RIDE ON RAILWAYS
esales@rideonrailways.co.uk
 Made in Britain
Tel 01708 374468

My Links


Looking for Second Hand
These links are placed with no recommendation.
  • Antique Steam - 3.5"-7.25" gauge engines and associated bits.
  • Compass House - sometimes has a selection of second hand items - call for details
  • Maxitrak -  REGULAR UPDATES.
  • Preston Services - mainly large steam - website more look at what we sold than current stock
  • Station Road Steam - Large collection of various secondhand items of all miniature gauges + traction engines up to 1:1 - REGULAR UPDATES.
  • Steamdays - Select locomotives mainly 5"
  • Steam Workshop  - REGULAR UPDATES.
  • The Engineers Emporium - best to call as website ran out of steam years ago.
  • View Models - small independent company trading in live steam models in the model engineering scales.

The above list is just that, a list. We do business with Station Road Steam and Maxitrak but beyond that I make no recommendations.

The strength of a good retailer is one who takes responsibility when things go wrong.

Buy from a reputable dealer and preferably on a credit card.

Private Buying
Having bought items off ebay I have been caught out myself.

  1. Do not assume current certificates are genuine. See if there is a history of certificates.
  2. "Museum quality" models are in museums. "Runs like a dream" - stated on an ebay listing with a boiler with un soldered stays. "Built by a great engineer" - everyones dad is great.
  3. Look at the wheels - They should have a slope on them (coning) and the flange has a radius. They should look proportionally right. Many home builds fall over at this stage which sets the standard for the rest of the build. Excessively worn wheels also show the model may be expired.
  4. Ideally see the item. At very least this shows they have it.
  5. If it is steam then get some agreement about passing hydraulic test or treat the boiler as scrap. To bring a boiler under club scheme may require the boiler to be fully inspected. Be prepared to strip the loco down.
  6. Boiler making is a very skilful art. There are many that believe that they have mastered the art but often their work says otherwise.
  7. Does the seller have the right to sell it?


Engine Manufacturers

If you are after a steam locomotive I can recommend two manufacturers.

Polly Model Engineering.

Build a 5" gauge steam locomotive from what effectively is a bolt together kit. You will learn everything about the locomotive as you build it which leaves you with the knowledge on how to look after the locomotive.

DO NOT BUY SECONDHAND if you can afford a Polly Kit.

Polly's have a good reputation for easy to steam, efficient and good haulers.

Polly Model owners club - home of many happy owners www.pollyownersgroup.org.uk

O&K Polly at Ruddington
Station Road Steam

Manufacturer of the 5", 7 1/4" & 10 1/4"gauge Stafford locomotive. Station Road Steam's ready to run locos (and in kit form) are many in number now and the range is going from strength to strength. If you want hassle free steaming with out being reliant of the local clubs experts, then you can't get better than these.

Station Road Steam also have a good reputation in dealing with secondhand locomotives and associated items.

 Station Road Steam



Suppliers of Rail

We are able to supply 5" and 7 1/4" gauge 10m track packs + 12' radius points in 16 or 21mm aluminium rail. If have more complex track requirements then some of the links below may be able to help.
  • Cromar White - Supplier of rail and supplier of all equipment for the larger scale enthusiast. UK agent for Roll Models - Holyhead
  • Maxitrak hold some track in stock + manufacture point kits - Kent
  • PNP Railways - Paul Norman Plastics - Supplier of aluminium rail, injection moulded plastic sleeper system including plastic chairs which can be used with timber sleepers. Also supplier of 5" & 7.25" gauge items including vacuum brake system. Gloucestershire.

PNP Railways
  • The Miniature Railway Supply Co. Limited. Supplier of track materials, points (kit and assembled) + numerous items of signaling and track side fittings through their Scaleway Signalling range. Telephone, Fax & Answerphone: 01442 214702 evening calls welcome. Hertfordshire



Suppliers / services that may be of interest

  • 4QD Electronic Controllers - Detailed website with good technical information on their products - Mail order only.
  • Parkside Electronics/Railways - supplier of electronic controllers, gears, motors, chain + loads more.
  • Walker Midgley Insurance Brokers Ltd Provider of insurance for model engineers and garden railways. www.walkermidgley.co.uk
  • Health and Safety - Safe operation of miniature railways, traction engines and road vehicles
  • Technobots - good site for gears, chains and an eye of the latest in radio controlled robots
  • Trax Controls - Exception value sound systems - diesel, horns, steam whistle and a chuff unit available.






Golden Nuggets - Places and sites that I found interesting





PLEASE NOTE
 I have listed a few links which I use and I hope you may find interesting and in no way are any kind of recommendation. I get requests to put up reciprocal links. It is not that they wouldn't be interesting but I simply do not have time to keep these pages up to date.






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