HRCA 55th Anniversary Event

The event will bring together the products from the former Meccano factory in Binns Road, Liverpool, which produced Hornby O Gauge, Hornby Dublo, Dinky Toys and associated ranges including Meccano itself. Whilst the name Hornby is still very much part of the current model railway scene, today’s models are far removed from those that were built in the Liverpool factory up until 1964 when production ceased. Much of the Hornby Dublo tooling passed to G & R Wrenn Ltd in Basildon, who released much of it under the Wrenn Railways banner until production ended in 1992.

The HRCA 55th anniversary exhibition is being held at the Lady Eastwood Hall at Newark Showground, Lincoln Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2NY and will include some 22 operating layouts plus 12 displays and extensive trade support for those who wish to expand their own collections or to start their own model railway journey.

HRCA Chairman Don Gatiss said: “It will have been five years since we last assembled such a large display of Hornby O gauge, Hornby Dublo OO trains, other Meccano brands including Dinky Toys, Meccano and the Bayko building system. Members are attending from across the world and we are delighted to be able to provide non-members with the chance to come along and meet us, hopefully encouraging them to keep these trains operating for many years to come. It is over 100 years since Frank Hornby launched his first clockwork train set and we have come a long way since then. Such was the engineering prowess of the Meccano factory that keeping these vintage models operating is not as difficult as people imagine, thanks to a comprehensive supply chain producing spare and replacement parts."

On Saturday 6th April the event will be open to members only with free admission for HRCA members. On Sunday 7th April the event will also be open to the public with an admission charge of £5 for non-members (accompanied children free). Please note that we can only accept cash for the admission tickets on the day.  Opening times on both days will be 10.00 until 16.00.

55th Anniversary After Dinner Speaker

On Saturday evening 6th April, the HRCA will host a dinner for members and their guests.  Our speaker this year will be Alan Stennett is a Lincolnshire-born broadcaster and journalist. He spent 57 years with the BBC World Service, Radio 4 and BBC Wales but is best known for his time with BBC Radio Lincolnshire, of which he was a founder member of staff. His specialist field is farming and he has written for many publications in that sector. He has also written, or contributed to, 12 books on a variety of Lincolnshire-based themes including railways and written and recorded the voice-overs for more than 60 videos and DVDs. As a lifelong enthusiast for Hornby 'O' gauge and Hornby Dublo trains he will speak to us on the theme of 'Life, the BBC – and Hornby'.

Benefits of Membership

If you'd like to attend the 55th and future events, and aren't yet an HRCA member, you are very welcome to join us now. 

Joining is quick and easy online, or you can send a cheque by post.

Click here to see our full membership fees and join online using our Subscription Wizard.

 

• 10 journals per year packed full of articles and information
• Spares and Repairs Directory containing over 100 suppliers of parts and services
• Auction sales of members and family's collections
• Access to the Members' area of this website, discussion Forum, Wiki, journal indexes and detailed events diary
• Local area groups, some with regular formal meetings, others organising specialist meetings, exhibitions and sales
• Archive drawings, copies of many original Meccano Ltd drawings available for research or reproduction of parts
• Model insurance, we are able to advise the names of two specialist model railway insurers. (We cannot however recommend an insurer due to financial law)
• Valuation service for Executors and Trustees of deceased member's collections
• Library service for copies from, or loans of, back issues of the Hornby Railway Collector
• Journal back issue service, sale of complete new or second-hand issues
• Association regalia, fleeces, embroidered pullovers, etc

Extended Year offer

Join the HRCA now and benefit from an extended membership 'year' for the price of normal annual membership.

For just £20 you can become an Online HRCA member and gain access to all Journals, events and auctions. This class of membership applies to UK and World Wide applications. You will be emailed each journal or can access it via our website. With this type of  'eco-friendly' membership no paper copies of The Journal would be sent by post. Our Spares and Repairs Directory is also accessable online.

It you prefer to be sent a paper copy of our Journal and Spares Directory, then UK Paper Membership is priced at £33 and Overseas Paper Membership at £53. This includes a £3 joining fee to cover postage of the welcome pack. The £3 joining fee is waved if you take out a Direct Debit Mandate with the HRCA.

Enjoy free entry to all events as part of your HRCA Membership!