Train Trader Services Page

If you have any questions about these, or any other model train-related services, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are very likely able to meet your needs.

Our Services

Repairs Whether old, new, analogue, digital or even clockwork, we’d back our repairers against anyone in the country for skill and attention to detail. We’ve rescued many items that customers had assumed were beyond repair. Since we are the biggest buyers and sellers of used items in Australia, and since we are the ONLY shop that will buy all the extras that come in that box of “stuff” that someone found in Uncle Fergus’ attic, we end up with some amazing spare parts and odd bits. Those that can’t be found can often be fabricated. Our rates for repairs have repeatedly proven to be well below any other hobby shop around. As with all of our services, you do not need to come into the shop to avail yourself of our repairs. You can mail your items to us to have work done on them – see our contact page for details. While we repair any and all makes of model train, we particularly pride ourselves on our ability to rescue and/or service all things Marklin.

Train Trader offers the most complete range of services and support to the model train enthusiast. With our extensive experience, and access to hard-to-find information and spare parts, we can solve most of your model train needs. Here is a selection of our services:

Shipping We are happy to ship items anywhere in the world! All items are sent registered mail for protection of your treasured models, and we pride ourselves on our ability to pack things for safe delivery. The Australian postal service is very efficient and cost effective – we have some of the best postal rates in the world. Contact us for details of postal rates to your destination.

Layout Design Help With extensive layout design and construction experience, we are happy to help and advise our customers regarding their plans for a layout. Whether it’s deciding which scale/outline/format to use or how to go about building the baseboards, and everything in between, we are more than happy to advise you and/or point you in the “right” direction. However please note we do not offer a layout design and construction service.

Digital Systems The world of digital model railways is changing even faster than the world of digital cameras, and is resulting in exciting opportunities for even greater realism and control in your model railway layouts. At Train Trader, we carry a full range of Marklin’s digital products and are planning to stock ESU’s technology – with the new ECoS central controller and their range of leading-edge sound chips. We continue to supply Uhlenbrock, as we have since 2003. In addition, we are able to source leading-edge stock from other main players and are more than happy to order any items you require, at very competitive prices. One of the biggest problems that our customers find with regard to digital model railways is having the whole concept explained to them in terms that can be easily understood. With 15 years in the IT industry behind each of us, we are able to explain almost all facets of digital to our customers on a level tailored to each individual.

Valuations We also offer a written valuation service. This is useful for people establishing value for insurance purposes. This is completely separate to any buying offer as this would always reflect commercial replacement cost For a full written valuation we typically charge $50 (AUD), plus between 1% and 3 % of the value of the collection – depending on the amount of time and effort required to research the stock (some items are easy, others can be VERY difficult to establish a credible value for). These costs should be used only as a guide, however we will always give you a firm quote prior to valuation. Please contact us to arrange a valuation of your collection.

Experienced advice At Train Trader, we have developed a reputation for being the one shop around that is willing to talk to our customers, in fact our accountant tells us “less talk, more selling”! We believe that the nature of the model railway hobby dictates that it’s not always either efficient or effective for customers to be expected to walk into a shop, pick an item off the shelf, pay for it and walk out. Let’s face it, ours is a very hands-on hobby where many, if not most people like to talk about different ideas and approaches. While we don’t profess to have all the answers, we are happy to chat through an issue. Whether the advice is technical or practical, we can cover most areas. One of the commonest areas of discussion we get in the shop revolves around how old a child should be before they can be practically expected to play happily and safely with an electric model railway. The discussion is often related to whether or not to continue (or start) with the Learning Curve wooden Thomas. Not surprisingly, it’s often Dad who is most keen to move to the electric versions!

