It was twenty years ago today I was probably going stir crazy for Christmas. This was a usual thing for me being 8 years old and Christmas being the main part of the kid calendar but twenty years ago was special because on Christmas day I got my first proper train set.

I had a few bits and pieces of Hornby OO before but they were my dads and brothers. This was going to be mine and more importantly it was going to be N..

Unknown to me, my dad had been sawing away making baseboards out of chip board for a while and he had been regularly visiting Dave at Manor Models in Telford (now gone I think). Therefore when I opened my first piece of Peco N gauge flexi track I knew it was going to be a good day! In all (if my memory serves me correctly) I got:

10 Assorted wagons including an old Lima Brake Van.

1 Graham Farish MK3 Intercity TS carriage

1 Graham Farish 08 Shunter

Even at my young age it seemed like an odd mix but there was logic in that it was affordable and would give me enough stock to tide me over to my birthday (where I was getting a class 47 and some ore MK3s).

I still have the 08 shunter and the carriage that was purchased for me that Christmas. I doubt they will ever be used in regular service again but they hold a special place in my heart because they were my first trains.