Just ask for Nick and I’ll go though the Inverter set up, Legacy/TMCC and LCS etc. The inverter was not a waste as your probably going to be better using it.

In fact bring it along and your 12V DC supply and I can check it. As I now understand what was causing issues with LCS.

Lots of people to ask for  advice at the show  running Lionel Legacy/TMCC and MTH DCS.

Nick

Nick,

Thanks for your offer of help. That does explain the forum. ( I noted the last entry was 2009 or something crazy!). Sorry that might be an exaggeration! Leicester's a long way for me, but you never know...

BTW, my 12v DC supply at the moment is a small motorcycle battery... 

Another question: The loco I've ordered is Bluetooth. I'm reckoning I don't actually need a Legacy controller to run it, though it might be limited control?

Tim

HI Tim,

Where are you from? Anywhere near South Bucks/Berkshire - there are a few of us in that area.

MIKE

Tim, While I don’t actually own any of the Lionel Bluetooth equipped engines (yet).

It is my understanding that your correct and you could run the engine without a Legacy 990 set. With limitations on the features.

One important issue for future reference is the earthing of the inverter, which with a battery could cause you an issue unless you separately earth it. 

This is not just a safety issue but without going into detail, it is important for the connection of the Legacy or TMCC base.

Nick

Sadly I can't make Leicester this year - even though its nearer to London than Ilkely - I shall be across the pond visiting Nassau Hobbies, Charles River hobbies - tough life...!

Andrew

Welcome aboard Tim.  I belong to G Scale Central.  Not sure if you're familiar with it or if you have any interest in large scale.  It's a British forum.  

mike w posted:

HI Tim,

Where are you from? Anywhere near South Bucks/Berkshire - there are a few of us in that area.

 

MIKE

Hi Mike,

 I'm in Essex, Hornchurch to be precise.

Tim