Well done Jenny! You're literally the first person to review this model properly. Every other review I've seen is people (grown up modellers) reviewing it from their point of view. You've clearly thought of children throughout. A exceptional well made review. If I were 4 I'd be in my elements with this set..... Well done Hornby.
On the strength of your balanced assessment Jenny, i have placed an order for my 5 year old nephew and his 6th birthday which is in 10 days time. Thanks for helping me as I had ran out of ideas what to buy so your video was a gift, pardon the pun. Glad and happy to see and hear that you have overcome your illness which left you languishing in hospital. Cheers, Mike
Hi Jenny, in addition to my earlier comment I found that in 2016 Marklin brought out a Eurostar My First Train, a battery operated Junior Train Set aimed very much at the 3+ age group. I can't help but think that the similarities between the two sets is uncanny in that it is HO scale and can run on a standard OO and HO track, the livery is similar and both sets have the same train type. Would you be able to do a comparison of both, maybe as a future TH-cam video, as you have previously done with other similar products before? Mike
It looks like one of them trains that could be put round the bottom of a Christmas tree as well. It looks good for a child of today. I started off with a hornby clock work engine. My older brother and i had a huge railway when we put them together.
I was happy to see you clearly showing the underside of the power car and it's mechanism. My question, for running the model on another layout with metal rails was "Are all the wheels insulated from each other?", and I could see that they are. Otherwise, if the layout was powered at the time the Paddington train was running, it would cause an electrical short. The supplied all plastic track prompted this question. Won't be able to run on my layout though, as it is finer scale Code 70 HO track.
I am a young person (13) and I can confirm, I'm in love with this hobby. Mainly thanks to bachman and their thomas range being nostalgic to me and getting me stuck back into trains... but still.
once again Jenny another brilliant video. i just thought some of you might like to know that my older cousin who has a 5 year old lad whos always loved my 00 gauge layout. my cousin decided to buy one of these sets, and it lasted about 6 weeks, the track was screwed to a base board which was approximately 2 foot from the ground, the train took a plunge after copping a side impact from a hotwheels car, it fell to the floor and the body shell itself smashed in half, two axles on the centre coach snapped aswell. ill be honest i was quite suprised when i got the phone call to mend it, i glued the shell back together but the axles are scrap. my cousin has since bought the caladonion bell set featuring a blue pocket rocket, this has since taken roughly 5 drops off the same board now and it still runs fine. i just want to make it clear this isnt directed against you Jenny nor anyone else, i just wanted to say that the hornby 0-4-0s seem to be stronger despite the nature of the paddington train. As i say Jenny another great video as always but if i were you id pay a little extra and get the caladonion bell from hattons, at £45 its well worth it. plus you can expand with more locos and track etc where as the paddington set is not quite so compatible track wise etc.
Brilliant review Jennifer. Full marks to Hornby, they’ve really worked extremely well in designing and building such a robust model train set AND priced it at a point most people can afford.
I have bought both sets the Junior Express and the Paddington sets. I'm in the process of using printed stickers to change the toy into something decent. By removing the mot🎉from the second set I now have the lights working at both of ends. A longer platform and two tunnels.
Yes, Ms Kirk, you could be a teacher in kindergarten. Kids would have fun with you and get excited about model trains and creating their own railway story. Having some sort of kid-friendly controller would be nice. There could be a few kids that could grow into liking the operational aspects of railroading 🤔
Hi Jenny. I bought this kit for my grandson for his third birthday I realise it’s a year early. we set it up on the floor for him and he enjoyed it but as I haven’t used model trainsets since I was a child myself, I found putting the carriages onto the track extremely fiddly. I realise it’s second nature to you but it was a struggle for me, and his mum, to get any of the carriages to run properly on the track I doubt very much that any child would tolerate the struggle very long would soon get bored with it. I think Hornby have missed The whole point here.
Pretty good, nice to see it runs on 'proper track'. I would be happy to have a 'little darling' run this on my railway, well maybe on the outside railway. It would be nice if it had a remote control, rather than the on/off on the engine, but of course that would increase the price.
Great review. I have found that finding Hornby in retail stores in the United States a challenge. I know of one hobby store that will probably have it on the shelf. It is located in the Chicago area, some 500 miles away. Unfortunately, unlike Great Britain, there are no passenger trains that one could take to the location. Like the Thomas and Friends railway items still very popular here, and the Hogwarts Express Sets, Polar Express Sets, and Chugginton sets, i think all help our hobby. I am unsure how video games like "Trainz" or "Rail Baron" contribute, even though I once designed layouts on "Trainz" with my son, when he was young.
