Hornby OO model trains have been dominating the British market for countless years simply because no one else could match the product range or quality and when a competitor surfaced Hornby simply bought them out. Of these acquisitions, only Basset Lowke appears to be marketing their own product range under the Hornby banner. So how well does this Iconic manufacturer fare with modellers in the US?
Hornby America is set up in Washington from where the network of US distributors is managed. There is hardly a country inn the World where it is not possible to buy a Hornby OO product which is a bit surprising because 80% of the Hornby products are models of British trains, albeit famous names. The product range encompasses classic steam trains and the latest high-speed tilting passenger Pendolino train.
No one has a way of telling just how much Railroad Modellers seek out Hornby products but if their catalogue is anything to go by it appears that virtually everything that anybody could want is right there. There are many, many substantial layouts where Hornby components are nestling happily with Bachmann, Atlas and Lionel layouts and of course the reverse is true. Hornby was the first to make the Thomas and friends series and now there are a number of very good producers.
There is no question that Hornby models are accurate and very well made, additionally a good deal of the Technology regarding the digital control systems started with Hornby which has one believe that overall they will keep pushing the boundaries to maintain their market position, particularly in the UK. Strange then to imagine there can be a lively second-hand market for the early Hornby models but there is and it is mainly the died in the wood enthusiast who buys the items. An Original Hornby boxed set of Thomas The Tank Engine is worth a great deal of money.
Hornby produce a large range of boxed sets as well as separate items of rolling stock, track controls and scenery. What they do very well is design track plans for the modeller. These plans can be up-scaled with an extension kit and then another and another until the layout is both substantial and viable. Many model enthusiasts have been caught out buying the wrong piece of track for a give application and this method of controlled organic growth should overcome that issue at a stroke.
Realistically Hornby is only one of a raft of manufacturers producing substantial product ranges and any manufacturer with a broad range of product, almost by definition will be able to compete across the board. There has to be something special in a product range that crosses International boundaries. For instance almost exclusively Hornby locomotives are British. Bachmann on the other hand makes American, Canadian, British and models for China and this has one believe that they are extremely confident about quality and reliability.
So whereas Hornby OO started it all they have been caught-up by progressive manufacturers both in Europe and in the United States. One thing is absolutely certain though and that is; the railroad modeller decides which trains he wants to utilise on his track and so long as it does what he wants and it looks right it matters not who made it. Is that right though? Why do so many people based in the US specifically seek out Hornby Model Trains even if they are models of British originals? Only the modeller can say!