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Hornby Model Railways: Model Trains, Dublo, Train Set And Live Steam
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Published: November 9, 2007
Hornby is one of the top model railway brands in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1907 by Frank Hornby, an English politician, businessman and inventor. The company has a long history of iconic model train production, and continues to carry its legacy of fine model railroad craftsmanship.
Hornby Model Railways was born when Frank Hornby obtained his patent in 1907 for his Mechanics Made Easy construction toys. During its early years, the company was located in Liverpool and was first identified with Meccano Ltd. In 1920, the company introduced its first train, a scale (1:48) model with a high-end clockwork motor. Soon, the Hornby model trains became a huge hit, prompting the company to come up with more accessories, designs and engines for their model trains.
Hornby Model Railways introduced their first electronic train in 1925, which uses a high voltage power supply of 100 to 250 volts. Safety issues soon prompted the company to come up with motors powered by lower 4V and 6V, before finally settling with a 20V AC power system in the 1930s. However, clockwork motors were still present in many of their gauge trains up to 1937.
In 1938, Hornby Model Railways launched the Dublo, a model locomotive almost half the size of the company's gauge trains, and built with cast metal instead of pressed metal. The company stopped its manufacture during World War II, but the Dublo resumed production after the war ended. However, Dublo experienced setbacks during the late 1950s, and engaged in a stiff rivalry with its competitors, especially the Tri-ang Railways. The two rival companies were eventually merged and became known as Tri-ang Hornby in 1965, a year after Tri-ang's parent company, Lines Brothers, bought Meccano Ltd.
Hornby experienced several changes after many years, which included the dissolution of the Tri-ang Group in 1971, consequently changing its name to Hornby Railways in 1972, and again changing its name to Hornby Hobbies Ltd in 1980. By this time, the company has already come up with various new designs and features to its trains, which eventually continued to improve in the next two decades.
In September 2003, Hornby released its first live steam train, which is a 00 gauge model of a title-holder British steam locomotive called Mallard. The live steam trains are one of the most notable additions to the wide variety of intricate model trains being manufactured.
Today, Hornby continues to embody only the finest craftsmanship for its beautiful train set. The company manufactures trains with 00 gauge, or a scale of 1:76, and N gauge, or a scale of 1:148. Children who are starting to gain interest in model railroading will surely love special train collections such as Thomas the Tank Engine train set, and Harry Potter set comprising of the Hogwarts Express and the Platform 9 3/4.
Hornby is the top brand preferred by many hobbyists in the United Kingdom for its wide range of renown British outline trains and the popular live steam train set collections. Hornby remains to be one of the best known and loved model train makers in the United Kingdom today because of its long history of high-quality production.
Sources:
"About Hornby." hornby.com. 9 Nov. 2007. http://www.hornby.com/about-hornby/.
"Hornby Railways." Wikipedia.org. 13 Oct. 2007. 9 Nov. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornby_Railways.
"An Introduction to Hornby." GaugeMaster.co.uk. 9 Nov. 2007. http://www.gaugemaster.co.uk/hornby.html.
"Live Steam Mallard." pier-models.co.uk. 9 Nov. 2007. http://pier-models.co.uk/acatalog/Pier_Models_Horn by_Live_Steam__00__Gauge_244.html.
Hornby Model Railways was born when Frank Hornby obtained his patent in 1907 for his Mechanics Made Easy construction toys. During its early years, the company was located in Liverpool and was first identified with Meccano Ltd. In 1920, the company introduced its first train, a scale (1:48) model with a high-end clockwork motor. Soon, the Hornby model trains became a huge hit, prompting the company to come up with more accessories, designs and engines for their model trains.
Hornby Model Railways introduced their first electronic train in 1925, which uses a high voltage power supply of 100 to 250 volts. Safety issues soon prompted the company to come up with motors powered by lower 4V and 6V, before finally settling with a 20V AC power system in the 1930s. However, clockwork motors were still present in many of their gauge trains up to 1937.
In 1938, Hornby Model Railways launched the Dublo, a model locomotive almost half the size of the company's gauge trains, and built with cast metal instead of pressed metal. The company stopped its manufacture during World War II, but the Dublo resumed production after the war ended. However, Dublo experienced setbacks during the late 1950s, and engaged in a stiff rivalry with its competitors, especially the Tri-ang Railways. The two rival companies were eventually merged and became known as Tri-ang Hornby in 1965, a year after Tri-ang's parent company, Lines Brothers, bought Meccano Ltd.
Hornby experienced several changes after many years, which included the dissolution of the Tri-ang Group in 1971, consequently changing its name to Hornby Railways in 1972, and again changing its name to Hornby Hobbies Ltd in 1980. By this time, the company has already come up with various new designs and features to its trains, which eventually continued to improve in the next two decades.
In September 2003, Hornby released its first live steam train, which is a 00 gauge model of a title-holder British steam locomotive called Mallard. The live steam trains are one of the most notable additions to the wide variety of intricate model trains being manufactured.
Today, Hornby continues to embody only the finest craftsmanship for its beautiful train set. The company manufactures trains with 00 gauge, or a scale of 1:76, and N gauge, or a scale of 1:148. Children who are starting to gain interest in model railroading will surely love special train collections such as Thomas the Tank Engine train set, and Harry Potter set comprising of the Hogwarts Express and the Platform 9 3/4.
Hornby is the top brand preferred by many hobbyists in the United Kingdom for its wide range of renown British outline trains and the popular live steam train set collections. Hornby remains to be one of the best known and loved model train makers in the United Kingdom today because of its long history of high-quality production.
Sources:
"About Hornby." hornby.com. 9 Nov. 2007. http://www.hornby.com/about-hornby/.
"Hornby Railways." Wikipedia.org. 13 Oct. 2007. 9 Nov. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornby_Railways.
"An Introduction to Hornby." GaugeMaster.co.uk. 9 Nov. 2007. http://www.gaugemaster.co.uk/hornby.html.
"Live Steam Mallard." pier-models.co.uk. 9 Nov. 2007. http://pier-models.co.uk/acatalog/Pier_Models_Horn by_Live_Steam__00__Gauge_244.html.
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