Auctions: Toys for older girls and boys

TOYS for grown-ups are in the London salerooms and turkeys are mingling with other merchandise in the provinces. Christie's South Kensington's Trains Galore sale Monday (2pm) is strong on commercial pre-war Hornby '0' gauge model trains, with locos in the pounds 150- pounds 2,000 range. There are more Bassett Lowke models than usual - better modelled, bought by better-off parents, but often cheaper at auction than Hornby, which somehow has a monopoly on nostalgia.

You can still buy an electric 7mm finescale (individually made) loco by the late James Beeson for pounds 1,800- pounds 2,000 - a GWR King class 4-6-0 loco and tender complete with miniature tool box and hand irons.

There is a smashing electric Union Pacific 'Big Boy' loco, one of those American railroad monsters, 50in long, estimated pounds 3,500- pounds 4,500. It is by the Japanese Aster company 'for Fulgurex' - the Swiss commissioning firm renowned for coaxing the best modelling out of Aster.

Phillips Bayswater has a toy and doll sale on Tuesday (12 noon) with 'play-worn' teddies, the playroom's walking wounded, shielding recovered pads and missing eyes in order to tempt pounds 300- pounds 400 from a stranger.

Disney has infiltrated the sale, as usual. Latest outrage: a set of pre-war plaster models of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs estimated at pounds 600- pounds 800.

Presents for the more intelligent - or more eccentric - adult are at Christie's South Kensington's sale of scientific instruments, collectables and artworks Tuesday (1pm). Light- bulb collectors are offered three lots of 55 Doto, Multiplex and Duofil light-bulbs, mint and boxed, for pounds 50- pounds 80 the lot.

COUNTRYWIDE

Billingshurst: Besides more toy trains, diecast toys, dolls and teddies, Sotheby's sale Monday (10.30am) has an impressive collection of pedal cars. Some are individually built, such as the pre-war Vauxhall made in the Eighties and estimated at pounds 3,000- pounds 5,000. A Triang pedal car of around 1935 is est pounds 100- pounds 200, a Lines Brothers Vauxhall of the same date at pounds 600- pounds 800 (0403 783933).

Durham: Christmas poultry sale Monday (start time to be confirmed) at 5 Kentington, Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland. Bishop Auckland Marts (0388 603205).

Stanwell Moor, Middlesex: Antiques and effects in the village hall tomorrow (4pm). Stanwell Moor Auctions (081- 742 1069).

Bedford: Poultry, game, eggs, Bedford Auction Centre, Newnham Street, Tuesday and Wednesday (11am daily). Wilson Peacock (0234 266366).

Guildford: More than 500 lots of Christmas poultry and game at the cattle market, Slyfield Green Tuesday (11.30am). South East Marts (0483 573386).

Wickham Market, near Woodbridge, Suffolk: furniture and effects Monday (11am) at the Campsea Ashe Auction Rooms. Abbotts (0728 746323).

Saffron Walden: General sale, including Christmas poultry and produce, Tuesday (10.30am). Saffron Walden Auctions (0799 513281).

Hay-on-Wye: Book and ephemera auction, Broad Street, Tuesday (1pm). Y Gelli Book Auctions (0497 821179).

Wombwell: Toys, furniture, fancy goods, Thursday (11am). Wilsdens, Hope Street, Low Valley (0226 751359).

Countrywide auctions by Antiques Trade Gazette (071- 930 4957), Government Auction News (071-734 8291/4, hotline 0891-887700).