Rail travel is now more popular than any time since the Second World War. And, it seems, our appetite for train-related nostalgia is growing in line with this trend with keen interest in model railways.

Mike Delaney, who runs his business, Vintage Toys, from his home in Carterton, said: “People keep saying, that it cannot go on for ever — but it continues as it has done for a good many years.”

Mr Delaney sells via the Internet and at vintage fairs held up and down the country. His stock includes tin plate models and the popular Dinky toys but it is model railways in all their many guises that are his main business.

As well as the replicas of locomotives and all the rolling-stock that transported both passengers and freight, there are model stations, signal boxes and track of various gauges.

Mr Delaney has been in business for 11 years but his interest in trains goes back to his childhood.

“I have been a collector for 30 years,” he said. “I enjoyed trains as a boy and had my own Hornby 00 scale models and four railway layouts.

“This is an interest that many people do not grow out of — through it they like to reclaim their youth.”

Mr Delaney’s customers vary in age from their 30s to those their 80s.

The events are specialist vintage fairs stretching from Birmingham to London rather than those that sell a more general range of toys and models.

“Modern toys do not really impress me as much,” he said.

Alongside his own business, Mr Delaney acts as a consultant for auction houses in the preparation of catalogues of vintage sales.

In his own business he aims to deal in higher quality models and regards the description of items for sale as being of great importance.

“I pride myself on the fact that when people have placed an order with me, they open the parcel at home and are pleased with what they have purchased and that it is exactly as I described it.

“People know my reputation and if I say something is high quality, then it is.”

Sales at the fairs are equally strong. Mr Delaney finds there are people who enjoy being able to see and handle the items in which they are interested, rather than buying by mail order.

These are not so much models to be ‘played with’ but rather to be part of serious collections.

“People may run them as well and not just keep them in a glass case,” Mr Delaney added.

The earliest are late Victorian and Edwardian, run by clockwork or by electricity.

There are often request for items for which Mr Delaney can search on a customer’s behalf.

An example of models of which not a great many were made are the black freight stock.

Mr Delaney said the reason for these being rarities is that manufacturers were aware more brightly-coloured locomotives and carriages had greater appeal for youngsters, so they concentrated production on making them in the liveries of the main railway companies — the Great Western, London Midland and Scottish, Southern Railway and the London North Eastern Railway.

Hornby was the main manufacturer. Others included Bassett Lowke, Marklin, Bing, Leeds and Mills Brothers.

Via his website Mr Delaney also buys in stock.

“I buy from anywhere in the world,” he said.“Today people can see the website and e-mail me with details of what they have for sale — single items or a whole collection.

“If people are downsizing, or selling for some other reason, I like to give as much help and advice as I can.

“I have known some of my customers for a long time. I get a lot of repeat business which means they like the quality.

“I buy and sell at the upper end of the market and that is reflected in what I sell. I concentrate on originality — not on repainted models. That is something that it is important for me to get across to people.

“Sometimes when I buy a collection it includes items that may not be of the standard in which I deal and not as good as I would really like. But I know other people who may be interested and can move them on through the trade or at auctions.

“At vintage sales people on the edge of the collecting fraternity can be astonished at the quality of items which may date back 80 or 100 years.”

As an example of the prices they may fetch, a 1930s clockwork Flying Scotsman in good condition could sell for about £150.

If it came in its original box, with all the attachments such as guarantee stamps, tags, lamps and keys, the price could rise £800.

Models are often chosen as presentation gifts to people with a known enthusiasm as a collector, perhaps from work colleagues on a retirement.

He says models have proved a good investment over the years but not one with any guarantees.

“I can remember paying £25 for a coach 25 years ago and today you could add a nought and make that £250,” he said.

“The advice I would give to collectors is: always buy the best you can afford in terms of quality.

“If you buy a good example to start with, you won’t have to spend a second time.”