The Ghost of Christmas Past: When the InterCity 125 Ruled the Living Room.

 There is a specific kind of magic that belonged to the 1980s. It wasn't just the music or the neon, it was the weight and substance of the gifts under the tree. This year, as I looked through some old photos and caught a glimpse of a familiar yellow-nosed locomotive, I was transported back to a cold morning in 1987.

I was eight years old. That age where the line between "believing" and "knowing" is paper-thin, but the excitement is absolute. I remember the rush of adrenaline as I ran downstairs in the dim early light. There, nestled among the wrapping paper and the glow of the tree lights, was the big one: the Hornby InterCity 125 Electric Train Set.

A Masterpiece in Miniature

For those who didn't grow up with a Hornby box under the tree, it’s hard to describe the presence it had. It wasn't just a toy, it was a world in a box. The livery was the classic "Executive" dark grey and yellow, exactly the same as the real High Speed Trains (HSTs) that roared through our stations back then.

I remember the smell of it, that distinct ozone-like scent of a brand-new electric motor heating up for the first time. I spent the entire day on the carpet, meticulously joining the silver tracks, clicking the fishplates together, and carefully placing the locomotives and coaches onto the rails. When that controller turned and the 125 hummed into life, gliding across the floor, my world felt complete.

The Supermarket Treasure Trove

What’s truly wild to think about now is where these sets came from. Today, model railway stuff is often tucked away in specialist shops or high-end websites. But back in the 80s, these were "prestige" items you’d see right there in the toy aisle of your local supermarket.

I have a distinct memory of seeing these very sets on the shelf at Asda in Merthyr Tydfil. You’d go in for the weekly shop with your parents and there they were, shining beacons of engineering in the toy aisle. It made the hobby feel accessible, like it was a part of everyone's childhood.

Where Has the Magic Gone?

I look at the toy aisles today, whether it's in a giant like Smyths Toys or online, and I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Smyths does its best, but it lacks the soul-stirring "wonderland" feel of the old Toys R Us or the local department stores of my youth.

Today’s toys feel... fleeting. They are often plastic, noisy for five minutes, and then destined for a drawer. They lack the longevity of a hobby. I still have those locomotives and coaches from 1987. The box may be long gone, lost to the moves and changes of three decades, but the trains still sit on my shelf, a tangible link to that eight-year-old boy.

A Hope for the Future

Is it too much to ask for a comeback? I truly hope that Hornby can find its way back to being the powerhouse it once was, the kind of company that puts a high-quality, inspiring set into the hands of every curious kid. I want to see train sets back in the supermarkets. I want the next generation to experience the patience of building a layout and the pride of watching a scale model "thump-thump" over the rail joints.

Times change, and technology moves on, but the joy of a High Speed Train thundering around a living room rug is timeless. Let’s hope we haven't seen the last of the Great British Train Set Christmas.