The right side of the tracks

MOST CHILDREN born before the digital age took over the world dreamed of owning a train set. Now both those who saw their dreams come as well as the many more who didn’t can enjoy the unadulterated joy of life on the tracks at Modelrailroadsiam. 

Part store and part museum, it offers a rare collection of model trains and railroad accessories created by leading brands in Germany, Austria and Japan. 

Located on the fourth floor of the golf-focused Thaniya Plaza, it belongs to Sumeth Thipayarat, an entrepreneur with a knack for spotting profitable opportunities and a passionate train set collector since the day his older brother gave him a model railway.

“I worked at Bangkok Bank for years and travelled to many countries. I often brought some collectibles back home. I could see that there was a demand for locomotives and other accessories here so decided to turn my hobby into a business. I started by selling model trains and passenger carriages online and did so well that I opened my first shop on Silom in 2007. I moved to Silom Complex in 2009 then to Thaniya when the mall closed for renovations,” Sumeth says. 

“This new location is quiet but perfect for my expansion plans. As a shopping centre for golf equipment, it draws a lot of high-end customers.” 

Quiet and spacious with model trains and track backdrops showcasing several European cities on his shelves, Sumeth is the authorised dealer for four leading model railway makers: Roco from Austria, German firms Fleischmann and Brawa, and Kato from Japan. 

The trains come in HO and N scales (1:87 and 1:60) and some are equipped with digital sound and smoke. Classics include the Sassnitz Express, which connected Munich and Malmo in Sweden using a BR03 steam locomotive, and the first-class Trans Europe Rheingold Express that ran along the Rhine River from 1928 to 1980. A die-cast model of the BR15 locomotive with digital sound and smoke that operated during the World War II is also on sale.

Hand-painted figures of workers and their tools crafted by Preiser add life to any working railroad and entire cities with the railway at their heart can be created from pieces made by Faller, Vollmer, Kibri and Auhagen. The store also stocks Peco quality railways from the UK and related gear by Noch, Busch and Heki.

 

 

RAILWAY CHILDREN

>>Modelrailroadsiam is located in Room 441-442 of Thaniya Plaza off Silom. 

>>It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 10.30am to 7pm and until 6 on weekends.

>>Call (02) 632 8928 or visit www.ModelRailroadSiam.com.