Concerning European model railroading you have to make choices based on your preferences and budget and ask yourself...
- British or Continental (if Continental then Alpine or what other region?)
- analog AC 3-rail or DC 2-rail ?
- digital DCC, DCS, TMCC or Legacy?
- plastic mold or tinplate?
- exact or reduced scale?
- which era? (e.g. pre-WWI, 1920-30, post-WWII, Epoque III, IV,V,VI)
- which state line? (e.g. DRG,DB,DR,DBAG,NS,SNCF,RENFE,FS,SBB,OeBB,etc.)
- steam or diesel or electric?
- freight or passenger trains?
- New or 2nd Hand from online auctions?
There might be also other creteria for choosing the right European train set.