Limited Edition Hornby Thomas

Although I already have a nice Hornby Thomas when I saw this come up I just couldn't resist getting it, a limited edition version with metallic blue paint, one of a run of 1,000

[Super]

Box looks great too. I know it says 70th Anniversary but I am surprised the year isn't shown on the Certificate or the maker on the box. Is he new? Sure looks new.

Hi Super,

Yes, he's brand new/unused - although I believe a couple of years old, it's one of those purchases who will go with my other limited editions for keeps - you could say my future world collection

nice one, nigels. you know hornby has cancelled their thomas range? means he will only get more valuable as time goes on.

Really? That's news to me although it might explain a recent rash of cheap new Thomas locos appearing on eBay. Any idea who is going to pick up the franchise? The only other mainstream maker I know in the West are Bachmann and in larger scales Lionel, both USA makers of course. While be pretty rubbish if there are no domestic manufacturers of Thomas models in the UK home of Thomas

as far as i know, bachmann is it for HO scale at the moment. i dont know the names of other british model railway companies that could possibly take it on.

Unfortunately I don't think there are any other independent ones remaining, as far as I can see in recent years Dapol, Lima (Italy) and Joeff (France) have all been swallowed up by Hornby. Unless the plan is to sell them under one of the other brands.

The only other European brands big enough that spring to mind are Fleischmann, Marklin, Roco and Liliput none of those are even interested in UK outline at the moment let alone Thomas. I guess Bachmann are favourite to pickup the franchise as they already have a range available. The only downside there is they are not as detailed as the Hornby versions