All Aboard For Hornby’s 200th Anniversary Line

Hornby, the UK train and collectibles manufacturer, has unveiled a line celebrating the evolution of train travel, celebrating 200 years of railway heritage.

The Birth of the Railways includes three locomotives. | Source: Hornby

The new line includes Birth of the Railways, a three-pack featuring the world’s first passenger steam locomotive, Locomotion No. 1, Rocket, the 1829 Rainhill Trials winner, and Lion, a luggage locomotive from 1838. Rocket became a blueprint for modern locomotive design while Lion showcases the rapid advancement in early railway engineering.

LNER Azuma High-Speed Train Set. | Source: Hornby

For a modern take, the new series includes the LNER Azuma High-Speed Train Set, a three-car set that replicates the Class 800 trains introduced to the East Coast Main Line in 2019. The Azuma train is inspired by Japanese bullet trains and offers speed and efficiency. It can run on electric or diesel power. The set includes motorized drive units with directional lighting and a complete layout.

The Hornby Railways B.R. High-Speed Retro Train Set invokes the nostalgia of 1970s train sets. | Source: Hornby

The line includes a retro-style set, the Hornby Railways B.R. High-Speed Retro Train Set, similar to train sets from the 1970s and 1980s. It is styled after the Hornby R.685 set and in tribute to the InterCity 125, with 43 diesel drive cars and a full track layout.

The train sets are available for preorder now. For more information, visit hornby.com.

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Katherine Hill

Katherine is a writer and editor. She has over a decade of experience crafting engaging content and managing editorial projects. She spends an inordinate amount of time looking for rare Care Bears and baseball jerseys online.