Hornby Series

Liverpool, UK

Track, Buffers, Level Crossings, Turntables, Viaducts, and Track Accessories

Hornby Series track may be sub divided into three broad catagories; traditional tinplate 2 rail (clockwork), traditional tinplate 3 rail (electric) and late 1930s 3 rail (electric) steel track, introduced with the Princess Elizabeth locomotive which, being six coupled (4-6-2), required a larger radius curve. Various accessories including engine sheds, level crossings, turntables and viaducts were manufactured in both 2 and 3 rail form, but not to suit steel track although adaptors were available to connect tinplate and steel track. Buffer stops were available to suit both tinplate and steel track.

This page attempts to illustrate an overview of 0 gauge track and accessories produced by Hornby, rather than a detailed history.

Traditional Tinplate 2 Rail Clockwork Track

Traditional tinplate 2 rail track was introduced in 1920 to suit the clockwork locomotives then available, initial production being straight rails and curved rails with a 9 inch radius. Half and quarter length rails were introduced the following year together with points (turnouts), crossings and larger radius (12 and 24 inch) curved track. Development and manufacture of clockwork track continued until 1969.

Hornby Series A1 1/4 Curved Quarter Rails, 1 ft radius

Hornby Series A1 1/2 Curved Half Rails, 1 ft radius

Hornby Series A2 Curved Rails, 2 ft radius

Hornby Series A2 1/2 Curved Half Rails, 2 ft radius

Hornby Series B1/4 Straight Quarter Rails

Hornby Series B1/2 Straight Half Rails

Hornby Series B1 Straight Rails

Hornby CA1 Acute Angle Crossing (1 ft radius), blue base 1930s

Hornby CA1 Acute Angle Crossing (1 ft radius)

Hornby CR1 Right Angle Crossing (1 ft radius), blue base 1930s

Hornby CR1 Right Angle Crossing (1 ft radius)

Hornby CA2 Acute Angle Crossing (2 ft radius), blue base 1930s

Hornby CA2 Acute Angle Crossing (2 ft radius)

Hornby CR2 Right Angle Crossing (2 ft radius)

Hornby PR1 and PL1 Right and Left Hand Points (turnouts), 1 ft radius

Hornby PPR2 and PPL2 Right and Left Hand Parallel Points (turnouts), 2 ft radius

Traditional Tinplate 3 Rail Electric Track

Traditional tinplate 3 rail electric track was introduced in 1922, development and manufacture continuing until 1941. The range comprised quarter, half and full length straight and curved (12 and 24 inch radius) track, double track (straight and curved), points (turnouts), both 12 and 24 inch radius and crossings.

Hornby Series EB1 Electric Straight Rails

Hornby Series EB1 1/2 Electric Straight Half Rails

Hornby Series EB1 1/4 Electric Straight Quarter Rails

Hornby Series EDS1 Electric Double Track Straight Rails
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series EDC2 Electric Double Track Curved Rails
Image credit Vectis Auctions

EPR1 and EPL1 Electric Points 1 ft Radius, Right and Left Hand

Hornby Series ESPSR2 and ESPSL2 Electric Points 2 ft Radius, Right and Left Hand

Hornby Series EPPR2 and EPPL2 Electric Points 2 ft Radius, Parallel, Right and Left Hand

Hornby Series ECOL2 and ECOR2 Electric Points 2 ft Radius, Crossover, L and R Hand, Double Track Spacing

Hornby Series ECOL2 and ECOR2 Electric Points 2 ft Radius, Crossover, Left and Right Hand, Double Track Spacing

Hornby Series ECA Acute Angle Crossing

Hornby Series ECR Right Angle Crossing

The EMC20 (and EMC6) Switch Rail illustrated below is a curious device, with limited application. Designed to form isolating sections, the switch breaks power to the outer rails only, which works effectively in a siding, assuming there is a break in the outer rails, although does mean that an illuminated buffer stop at the end of the siding will not light unless an independent return circuit is wired, and the buffer is isolated from the running rails. Hornby realised the error and, when the Dublo isolating rail was introduced five years later, the centre rail was gapped.

