Hornby Trains are a make of model railways created by Frank Hornby on engineering principles in 1920. Based in the United Kingdom, the company was earlier known by the name Meccano Ltd. The toy trains produced were powered by a clockwork motor. The novel concept of miniature toy trains caught on and became extremely popular. With increasing market demand, goods sets, wagons, carriages, passenger sets, and other ancillary accessories like signals, stations, and station figures were produced. Production halted during World War I. However, the production and sale of these toys increased as British families began shunning toys made in Germany and opting for British made toys.
By 1938, the company launched the “Hornby Dublo” model range – “00” gauge electric trains with die-cast locomotives and carriages and wagons made of tinplate. The Dublo models went on to become one of Hornby’s best-selling products. In 1964, with the takeover of Meccano Ltd by the rival Tri-ang Railways parent company Lines Bros Ltd, Hornby was renamed Tri-ang Hornby. With subsequent takeovers by other companies, the company became Hornby Railways in 1972 and Hornby Hobbies in 1980. By September 2003, Hornby introduced its first steam-powered “00” gauge locomotive. The line of locomotives later expanded to include detailed British locomotives like Class 08, Class 31, Class 50, and Class 60. To this day, Hornby continues to manufacture a wide range of model trains, locomotives, carriages, guard vans, layout buildings, tracks and related accessories.
Today, the Hornby trains have become collectors’ items. They remain popular among the young and old. With its broad range of model trains, you can start your own collection with several train sets available like the Smokey Joe Set 2003, the Eurostar Train Set 98 or the Mixed Goods Dcc Set. The rolling stock includes the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Car Pack, the LMS 4 Wheel Coach and the BR Corridor Third Maroon. Hornby continues to produce quality lifelike toy trains enabling people of all age groups to relive and rediscover the joys of childhood.
The recent range of Hornby trains includes Thomas the Tank Engine themed sets like the James Passenger Set 2005, the Percy Circus Set 2005, the Thomas and Bill Set 2005 and the Thomas Passenger Set 2005. These train sets come bundled with a train and carriages, a track to create a basic oval, a transformer and a power clip. Along with this, you get a paper track mat, a track layout and printed scenery. The popular Hornby model train and railway sets are available from several online stores.
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