Links

The Train Collectors Society

‘Any make, Any gauge, Any age’

Links

There are several parts to this section. One is a list of all known clubs and associations in the UK, plus many abroad, that are concerned with toy trains or associated topics. Go to the Other Clubs page for more details. Secondly we have tried to summarise the other toy train, model railway or related web discussion groups that we know of. Go to Other E-groups. There is also a calendar of Events with in some cases links to the organisers' sites. One exhibition, and site, you might like to note is that of the Warley MRC, organisers of the annual show at the NEC, which now has a regular TCS presence.

However the main part is a selection of some sites to provide you with a short journey through toy train cyberspace. These are not intended to be anything other than a personal selection, so apologies to any site that has not been included. (Please do mail with your URL and if relevant will try to include in a future update.)

One place to start is to look at current manufacturer’s sites. No UK based collector can ignore Hornby Railways, so the first link is to the current Hornby OO gauge trains site. But we must also not forget the firm that started commercial model railways. Now part of the Corgi Classics organisation, Bassett-Lowke have returned to produce some very collectable items in gauge 'O'. We hope many more will come. Or for the original items you should visit the Bassett-Lowke Society's site. (The society caters for those interested in the model railway and model engineering products of Bassett-Lowke and also the other 0 Gauge and larger scale model railway makes of the period.)

Next we really ought to visit our 'routes', and that means taking in the ‘inventor’ of the toy train – Marklin. This is in fact a link to the Marklin of America site, which is of course in English. However both these companies are very much makers of model railways these days. Probably the greatest toy trains currently being made are those for the US Lionel / Hi-rail market, that is gauge O, 3-rail and basically AC on the rails. So since we are in US cyberspace we ought to look at Lionel Trains, who are just about celebrating their centenary. But there is a new kid on this particular block - MTH - who are also well worth a look.

But back to Germany and we want to admire the scenery. Noch is well known as a manufacturer of many scenic items, but also complete layouts. These are model railways, but also seem very much in the best tradition of the German toy industry. For the history of model trains, may we recommend a visit to the Modellbahnarchiv. This site is run by TCS member Michael Gerke and includes all aspects of model trains (00/H0 and other scales) from the 20s to the 70s in the 20th century (the Tin and Diecast Era). While the text of the site is German there are also many pictures, model lists and reproductions of catalogues so there no language is needed.

Having crossed the ocean a couple of times we might have an interest in ships. Great to see that Tri-ang Minic ships are back in production/

On our journey we need something to read. Try an on-line magazine, the Model Railway Express MAG. But our quick trip to the States may have been of interest. In which case a copy of Classic Toy Trains, the US magazine devoted entirely to toy trains and Hi rail modelling should be to hand. Not unnaturally this is biased to Lionel and related ranges. It is produced by Kalmbach (publishers of Model Railroader etc. etc.), this site also has links to their other magazines and books. For some while now there has been a regular online toy train magazine produced by the TCA in the US - E Train. Browse the article generally, or if like me you have a fascination with the track itself you might be interested in a specific article on the history of Lionel Super O track. You might also like to take a look at the site of US collector Lew Schneider. He has taken more than a passing interest in the products of Binns Road for the North American and mainland Europe markets and there are some delightful scenes (and rare models) to look at (revised site September 2004).

Or you might care to visit the continent, in which case why not go round to the Cercle Ferroviphile European (the European Toy Railway Collectors' Association). You may also like to look at the Kleine Bahn Museum (German language) and see something of TrenJysea (in Spanish)

They now have an interesting CD of their publications and catalogue reproductions available.

Some of us find old catalogues or 'wish books' irresistible. If so just cast your eyes over this site.

Thanks for site to Wilbert Swinkels.

If on the other hand we are really only concerned with our home (model) railways we should perhaps while away our time by looking at the big three in post-war UK toy trains: Hornby Dublo, Triang and Trix. All have great enthusiast run sites. Try here for Hornby Dublo, or just enjoy Marwan Nusair's Dublo layouts.

For the other makes Dave McCarthy hosts Tri-ang Model Railways and Dave Coxon has his own Tri-ang Railways site. (If you want to know more about Triang generally, call in at the Tri-ang Society). Richard Deas has a Triang Hornby website for those specifically interested in that period. There is also George Wells' Minix site. Of particular interest for members in Canada might by Tony Griffiths' Tri-ang and Tri-ang Hornby site. For the third way there are Steve White's Trix site and the Trix Twin Collectors Association site. And for a more general review of trains and other interesting toys Graeme Eldred's Binns Road site is very well worth a browse. Peter Zwakhals has some excellent pages dedicated to the Leeds Model Company

Dave McCarthy also has a site dedicated to Airfix Model Railways, one section on the plastic kits of the 50s and 60s and the other on the ready to run models from the 70s. Also recent addition are Kitmaster Model Railways , Mainline Model Railways and WRENN Model Railways Sites.

