Hornby Locos-Start A Collection For Life


By: Norman Stanley

Hornby locos have an iconic status in the railway modelling world. Collectors will pay hundreds if not thousands for that one special model train.

Let us be clear, these are models, scaled down replicas of the real life trains. Modellers would stare at you aghast should you make the mistake of calling these little engines, toys.

Hornby locos were born in the UK around 1920 and were marketed under the name, Meccano. This was a clockwork model and today there are serious collectors scouring the highways and by ways for any of these '0' gauge models.

Hornby released it's first electric model but apart from France it never really took off, it wasn't until 1925 that a revised loco with a much more powerful electric motor that electric powered model trains really started selling in numbers. Can you believe that these little trains were actually powered by 220V AC!

Probably the most sought after Hornby locos are the 'Dublo' range of models, note the clever branding,Dublo-double 0 gauge. The Dublo range were modelled in tin plate on die cast chassis. These were to be the making of the Hornby legend.

The Dublo catalogue was very well designed with attention to detail and life-like characteristics. The range did it's bit to make 12V dc the operating system to have.

The second world war interrupted production from 1940 to around 1948 and huge investment other manufacturers, noticeably Triangle Railways left Hornby wanting. The major problem for Hornby was a lack of foresight and retooling out dated designs instead of going with plastic like other producers.

Still, fortunately for collectors and enthusiasts alike the Hornby Dublo range was bought by G R Wren who developed the Hornby loco range and also started producing highly detailed rolling stock.

After several ups and downs in their fortunes Hornby, now Hornby Hobbies which signaled a move into the 'grown up' train enthusiasts market Hornby locos are still being produced with an extensive range of models of which the Class 60, Class 50 and 31 are leading products.

Hornby has had a couple of master strokes to help along the way producing the Harry Potter model train and every little boys favourite Thomas the Tank Engine.

If you want to start a collection or build a model railway then you can do no worse than consider Hornby locos, you can start small with easily available models and track but when the bug bites you I am sure you will be scouring the sale ads and car boot sales with the rest of us


Author Resource:->  Find out how to build your collection and where to start at Hornby Locos

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