Hi Jenny; interesting video. I had a couple of reservations about this toy at first, the price seemed a bit high for a "toy"& the "dead end" nature of the set (it can't be extended). However seeing that it can run on OO gauge track the train's life & value would be extended. A modeler with a modicum of experience could convert it to 12 volts power (a Tenshodo "Spud" perhaps). The bogies look like they can be easily changed for "scale" ones so the train can be included in a more advanced layout later on. Cheers; David Barnes.
as someone show now works selling the stuff, the Marklin stuff is far better, the track has moulded ballast, they have a steam locomotive and have a contoller, and note Marklin stuff is dead here
My nephew got started with a Bachmann starter set. This was about $70 AUSD, which is about the same price as the one in the video. Comes with a mains powered 12 V controller: BoBo diesel, wagons, and a caboose. The supplied Ezy track has a simulated ballast bed, and is just as easy to put together. I have given him some extra track, points, and wagons, though the VR ELX open wagons do clash with the US rollingstock supplied in the set. And I replaced the all plastic wheelsets with metal ones.
Nice review, Jenny, looks like Hornby have put a lot of thought into this and talked to people OUTSIDE their marketing department! Just wondering about the possibilities of using the bits for bashing into something narrow gauge........
2 issues I see are firstly it's quite expensive compared to other battery-operated trains. And although it's meant to be expandable I've not seen any expansion packs yet. Those would make it far more appealing I think. I am glad it will actually run on a OO/HO track though. Very good review, I've seen others, but none of them chucked it onto their main layout. Cheers
Quite a bold step by Hornby to bridge the gap between very-toy trains and model-railway trains but whether it can sustain interest right across the gap (which could be several years before the child is able to take the next step unless supported by an enthusiastic parent/elder) remains to be seen. But as you imply, the attention to making it closer to the model-railway detail is a wise move, and the same goes for the OO gauge compatibilty (although, quite frankly, anything else would IMO certainly head for extinction). Let's hope many clubs (and exhibitors) would be amenable to let "sonny" run his train on their layout, thereby increasing the encouragement to embrace the hobby more fully (Edit: apologies for gender, but most enthusiasts seem to be male - any suggestions for bridging this gap to increase female numbers in the hobby?) Thanks for this interesting and enjoyable video.
Great review Jenny and Zoe. Our Grandson is 4 and currently he loves his Brio trains. Are Hornby planning to add additional accessories, points, track etc.?
This could be a starter for Hornby (or other manufacturer) to develop a battery powered remote control motor, similar to Lego's Power Functions on their trains. Damn! I have just bought a DCC control system! Will they be brave enough to go down this road?
Great review Jenny,Decent price,ideal for little fingers,hours of pleasure as well. Hours of enjoyment,within their own world.Well done for once "HORNBY" -- Carol
See my review of the City Express set, if you would like something like this on your layout, but are 6 going on 60! th-cam.com/video/4h_pCg2VzPs/w-d-xo.html
too modern, whats happened to a steam loco and wagons or coaches. when I was young we had a r55 diesel and transcontinental coaches and I was 5, great fun for us youngsters then and it had a headlight
Hi, nice to see these critical starter kits reviewed. I do have a small issue with what you say.... this is a relivery of a red express train with exactly the same contents that Hornby launched three years ago, I bought it for my youngest daughter. I mention this because I really want to urge you to use your powers wisely. A little bit of research would improve you videos considerably. To be a trusted voice needs diligence in all things. I hope you don’t mind me pointing this out. We need more people speaking for the good of the hobby. To be that it needs a great deal of correctness.
Well done Jenny!
You're literally the first person to review this model properly. Every other review I've seen is people (grown up modellers) reviewing it from their point of view. You've clearly thought of children throughout. A exceptional well made review.
If I were 4 I'd be in my elements with this set.....
Well done Hornby.
