| The Hornby Railways company is a big manufacturer | | | | decoder modules were too expensive; on top of that, |
| of the 00 gauge Hornby model trains. First created in | | | | the engines didn't run on other train systems. During the |
| the early 1900s, the Hornby Railways company is the | | | | 1980s, the Hornby Railways train business chose to go |
| innovator in steam train railway modeling for the | | | | public and in the late 1990s, the company made the |
| country of the United Kingdom, designing the Meccano | | | | decision to invest in movie train set replicas. For |
| clockwork 0 gauge models; this company also | | | | instance, they made a replica of the steam engine |
| produces the live steam 00 gauge model trains. | | | | seen in Harry Potter movies. An additional Hornby |
| Looking At The Past Hornby Model Trains | | | | model train was designed in the early 2000s; this was |
| During the early 1920's until the 1930s, the company | | | | the Mallard, which was the first steam-powered 00 |
| manufactured the high voltage 220 to 240 volt AC | | | | gauge model engine. |
| electric clockwork 0 gauge, a very popular brand for | | | | Two Key Model Railroading Systems From Hornby |
| its time. Later versions of four and six-volts were | | | | Railways |
| made; however, because of the safety fears. The 00 | | | | There are two main railroading models of the Hornby |
| gauge model was created in the late 1930's to | | | | Railways. They are the Lyddle End and Skaledale. The |
| combine the now standard 12-volt DC model trains, | | | | Lyddle End and the Skaledale are similar in their |
| which are sold in the United Kingdom. | | | | accessories but the Lyddle End models have a bigger |
| Now the newer ones had a mixture of clockwork and | | | | scale of 1:76. These accessories include platforms, |
| electric and because of it, they gained in their | | | | tracks, shops, station buildings, etc. This model is based |
| recognition very fast. However, with the WWII in full | | | | off the fictitious Lyddle End village setting in England. |
| force, production on these brands was suspended. | | | | These models are similar with the 00 gauge models |
| The clockwork models were reintroduced at the end | | | | and very similar to one another, despite the scale size |
| of the war but soon ceased production in 1950. There | | | | differences. Model builders tend to like this range much |
| was just one other clockwork Hornby model train | | | | better than other models. |
| designed for its 70th-year anniversary | | | | Since the majority of model manufacturers have a |
| commemoration. During the 1950, the two-rail track and | | | | scale difference, it's highly important that the |
| molded plastic rolling stock was introduced but it was | | | | companies produce their own tracks and rolling stock |
| just too complex to manage when compared with its | | | | to support the scale they use. With no standard |
| rival models. | | | | 0-gauge track width, the majority of tracks may not |
| A New Hornby Introduction That Failed To Materialize | | | | be compatible with others. |
| And Movie Replicas | | | | The Hornby model trains is, no doubt, one of the more |
| During the 1970s, the Hornby Railways Company | | | | popular steam powered engines that work for both as |
| introduced another model; this was the George | | | | toys and enthusiasts. Still, the company list includes the |
| Stephenson's Rocket train model. The Zero I was also | | | | N and H0 scale models, which came when the |
| introduced during the 1970s; it was a multiple engine | | | | business overtook the Italian model railway |
| controller program. However, this early DCC system | | | | manufacturer called Lima; these are named the Arnold |
| Zero I failed to do well because the controller units and | | | | and Rivarossi. |