Railway Models UK

Hornby’s 2026 catalogue will feature two brand‑new ‘OO’ gauge locomotives, the headline being a newly‑tooled Bulleid rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ 4‑6‑2 steam engine for the main range. The Railroad section will introduce a fresh ‘OO’ gauge Class 60 Co‑Co diesel. As with 2025, the company will release additional ‘OO’ gauge models throughout the year, with announcements in April, June and October

New tooling

The collaboration with the rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ 4‑6‑2 dates back to the late 1990s, when Hornby began developing a new generation of ‘OO’ gauge steam locomotives behind the scenes. The first of these foreign‑produced models is credited with revitalising the company’s fortunes in 2000. Today the new ‘Merchant Navy’ is a completely original design with no shared parts. Hornby is creating a full suite of tooling, including working lights on the locomotive and tender, firebox glow, cab illumination and a fitted steam‑generator option. Several tenders are being tooled: 5,000‑gallon, 5,100‑gallon, 5,250‑gallon and 6,000‑gallon versions, plus a replica of the present‑day tender fitted to 35028 Clan Line with its modern modifications.

Two 35028 Clan Line models will be released: one DCC‑Ready (Cat No. R30490) and a second having a factory‑fitted steam‑generator and HM7000 Triplex Sound system (R30490SS). Prices are £319.99 for DCC‑Ready and £399.99 for the fitted version, with a release set for early 2027.

The second new ‘OO’ gauge model, for the RailRoad range, will portray the imposing BR Class 60 Co‑Co diesel. It will feature a three‑pole motor, a flywheel, electrical pickup points on both bogies, a 21‑pin DCC decoder socket, directional lighting, a detailed cab interior, separate exhausts, handrails, wipers, bogie steps, fuel tanks and air horns.

60038 Avesta Polarit – EWS maroon, gold
60069 Humphrey Davey – Trainload Coal sector triple grey
60039 Dove Holes – DB red

Each of these models will be available in DCC‑Ready and DCC‑Sound fitted forms, the latter with the HM7000 Triplex Sound decoder and speaker and the Class 60 sound profile. Space for an EM1‑style enhanced bass speaker, such as Hornby’s R7408, will be incorporated. Prices start at £104.99 for DCC‑Ready and £159.99 for the fitted version.

Railroad

The ‘OO’ gauge RailRoad section will once again receive a significant expansion, with almost 36 new motive‑power items and about 20 new rolling‑stock pieces. DCC‑Ready and DCC‑Sound fitted versions comprise some of the 36 new motorised items, particularly among the diesel additions. New steam outlines will include a fresh version of BR Standard 8P 71000 Duke of Gloucester in BR‑lined green, available DCC‑Ready or with a pre‑fitted HM7000 Triplex Sound. The GWR County 4‑6‑0 will be released DCC‑Ready, finished as 1013 County of Dorset. More steam highlights feature the GNR N2 0‑6‑2T 1606 in lined GNR green and a Fowler Jinty 0‑6‑0T in fictional Hart and Weaver blue.

Diesel and electric outline models cover Classes 37, 47, 57, 66, 90 and 91 in various liveries, including striking present‑day examples such as Class 66 66601 in Freightliner 60 green/yellow and Class 37 37422 in Swietelsky Rail Services’ eye‑catching orange/blue. A return of the RailRoad Class 395 Javelin tooling will bring a twin‑pack of driving cars and a separate centre car, while the all‑new Class 800 InterCity Express will add an additional colour scheme in 803001 by late 2026. Hornby’s earlier InterCity expresses, the Class 90 and 91, will appear in the RailRoad range with a selection of Mk 4 carriages and a Driving Van Trailer in InterCity Swallow livery.

Steam highlights

Key highlights in the main catalogue include two Gresley A4 4‑6‑2s that have been modified to accommodate Hornby’s recently introduced steam‑generator system. The tooling for the Hornby Dublo and injection‑moulded A4 models has been altered to allow the new technology and working lights. A removable chimney will enable easy generator refuelling. The Dublo A4 will be finished as 4468 Mallard in LNER garter blue, while the standard range model with the new steam generator and lights will appear as 60033 Seagull in BR‑lined green with late crests.

Several anniversaries will be celebrated this year: a 60‑year tribute to the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, and a pair of Bulleid air‑smoothed Light Pacifics – Battle of Britain 34057 Biggin Hill and 34006 Bude (with longer smoke deflectors) – in BR‑lined green. This twin‑pack is exclusive to Hornby Collector Club members. The GWR Castle 4‑6‑0 5071 Spitfire will honour the aircraft’s 90th anniversary in BR‑lined green. A special pack will pair Collett Castle 4071 Pendennis Castle in GWR‑lined green with Gresley A3 4472 Flying Scotsman in LNER‑lined green, recalling their Australian reunion of the late 1980s. Pendennis Castle will feature the distinctive smokebox light carried during its time in Australia.