On the strength of your balanced assessment Jenny, i have placed an order for my 5 year old nephew and his 6th birthday which is in 10 days time. Thanks for helping me as I had ran out of ideas what to buy so your video was a gift, pardon the pun. Glad and happy to see and hear that you have overcome your illness which left you languishing in hospital. Cheers, Mike
Hi Jenny, in addition to my earlier comment I found that in 2016 Marklin brought out a Eurostar My First Train, a battery operated Junior Train Set aimed very much at the 3+ age group. I can't help but think that the similarities between the two sets is uncanny in that it is HO scale and can run on a standard OO and HO track, the livery is similar and both sets have the same train type. Would you be able to do a comparison of both, maybe as a future TH-cam video, as you have previously done with other similar products before? Mike
It looks like one of them trains that could be put round the bottom of a Christmas tree as well. It looks good for a child of today. I started off with a hornby clock work engine. My older brother and i had a huge railway when we put them together.
I was happy to see you clearly showing the underside of the power car and it's mechanism. My question, for running the model on another layout with metal rails was "Are all the wheels insulated from each other?", and I could see that they are. Otherwise, if the layout was powered at the time the Paddington train was running, it would cause an electrical short. The supplied all plastic track prompted this question. Won't be able to run on my layout though, as it is finer scale Code 70 HO track.
I am a young person (13) and I can confirm, I'm in love with this hobby. Mainly thanks to bachman and their thomas range being nostalgic to me and getting me stuck back into trains... but still.
once again Jenny another brilliant video. i just thought some of you might like to know that my older cousin who has a 5 year old lad whos always loved my 00 gauge layout. my cousin decided to buy one of these sets, and it lasted about 6 weeks, the track was screwed to a base board which was approximately 2 foot from the ground, the train took a plunge after copping a side impact from a hotwheels car, it fell to the floor and the body shell itself smashed in half, two axles on the centre coach snapped aswell. ill be honest i was quite suprised when i got the phone call to mend it, i glued the shell back together but the axles are scrap. my cousin has since bought the caladonion bell set featuring a blue pocket rocket, this has since taken roughly 5 drops off the same board now and it still runs fine. i just want to make it clear this isnt directed against you Jenny nor anyone else, i just wanted to say that the hornby 0-4-0s seem to be stronger despite the nature of the paddington train. As i say Jenny another great video as always but if i were you id pay a little extra and get the caladonion bell from hattons, at £45 its well worth it. plus you can expand with more locos and track etc where as the paddington set is not quite so compatible track wise etc.
Brilliant review Jennifer. Full marks to Hornby, they’ve really worked extremely well in designing and building such a robust model train set AND priced it at a point most people can afford.
I have bought both sets the Junior Express and the Paddington sets. I'm in the process of using printed stickers to change the toy into something decent. By removing the mot🎉from the second set I now have the lights working at both of ends. A longer platform and two tunnels.
Well reviewed Jenny, a great introduction to the hobby of Model Railways for the younger generation. Wouldn't mind buying this set for my grandson.
Yes, Ms Kirk, you could be a teacher in kindergarten. Kids would have fun with you and get excited about model trains and creating their own railway story. Having some sort of kid-friendly controller would be nice. There could be a few kids that could grow into liking the operational aspects of railroading 🤔
Really great, informative and entertaining video. Well done Jenny.
Great looking product, attractive packing & I think well priced. A great review Jenny. Thanks & well done to Hornby. 👍👍
Looks like they have done a proper job on making it upgradable sort of. Well Done Hornby.
Great review Jenny, just ordered it new for £26 for the grandchildren, so thanks for posting the review! Andy.
Hi Jenny. I bought this kit for my grandson for his third birthday I realise it’s a year early. we set it up on the floor for him and he enjoyed it but as I haven’t used model trainsets since I was a child myself, I found putting the carriages onto the track extremely fiddly. I realise it’s second nature to you but it was a struggle for me, and his mum, to get any of the carriages to run properly on the track I doubt very much that any child would tolerate the struggle very long would soon get bored with it. I think Hornby have missed The whole point here.
Pretty good, nice to see it runs on 'proper track'. I would be happy to have a 'little darling' run this on my railway, well maybe on the outside railway. It would be nice if it had a remote control, rather than the on/off on the engine, but of course that would increase the price.
Great review. I have found that finding Hornby in retail stores in the United States a challenge. I know of one hobby store that will probably have it on the shelf. It is located in the Chicago area, some 500 miles away. Unfortunately, unlike Great Britain, there are no passenger trains that one could take to the location. Like the Thomas and Friends railway items still very popular here, and the Hogwarts Express Sets, Polar Express Sets, and Chugginton sets, i think all help our hobby. I am unsure how video games like "Trainz" or "Rail Baron" contribute, even though I once designed layouts on "Trainz" with my son, when he was young.
