I recently had the pleasure of watching James May's Toy Stories.
It's a fantastic journey through the various classic toys of our past.
One segment, in particular, is about model trains.
James sets about inspiring a local community in his mission to run a model train set through the site of a no longer used real-life train track.
It is moving to see how the model train phenomena touches every generation.
Young and old, male and female, experienced and novices. All want to be a part of this challenge.
And all want to see it through to the very end.
James' model train layout sees a Hornby train set make its way along a 10 mile (16 km) stretch of track from Barnstaple to Bideford.
The disused train site provides many obstacles to the modern model train track layout.
Roads, fences, water and vandals provide extra challenges.
Five trains set out from Barnstaple - James' own Flying Scotsman model, a passenger steam train, a passenger diesel train, a goods diesel train,
and the prototype of Hornby's Hitachi Class 395 "Javelin" model. Only one of these trains makes it to Bideford.
- Episode 1 - AIRFIX - James constructs a full-size (scale 1:1) model Spitfire.
- Episode 2 - PLASTICINE - Follow the Paradise In Plasticine entry into the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show.
- Episode 3 - MECCANO - Follow the design and construction of a 23m (75ft) bridge in Liverpool.
- Episode 4 - SCALEXTRIC - A 4.4 km (2.75 mile) track along the old Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit.
- Episode 5 - LEGO - A full-sized house, built using 3.3 million lego bricks.
- Episode 6 - HORNBY - A 16 km (10 mile) railway track and a race for five model trains.
JAMES MAY'S TOY STORIES
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