Hornby Series EMC20 Switch Rail, box code 8-37 (August 1937)

3 Rail Electric Steel Track

A modest range of Steel Track was introduced in 1937, production continuing until 1941. The range comprised staight and curved track, together with half lengths, quarter straight lengths, left and right hand points (turnouts) and adaptor pins to connect steel track to tinplate track.

Hornby Series EA3 Steel Curved track, 36 inch radius
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series EB3 Steel Straight track
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series EA3 1/2 and EB3 1/2 Steel Curved and Straight half length track
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series EPL3 Steel points (turnouts), left and right hand
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Buffer Stops

The first buffer stops, No 1, were introduced in 1922, and continued until the mid 1960s. The No 2 hydraulic buffers stops were produced from 1924 until 1941. The No 3 was the No 2 but fitted with steel rails, 1938-41. Only the No 1 buffer stop was reintroduced post war.

Hornby Series No 1 Spring Buffer Stop, green, wire clip for track

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), green, base for track connecting plates

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), blue, base for track connecting plates

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), blue, with bracket for lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), grey, with bracket for lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), grey (pre war), with bracket for lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), grey, with bracket for lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), grey, with bracket for lighting accessory (post war)

Hornby Series No 1 Buffer Stops (Spring), grey, without bracket for lighting accessory (post war)

Hornby Series No 1E Buffer Stops (Spring), blue, with lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 2 Buffer Stops (Hydraulic), grey

Hornby Series No 2 Buffer Stops (Hydraulic), green

Hornby Series No 2 Buffer Stops (Hydraulic), blue

Hornby Series No 2E Buffer Stops (Hydraulic), blue, with lighting accessory

Hornby Series No 2A Buffer Stops (Hydraulic), blue, red buffer beam, tinplate rails

Hornby Series 3a Buffer Stops, Hydraulic, for Steel track, with lighting accessory

Hornby Series 3a Buffer Stops, (hydraulic), blue, red buffer beam, steel track, with lighting accessory
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series Lighting Accessories for Buffer Stops Nos 2a and 3a

Level (Grade) Crossings

Level Crossings were introduced in 1928, continuing until 1941 then post WWII. Pre war level crossings were available as No 1 (single track, clockwork), No 1E (single track, electric), No E1E (single track, electric, with lights), No 2 (double track, clockwork), No 2E (double track, electric), No E2E (double track, electric, with lights) and M Series (single track, clockwork).

Hornby M Series Level Crossing, clockwork

Hornby Series No 1 Level Crossing, clockwork, white gate posts

Hornby Series No 1 Level Crossing, clockwork, green gate posts

Hornby Series No E1 Level Crossing, electric, green gate posts

Hornby Series No E1 Level Crossing, electric, brown gate posts

Hornby Series No E1E Level Crossing, electric, with lights

Hornby Series No 2 Level Crossing, double track, clockwork, Beware Of The Trains

Hornby Series No E2 Level Crossing, double track, electric

Hornby Series No E2E Level Crossing, double track, electric, with lights

Turntables

Hornby Series Turntables were issued as No 1 (9 inch diameter, 1927-41) and No 2 (14 inch diameter), the latter being available to suit both clockwork (1923-69) and No 2E electric (1930-41) track.

Hornby Series No 1 Turntable, green base with red lining

Hornby Series No 1 Turntable, blue base with red lining

Hornby Series No 1 Turntable, red base with green lining

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, olive green with red lining, Meccano Ltd transfer

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, green base with green lining, Hornby Series transfer

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, green base with red lining, Hornby Series transfer

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, blue base with red lining, Hornby Series transfer

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, red base with green lining, Hornby Series transfer

Hornby Series No 2 Turntable, post war, black with outer edge speckled green

Hornby Series No 2E Electric Turntable, red with green lining, Hornby Series transfer
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Hornby Series No 2E Electric Turntable, blue with red lining, Hornby Series transfer
Image credit Vectis Auctions

Viaducts

The Hornby Series Viaduct was available from 1924 until 1941, versions suitable for both clockwork and electric track being produced. The Viaduct was not reintroduced following WWII.