If you are interested in acquiring Wrenn (or indeed original Hornby Dublo) you might like to look at Tony Cooper's site. While if you need to find some help with repairing existing items then the Model Railway Doctor could help. He can help with Zero 1 as well. Or for spares, parts (mainly Triang / Margate Hornby) and all sorts of interesting goodies (and G'days) pay a call at Iron Horse Hobbies run by Graeme Hearne. New South Wales is no distance on the web! While Modelfair may offer you the chance to find some 'nearly new' British stock. If you like to run named trains (and after all who does not) you should look at what Precision Labels can offer you in the way of headboards and coach labels. You may also want to look at the services of Brian Wright, who provides paper overlays for the restoration of otherwise tired O gauge trains, particularly Bassett-Lowke. He trades as Mr Cat Graphics.

The Leeds Stedman Trust now has its own website. This gives a brief history of the Leeds Model Company and lists Trust services

You might prefer some heavy metal, such as Hornby gauge 'O'. In which case take a look at the Hornby Railway Collectors Association site. You might look at what Mike Delaney's Vintage Hornby emporium can provide.

To help you Peter Zwakhals is offering an on-line price guide to Hornby gauge 'O' locomotives at the Dutch HRCA's website. Or you may wish to look at what is next on offer at Cottee's Auction House, who have a toy and model train section. Glenn Ball in Australia also offers some lovely prints and also some more details of Australian-made toy trains. Alternatively you may want to see what is available in modern 'tinplate from ACE Trains or ETS.

Of course, there were other players in the toy train game at this time that had considerable influence. The impact of plastic kits was significant, and you should not miss the impact of the Kitmaster Collectors Club. While the entry of Mettoy with their French-made (Jouef) trains, sold as Playcraft Railways in the UK, led to many competitive changes. Dave Coxon has also provided this site and has now added a site for Jouef trains more generally.. For those who like the occasional detour by road you might also like to visit Steve Cook's Faller AMS site. Or even travel VIP style (you remember those lovely big cars and the early slot car system, or perhaps a boat) thanks to Malcolm Parker. There is also a small but dedicated band of Billerbahn followers, you might want to join them after visiting that site. For those who like US HO, particularly the "toy/model" makers you will enjoy Tony Cook's Model Train Collectors' Resource pages (Tyco , AHM, Atlas, Cox, etc.)

If you are interested in the smaller stuff, then the Lone Star site run by Geoff Ambridge (a son of one of the founders) is worth a visit too. Not just the trains but the whole range of toys by this manufacture is covered. There is also a message board.

If we want more general model railway sources the UK Model Railways Web Community provides the link to many Model Railway sites with a British orientation, while the British Railway Modellers of North America (BRMNA) also offers a great deal for those interested in UK model railways, but not resident there. Or for yet another view look at Tried & True Trains - a US trading site but with a wealth of references to model railway sites and resources world wide. Closer to home TCS member Richard Elkan is providing an increasing selection of toy train eye-candy in the shape of train set box lid art work on his Richard's Train Sets site, as well as some great reproduction show cards.

For those interested in more serious research into our hobby, its prototypes, or our industrial heritage generally, you should find Robert Forsythe's site of interest, in particular the bibliography summarising all his loco profiles that have appeared in magazines in recent years. Also as a sort of on-line museum the Bianco collection website, originally established to auction this collection, is being retained as a permanent reference resource, with some 5,000 photos on-line.

While we may not have to worry about our franchise renewal we may still want to ensure that our passengers travel in style. For many years the name Exley has been synonymous with the best in British outline coaches. The company is still very much with us and offers an interesting range of services and products. And yes, they can still supply some of those coaches.

Perhaps we should also think about getting some freight of the road and onto rail. If so, perhaps some of the 'tinplate style' models of Progress Products may help to stimulate some more goods traffic. Or if your particular Office of the Rail Regulator requires you to run Hornby Dublo but you hanker after some of the earlier Hornby trains you should look at what Dublo Replicas have to offer. That is a PPP that even Ken Livingstone could surely accept! Perhaps it is time you looked to refurbish you existing stock to bring up to 'as new' standard. Tony Winzar offers Hornby Dublo and Wrenn restorations that might be just what you need.

If you are also interested in the 1:1 scale, you might like to see what Prorail UK has to offer in terms of real railwayana and information.

For a more reflective read Ralph Harrington has published a paper on "Miniature railways and cultural microcosms: model engineering and railway modelling in early twentieth-century Britain" which gives a fascinating if academic view of some of the drivers of our hobby. The author would welcome any TCS members who have anything to contribute or would like to get in touch about the paper or the topic in general to contact him (E-mail on the site quoted)

The TCS has no involvement in or responsibility for the content of these sites. While the links worked at the the time this page was created, given the continual change on the Web they may not continue to do. Please inform the 'Webmaster' if a link does not work.