Hornby Electric Train Set - R1255M The Flying Scotsman A1Class - OO Gauge Train Starter Sets, Adult Vintage Trains, Small Hobby Model for Adults - with Tracks, MidiMat, Connecting Track, Controller

I really like the train. Hornby is, in my opinion, a cut above Bachmann in terms of the biggest producers of HO model trains. The engine is heavy, solid, and nicely detailed given the price. The cars are just OK, although, again, at this price point they're as good or better than I would have expected.The track is actually pretty good -- better than the steel Bachmann track in my opinion, although it looks a roadbed.The controller isn't very impressive. It feels flimsy and insubstantial, although it worked. I didn't need the controller so only tested it before putting it away.My only complaint is that I first tried ordering Used, and it came with the front bogie/truck detached and lacking the hardware to attach it. So I sent that back and bought new, and it came with the front bogie/truck detached. As it turns out, it did have the hardware needed to attach it, but since the only schematic I could find online showed it with different hardware, I again thought it was missing hardware and shipped it back for a replacement. And the replacement arrived with the front bogie/truck detached. This time I reached out for help and found both the folks in the Hornby forums as well as Hornby support staff to be very friendly and helpful. With a pointer to the right schematic, I finally got the train up and running.It seems odd that I got multiple locomotives with the front bogie detached. And it's frustrating that the Hornby website is organized poorly, making it extremely difficult to find schematics. I would take off a point for that, but then I'd give back that point simply because the community as well as company support are great.

I didn't know what to expect from a British line of model trains.what a difference from American brands.the locomotive run very quiet and smooth and passenger cars are finely detailed and the price for the set was very reasonable .very impressive.did my research on British model trains after and found their other Train lines and rolling stock outdo the American train companies,quality and price-wise.the only qualm I had was the locomotive was lacking a headlight,but no big deal,still a stunning locomotive,very detailed.would recommend purchasing the flying scotsman set,the controller is just a basic starter,but I already had better one,so it's just a back-up,just in case.tally-ho,brits!

The controller is cheap, it makes the engine buzz and causes the engine to go faster on half the layout and slower on the other half. You have to turn the nob halfway just to get flying scotsman to move at all. if you're getting this, buy a quality model railway controller and wires and hook up the quality controller. THEN it's 5 stars.

This train set was simply phenomenal. Great value for the price and you can never go wrong with the Flying Scotsman! Take care my friends.

4 of the Hornby products we purchased - for hundreds of dollars - broken down within 2 months, despite their being treated with tremendous care and caution. Shoddy workmanship. The Acela, a 5th Hornby product, was broken the day we got it and we returned it for a refund.The Flying Scotsman broke down within 2 months. It's motor seemed no longer connected to its wheels.Hornby company has plummeted. Many of the products are defective. Moreover, we sent 4 engines back to Hornby for repair. We should have done a simple return instead. The engines got there in 4 days but then were stuck at customs for more than 4 weeks. Hornby and USPS/Parcel Force never informed us a customs payment had been slapped on them that Hornby refused to pay. Now they're supposedly heading back to the US - unrepaired - and we're told it may take a very long time.Hornby refused to issue reimbursement for $670 worth of defective trains, not including tax. They refuse to send us replacements. They say we must go through Amazon. Amazon says the return window is no longer open, even though it was open at the time we shipped the engines to the UK. Amazon just has a computer to talk to you, so you can't make it understand sense. Hornby has real people, but they don't understand sense either and can't get around their bureaucratic rules that conveniently serve their own profits.Amazon said we have to go to the manufacturer. Round and round. Asked Hornby again, and they still refuse to issue reimbursement or replacement for their 4 defective engines because we did not buy them directly from them but through Amazon. Never heard anything so absurd and so tight-fisted. They obviously earned money selling these engines to Amazon. So why can't they pay us back? Why should they keep their $670? This company makes millions and can't afford to replace 4 engines and can't afford to make operable engines.Hornby is hard-hearted, cold-fisted, and bureaucratic. Their engines are junk. Don't waste your money on Hornby. Stick with Bachmann. Their engines rarely break down and when they do, you get immensely better service. They're located in the US so you don't have to deal with UK customs and poor UK customer service.

The Scotsman is TOPS!! So grateful for Hornby's attention to detail!! What an awesome set. Many thanks to Amazon for a quick transport to me.