Royal Mail has launched a special eight-stamp collection celebrating the centenary of Hornby Model Railways, a beloved British institution that has chronicled the nation’s railway heritage in miniature for generations. The issue marks 100 years since the first clockwork Hornby train appeared in 1920, and it forms part of Royal Mail’s broader 2020 special stamp programme, which has also included themes from the end of World War II to the James Bond franchise.
The brand’s origins trace back to inventor Frank Hornby, who patented the Meccano construction toy in 1901. According to historical records, the company’s first clockwork trains were produced in 1920, with electric versions following by 1925. Hornby became a household name, with its model railways, alongside Dinky Toys and Meccano kits, defining childhoods and hobbies. A significant innovation came in 1938 with the introduction of OO gauge trains under the “Hornby Dublo” range, which helped establish that scale as a UK standard. Despite various takeovers and financial challenges over the decades, Hornby Hobbies Limited remains a prominent force in the scale model industry.
A Miniature Journey Through Railway History
Each of the eight stamps features a specially commissioned photograph of a Hornby model locomotive, selected to span a broad sweep of technological and design evolution. The collection begins with the No.1 locomotive from the Great Northern Railway in 1920, representing the early clockwork era. It proceeds to the Princess Elizabeth from the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1937, a model based on a real locomotive celebrated for a notable non-stop run from London to Glasgow.
The mid-20th century is captured by the British Railways 4MT tank locomotive from 1954 and the AL1 electric locomotive from 1963, highlighting the shift towards standardisation and early electrification. The revolutionary InterCity 125 High Speed Train from 1977 is featured, a diesel-powered design that transformed travel with speeds of up to 125 mph. More recent models include the Merchant Navy class locomotive from 2000, paying homage to the Southern Railway engines designed by Oliver Bulleid with distinctive air-smoothed casings, built between 1941 and 1949.
The set also acknowledges preservation-era favourites, such as the Bournemouth Belle Pullman cars from 2009, reflecting the all-Pullman service that ran from 1931 to 1967. Finally, it includes the Experimental ‘Hush-Hush’ locomotive from 2021, formally known as the LNER’s W1 No. 10000, an experimental steam engine developed in the late 1920s with a high-pressure water-tube boiler and a shroud of secrecy during its development.
An additional four stamps, issued as a miniature sheet, focus on Hornby’s heritage rather than its models. This sheet features classic packaging, catalogue artwork, and promotional material from different decades, set against an illustrated backdrop of a London, Midland and Scottish Railway locomotive in steam. Royal Mail confirmed it worked with model railway historian Pat Hammond on the entire issue.
Availability and Broader Stamp Programme
The stamps and a range of collectable products are available for pre-order from Royal Mail. A Presentation Pack containing all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps will go on general sale from 19th February directly through Royal Mail, and will be available in selected Post Office branches from 27th February.
This Hornby centenary issue sits within Royal Mail’s 2020 special stamp programme, which earlier in the year saw announcements marking the 180th anniversary of the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. The programme has also included commemorative sets for the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and for Romantic poets, illustrating the diverse cultural touchstones honoured by the postal service.
