Hornby Railways

Hornby are brand leaders in the UK model railway market. Formed by Frank Hornby, who in 1901 patented the original model railways, the company have developed over the past 100 years into a household name.

The original train sets were sold as part of Meccano Limited, which was itself to become a name associated with some of the most famous toys ever made.

The first electric train was produced back in 1925 (running from a mains supply of 100-250 volts) and was replaced in 1929 by the safer system using a 6 volt DC source as the power supply.

The Hornby Duplo ('00') sets were launched in the 1930s but, as the company came under pressure from competitors, they switched to a two-rail system in 1959. By the mid 1960s production of Hornby Duplo sets ceased and the company went through a number of name changes.

The company has continued to develop since, bringing out a large range of engines and scales. It now claims to have been the largest UK model railway manufacturer for some 50 years.

Read on to find out about the most famous locomotive of them all, the Flying Scotsman.