Say, Kieran. What would you say is the best brand for British stock? Just looking for a start for my collection (when / if i get one).
If you can find a good-looking Hornby model with good reviews, and no problems with picking up power and the like, I'd say go for it. The Bachmann Branch Line range is more expensive but the quality is very high. Someone at the Club bought a Hornby version of a model (Midland Compound), found that it didn't pick up well, sold it and bought the Bachmann one.
Hornby and Bachmann are really the two choices for current, Ready-to-Run models. There are older brands like Tri-ang, Mainline Models and the like, but I'd stay clear of them unless you know what you're doing or know someone who knows what they're doing - I know someone with spare Tri-ang parts and who can machine wheels to get the flanges down to an acceptable size for modern track.
My best-running locomotive is a Hornby 3F 'Jinty'. I bought it second-hand for $40 and a bit of a clean, as well as checking the quartering of the wheels, got it running spectacularly. I don't have any Bachmann stock yet, except for a MK1 coach.
So, in summary, you've got two pretty good choices; just buy what you can afford.
(for me, it's next-to-nothing, and people keep giving me trains. :hehe
Kieran.