Hornby’s new Great Railway Engineers Collection opens with Gresley A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley (LNER garter blue) and Stanier Coronation 4‑6‑2 6220 (LMS lined blue). Each model comes with a separate figure of the respective engineer and will be produced in limited quantities.

Customer feedback has been taken seriously: the popular ‘OO’ gauge Stephenson Rocket will now be sold as a single model rather than as part of a train pack, with a May release. A new version of the Dublo DP1 Deltic, in its National Railway Museum guise, will arrive later this summer. This high‑spec model features a die‑cast metal body, a powerful coreless motor, dual flywheel arrangement, all‑wheel drive and pickup, individually controlled cooling fans with potentiometers, die‑cast gearing towers, cab illumination, driver’s console lights, engine room lights, directional lighting and a working Mars light at each end.

Modern traction

Contemporary railway enthusiasts are not forgotten, with several new models depicting East Coast Main Line motive‑power. A Class 802/3 five‑car InterCity Express in Hull Trains livery will finish as 802301 Amy Johnson, and a highly detailed Class 91 Bo‑Bo in present‑day LNER livery will appear as 91127 Neville Hill with a set of complementary Mk 4 carriages and a Driving Van Trailer in striking oxblood/white retro colour.

Keeping the high‑speed theme, two InterCity 125 High‑Speed Train packs are planned, including a Virgin Trains colour scheme with Class 43 power cars 43093 Lady in Red and 43097 in the company’s red/dark‑grey. These packs will be available DCC‑Ready and DCC‑Sound fitted, featuring Hornby’s HM7000 TXS decoders, speakers and HST sound profile. An East Midlands Railway Class 43 power car pack will include 43274 in its purple/white scheme and 43102 The Journey Shrinker in InterCity Swallow livery.

Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge Class 56 Co‑Co diesels return: 56001 in BR blue commemorates the 50th anniversary in 2026, while 56047 models the Transrail branded Dutch yellow/grey. Both are available only in DCC‑Sound fitted form, with factory‑fitted TXS decoders, speaker and Class 56 sound profile.

Shunting locomotives are also refreshed, with two high‑fidelity Class 08/09 models as Class 10 10119 Margaret Ethel‑Thomas Alfred Naylor in BR blue and D3760 Colchester TMD in Great Eastern‑lined blue.

Rolling stock

The range of carriages will expand with new BR Mk 1, Mk 3 and Mk 4 coaches. Some will appear in the RailRoad range, such as Mk 3s in GWR livery and Mk 4s in InterCity Swallow. A full set of Virgin Trains Mk 3 carriages will match the new power cars in that scheme. A set of Mk 4 coaches from the recent tooling will appear in present‑day LNER livery.

Hornby’s new Bulleid Tavern Cars will model S7838S Composite Restaurant Car and S7897S Kitchen/Buttery Car At the Sign of the Three Plovers in BR carmine/cream without brick decoration, on release later this autumn.

‘OO’ gauge Coronation articulated coaches will receive a new identity this year, in West Riding Limited form. Four packs cover Open Third/Kitchen Third, Open Third/Brake Third, Brake Third/Kitchen Third and First Open/First Open. These will launch in April.

There will be no all‑new wagon tooling this year, but the main and RailRoad ranges will gain several from existing tooling. A selection of private‑owner five‑, six‑ and seven‑plank open wagons in colourful schemes will appear, together with a re‑run of ZCV Clam and Tope engineers’ ballast wagons in BR departmental Dutch yellow/grey. A new KFA intermodal container flat will be offered without any containers, while a high‑definition TTA tank wagon tooling will add Amoco grey. The TTA will be available alone or in a pack of three. Beatles‑themed models will get new colour schemes, including album‑themed closed vans and a BR Mk 1 Super GUV emblazoned with Magical Mystery Tour artwork.

Train sets

Hornby’s train sets continue to grow, with clearer distinctions across the range. Entry‑level sets cover the new Santa Express battery‑operated set to a diesel mixed‑freight DC set. Mid‑range offers the recent retro Hornby Railways branded High Speed Train set and the all‑new RailRoad LNER Azuma set.

The top‑tier sets include a Flying Scotsman set, a Mallard Record Breaker set and the new Sovereign boxed set. The Sovereign will feature 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley in BR‑lined blue with early crests, three high‑fidelity illuminated Pullman cars, dual circuits of track, points, a power transformer, a re‑railer, a buffer stop and a power track. 60007 will also use the modified tooling that allows the steam generator and factory‑fitted HM7000 Triplex Sound. Priced at £499.99, the boxed set showcases Hornby at its best with high fidelity and play value.

Playtrains

Hornby has been reviving the Playtrains range, and this year it will add a new Playtrain “Hogwarts Express” to the line‑up. This will pair with a new Playtrain‑level GWR Castle 4‑6‑0 steam locomotive and carriages. The locomotive will feature the steam generator, enriching the experience for beginners. The locomotive and a pair of carriages will be available separately, as will generic versions.

View the full 2026 announcements

Hornby announces 2026 range with new toolings and refreshed liveries

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