Earlier Trains from Earlier Train Collectors - The Train Collectors Society

By Pat Hammond, photos from Vectis Auctions catalogues

A selection of photos that originally appeared in some early editions of the Train Collector magazine, of some relatively early toy trains

Early Märklin for the British Market

Here is a selection of Märklin gauge 0 and gauge 1 locomotive models produced for the British market. . At the time they were marketed electric systems were quite rare and most models had a clockwork mechanism and some were live steam.

Gauge 0 MR clockwork 0-4-0 No.281
0-4-0 clockwork green LSWR
Gauge 0 clockwork LNER 0-6-0T
Gauge 0 clockwork LNER Atlantic CE1020
Gauge 0 electric LMS 4-4-0 E1020
Gauge 1 clockwork 4-4-2T Precursor No.44

Hornby 0 Gauge in the Red

Hornby were quick to adopt the new liveries after the 1923 ‘Grouping’ of the railways in Britain. Indeed, the earliest use of the new LMS livery by Meccano Ltd for their Hornby locomotives was the same year as the change – 1923. Judging by the number of LMS models that have survived, when compared with the other liveries, the red was a popular colour.

No.2 4-4-0 No.2711
No.3 4-4-2 No.6100 Royal Scot
No.2 Special 4-4-0 Compound No.1185
No.2 Special 4-4-2T No.6954
No.501 Postwar 0-4-0T No.5600
No.1 0-4-0T No.2115

Early Toy Trains

Here we have a selection of early toys and models of trains from overseas and in various gauges.

Unknown make large gauge 2.75 0-2-2 Dribbler style live steam
Schoenner S gauge loco and coach
Charles Rossignol 0 gauge Etat CR700
Jep 0 SNCF 2-4-0 streamlined repainted locomotive
Edobaud gauge 0 3rd class coach
Miscellaneous US cast iron coaches

Exley GWR Coaches

Here we have six 0 gauge Exley coaches all of which carry Great Western Railway chocolate and cream livery. The company was founded in Bradford by Edward Exley in 1923 and initially made 0 gauge coaches, but extended into 00 gauge in the late 1930s. The company also made a small number of locomotives, mainly to order but this part of the business was sold in the late 1950s. Following a major fire at the factory in 1962 Edward Exley retired.

Suburban composite
Brake Corridor Composite
Full brake
Centenary Corridor Queen
1st-3rd Restaurant Car 4721
Ocean Mails

This page is also available as a PDF article TCS Archive - Earlier Trains from Earlier Train Collectors