https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/60339/childhood-crazes#latest
Strictly speaking I don't think either fits the definition of 'craze' but I got two fellow train enthusiasts, Luny and Antiriad to add their remarks.
I wanted to elaborate but thought it better to do so here because the important difference between my love of trains and many other more conventional enthusiasts was that they were always a vehicle for my imagination.
Although I admire the more severe scale modeller ethos, it lacks the all important elements of fun and whimsy that still appeals to me probably thanks to W Heath Robinson and Roland Emmett:-
https://www.google.com/search?q=railway+ribaldry+w+heath+robinson&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsZM8I9SowYlnQUQTTrItPHgkDlDnA:1653258647103&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYnIezlPT3AhUHU98KHWbJCewQ_AUoAnoECAIQBA&biw=1093&bih=501&dpr=1.25
https://www.google.com/search?q=oyster+creek+and+far+tottering&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsaQ-B3mgbbNxgDKRn3nIeR9n--DvQ:1653258811227&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBzKiBlfT3AhUvkYkEHfXsANwQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1093&bih=501&dpr=1.25
Besides which in the late 40's and early 50's dear old British Rail (the original version with the lion crest livery) was as near as dammit to those fictional examples as you could wish for. It was human and its human foibles were funny at least to a non commuter or business traveller and selected regions still had faint echoes of their faded glories - the Western certainly did.
It was the pre-grouping inter war years liveries that attracted me along with colourful private owner wagons and elegant variations of carriage stock. Thats how my railways were going to look if and when I ever got a chance to realize them.
Bugger scale restrictions, I knew next to nothing about the real thing anyway, it was simply a canvas for my imagination.
Just like Luny I lacked the money and space for my dream layout and like Antiriad I inherited a lot of stuff from generous relatives.
Dad went abroad to Germany on business and always came back with a new Trix Twin item (some of which I suspect he was given by customers because he was dealing in rolling stock and construction materials and they always gave generous gifts for die kinder, hem hem, not a bribe at all mein herr.)
Dad let me use the garage at the bottom of the garden and supplied a big sheet of blockboard 3/4" thick to build my layout on. My best mate Alex who was an apprentice E.E was responsible for the wiring and controls. He was also a train spotter and a bit of a stickler for doing things proper BR fashion.
I was into scenery regardless of era or origin and happily mixed Faller continental buildings with Keil Kraft Superquick traditional British stuff. We got on well nonetheless. It was a very happy time.
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