Purchase of Collections As the biggest buyers and sellers of used model railway in Australia, we see MANY collections – from two rusty carriages in an egg carton, to 20 removal boxes full of mint, boxed stock! For a long time we have been the only shop around that will buy all of the model railway related items in a collection. There’s nothing worse than taking your stuff to a shop or auction house and finding that they are only interested in a handful of key pieces and the rest is left to you to dispose of. We’ll always pay a premium for a collection that contains a few special pieces, but the reverse of that is that we cannot offer much for a collection that has had its best items removed – you’d be amazed how easy it is to tell this! If we need to travel to a collection, and/or factor in the costs of layout removal, then these costs will always be applied to any offer we make for stock. This is purely a practical issue and we make the point only to remove any potential misunderstanding. If you have a collection you would like to sell, please contact us for prompt service.

Books and Magazines We typically have several thousand magazines in stock that we have bought as parts of collections. The commonest titles include: · Modeling: · Australian Model Railroad Magazine – AMRM – still in print we also have unread copies of most editions from the last 24 months; · Railway Modeller; · Continental Modeller; · Railroad Model Craftsman; · Model Railroader; · Model Railway Constructor; · Many others · Railroading: · Railway Digest; · Network – Railways of Australia Quarterly; · Rail Enthusiast; · Trolley Wire Unfortunately, we are unable to catalogue every edition of each magazine. We sell most magazines from 1980 to 2002 for about $2.50 to $3 each. Earlier than 1980 really depends on the magazine, its condition and its relative age. A charge may apply for requests to locate a particular edition of a particular magazine within our collection.

Cars As with books and magazines, we tend to get some old cars as parts of collections. These can be Lesney, Matchbox, Dinky, Fun Ho, Viking, etc. Similarly to the process for magazines, we have not catalogued these, however we keep a range available on display. Almost all come to us unboxed and are in various states of repair. You are welcome to fossick through our older cars (particularly the old Lesney!) and pick out any unique models of interest to you. While we don’t give these away, we do sell them at very reasonable prices.

Landscaping, buildings and accessories As Sydney’s largest model train shop, we carry a wide range of landscaping materials and buildings. We stock Woodlands Scenics products for all your landscaping needs, as well as landscaping products from Heki, Faller and Noch, with direct ordering facilities from the Australian Distributors for all of these lines. From a building perspective, we stock Faller, Vollmer and Kibri – in various scales from Z and N to HO, as well as Hornby’s Scaledale (for OO) and Lyddle End (for N). We also have a range of Heki’s excellent cardboard buildings. In addition, we sell Brawa’s first-class range of powered cable-cars, funiculars, and other related items, as well as their lighting kits.

Brands • Locomotives and rolling stock Apart from Marklin, Mini-Club, Trix and Minitrix, we also stock many other brands as new stock. Our stock levels for each of these vary depending on availability, but in all cases, we have direct contact with the Australian distributors and, if the items are in stock with the distributor, delivery is normally within two working days. Brands for locomotives and rolling stock include: · Fleischmann · LGB · Hornby · Graham Farish · Atlas · Brawa • Track We carry a large range of several of the major brands of track, including: · Marklin – C and K track, as well as Australia’s largest range of the now discontinued M track – and old catenary, where available. · Trix – the new HO track is proving very popular and easy to use. · Peco – we carry a full range of OO code 100 in both Setrack and Streamline, similarly for N gauge. Other codes and scales can be ordered, with generally a two-day turnaround. Our prices on Peco are very competitive in Australia. · Fleischmann – both HO and N profi track as well as conventional rails. · LGB · While we don’t carry Atlas (we had to stop somewhere!), we can order it in at very good prices.

Australian Models Australian model trains are becoming harder to find, particularly since the demise of Lima. We all hold hope that Hornby will be able to do something with the Australian moulds that they managed to acquire. In the meantime we find that used Australian models are easily our fastest turning over products in the shop. Commonest would be Lima, followed by Powerline and Austrains. The speed of turnover means that we rarely list these products, although we will make a specific list whenever we manage to secure a collection of any size. We sell CDA controllers and transformers.