Hi Jenny; interesting video. I had a couple of reservations about this toy at first, the price seemed a bit high for a "toy"& the "dead end" nature of the set (it can't be extended). However seeing that it can run on OO gauge track the train's life & value would be extended. A modeler with a modicum of experience could convert it to 12 volts power (a Tenshodo "Spud" perhaps). The bogies look like they can be easily changed for "scale" ones so the train can be included in a more advanced layout later on. Cheers; David Barnes.
Excellent product just what's needed on the market. Could do with a battery shunter next so as you say use old Hornby wagons
Jenny this is a fantastic gift for anyone. I hope that it's going to be sold in the U S. Please tell Hornby.
as someone show now works selling the stuff, the Marklin stuff is far better, the track has moulded ballast, they have a steam locomotive and have a contoller, and note Marklin stuff is dead here
My nephew got started with a Bachmann starter set. This was about $70 AUSD, which is about the same price as the one in the video. Comes with a mains powered 12 V controller: BoBo diesel, wagons, and a caboose. The supplied Ezy track has a simulated ballast bed, and is just as easy to put together. I have given him some extra track, points, and wagons, though the VR ELX open wagons do clash with the US rollingstock supplied in the set. And I replaced the all plastic wheelsets with metal ones.
Excellent review of an entry level set from the child’s point of view. Well done.
Very nice thank you
Great review Jenny hats off to Hornby for this, Could you tell me the diameter of the circle of track you set up. Thanks you
Nice review, Jenny, looks like Hornby have put a lot of thought into this and talked to people OUTSIDE their marketing department!
Just wondering about the possibilities of using the bits for bashing into something narrow gauge........
A littler RC controller would make this a great first set
Rich, I’m in agreement with you.
2 issues I see are firstly it's quite expensive compared to other battery-operated trains.
And although it's meant to be expandable I've not seen any expansion packs yet. Those would make it far more appealing I think.
I am glad it will actually run on a OO/HO track though.
Very good review, I've seen others, but none of them chucked it onto their main layout.
Cheers
Quite a bold step by Hornby to bridge the gap between very-toy trains and model-railway trains but whether it can sustain interest right across the gap (which could be several years before the child is able to take the next step unless supported by an enthusiastic parent/elder) remains to be seen. But as you imply, the attention to making it closer to the model-railway detail is a wise move, and the same goes for the OO gauge compatibilty (although, quite frankly, anything else would IMO certainly head for extinction). Let's hope many clubs (and exhibitors) would be amenable to let "sonny" run his train on their layout, thereby increasing the encouragement to embrace the hobby more fully (Edit: apologies for gender, but most enthusiasts seem to be male - any suggestions for bridging this gap to increase female numbers in the hobby?)
Thanks for this interesting and enjoyable video.
Great review Jenny and Zoe. Our Grandson is 4 and currently he loves his Brio trains. Are Hornby planning to add additional accessories, points, track etc.?
This could be a starter for Hornby (or other manufacturer) to develop a battery powered remote control motor, similar to Lego's Power Functions on their trains. Damn! I have just bought a DCC control system! Will they be brave enough to go down this road?
Great review Jenny,Decent price,ideal for little fingers,hours of pleasure as well. Hours of enjoyment,within their own world.Well done for once "HORNBY" -- Carol
It's a very cute set and looks great for a small child who wants to join in with dad or Auntie Jenny.
Thanks for the review. This Does not come close to the Marklin offering. Way better value for a kid than the Hornby offering
See my review of the City Express set, if you would like something like this on your layout, but are 6 going on 60! th-cam.com/video/4h_pCg2VzPs/w-d-xo.html
too modern, whats happened to a steam loco and wagons or coaches. when I was young we had a r55 diesel and transcontinental coaches and I was 5, great fun for us youngsters then and it had a headlight
Going to take more than this to get young minds out of their tablets.
Hi, nice to see these critical starter kits reviewed. I do have a small issue with what you say.... this is a relivery of a red express train with exactly the same contents that Hornby launched three years ago, I bought it for my youngest daughter. I mention this because I really want to urge you to use your powers wisely. A little bit of research would improve you videos considerably. To be a trusted voice needs diligence in all things. I hope you don’t mind me pointing this out. We need more people speaking for the good of the hobby. To be that it needs a great deal of correctness.