Hornby have today announced the first part of their forthcoming 00 gauge range for 2026. Like last year Hornby have advised that their announcements will generally focus on items that will be delivered within 12 months, so as last year there will be further announcements to come during the year in April, June and October. There will also be a separate TT-120 announcement in April.
The headline news for Southern Region modellers is the announcement of new tooling for the Bulleid rebuilt Merchant Navy.
The new SR / BR(s) relevant announced items are detailed below, with their planned release dates in [ ].
New BR Southern Region Rebuilt Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific
Back in the year 2000 Hornby announced the first of its all new super details and Chinese made models representing the Bulleid Rebuilt Merchant Navy pacific and this was a step change for not only Hornby but the hobby as a whole. A new tooled version to modern standards is most welcome.
The model comes with the following features…
- 21-pin DCC/HM7000 compatibility
- Die-cast chassis
- Die-cast boiler
- Die-cast running board
- NEM couplings at both ends
- Detailed and painted cab interior
- Flickering firebox
- Working cab light
- Working head signal lamps
- Working tender head signal lamps
- 8-pin loco-tender coupling
- 5-pole skew wound motor with flywheel
- Working cab roof vents
And a high level of detail with many separately fitted parts. A steam generator fitted option will also be available.
I am happy to be able to confirm that a wide number of tooling variations, including different tenders have been included in the design, (having provided a little assistance with the model). The images here are Cad renders rather than Engineering prototypes, and therefore these will fall outside the 12 month delivery aim and are likely/hopefully to be available by April 2027.
Initially two versions of 35028 ‘Clan Line’ in her as preserved condition are being produced including a Steam Generator and Sound fitted version. Other versions are bound to be announced over time.
- R30490SS BR Rebuilt Merchant Navy 35028 Clan line – Preserved – Steam Generator [APR-27]
- R30490 BR Rebuilt Merchant Navy – 35028 Clan line – Preserved [APR-27]
New SR / BR(s) locomotive / coach liveries
- R30419 SECR H Class 161 in full SECR lined livery as running between 1909 when allocated to Bricklayers Arms and c1915. [Apr-26]
- R30485 BR Battle of Britain Class Rebuilt 303 Squadron 34053 with Late Crest with speedometer fitted as running in preservation whilst renamed from Sir Keith Park during 2024. [Jul-26]
- R30483 BR – Battle of Britain Class – 34057 ‘Biggin Hill’ & BR – West Country – 34006 ‘Bude’ – Train Pack (Exclusive for Hornby Club members only).
60th Anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway pack [Jul-26]
- R40536 BR Kitchen and Buttery car & Composite Restaurant twin pack “At the Sign of the Three Plovers”.
Diagram 2663 No. s7897s “At the Sign of the Three Plovers”, and Diagram 2665 Rebuilt Composite Diner salon No. s7838s in BR Crimson Lake and Cream & without any imitation English bond brickwork as running between July 1950 and circa late 1956 when painted into BR(s) Green. [Oct-26]
This follows on from the new tooling announced last year so for further details on these coaches see here.
- R60303 Hornby Charles Gush and Son 5 Plank Wagon No20 Exminster [Mar-26]
Also a raft of BR Mk 1 coaches with the following having S prefix numbers [Edit] originally these were shown as being in lined maroon but this has been updated to BR(s) Green. The prototypes were delivered to the Southern Region in Crimson Lake and Cream (CLC) then BR(s) Green. The SK, CK and BSK make up part of set 878 but minus the missing BSK S34258 I have suggested to Hornby that it would be good for them add this BSK version in due course. [Jul-26]
- R40508 BR – SR – MK1 SK S24314
- R40512 BR – SR – MK1 CK S15036
- R40516 BR – SR – MK1 BSK S34257
- R40520 BR – SR – MK1 TSO S3827
The full Hornby 2025 range can be found on the Hornby website here . You can also view and pre-order items from retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre here…
Recent released Maunsell coach liveries
Originally announced as part of last years announcement the following Crimson Lake and Cream Maunsell 3-Cor coaches were to numbered suitable for set 222, but this set never carried Crimson Lake and Cream livery being outshopped in Malachite Green 11th December 1947 and then straight to BR(S) Green 17th July 1956.
I raised this with Hornby at the time and although they never formally announced the change the models have now been released numbered suitable for set 226 that was outshopped Crimson Lake & Cream 14th September 1950 before going into BR(S) Green 30th October 1956.
The releases are now therefore as follows:
- R40462 BR, Maunsell Diagram 2301 High Window Composite, S 5669 S BR crimson and cream.
- R40463 BR, Maunsell Diagram 2102 High Window Brake Third, S 3755 S BR crimson and cream.
- R40463A BR, Maunsell Diagram 2102 High Window Brake Third, S 3756 S BR crimson and cream.
So well done to Hornby in reacting to feedback and amending the running numbers. Also released at the same time has been the North Cornwall ‘P’ Set 179 comprising of R40463B Brake Third S3732S and R40464 Brake Composite S6673S also in Crimson Lake and Cream.
Thank you Graham.
‘At the Sign of the Three Plovers’ is a welcome addition (along with the other offerings) although it was paired with S7834S between 1950 and 1956.
Pity a 4 SUB isn’t on the cards…..
Dam typos due to cut and paste! Now corrected.
Ditto to that Colin.. I’ve been hoping that Hornby would do the 4-SUB. It’s way overdue for SR – BR.s EMU’s.. Outside of that the only thing that interests me is the 34053 a 303 Squadron!
Ian Temple
Ian, given a 4 SUB is essentially two coaches the investment would not be as onerous as (say) a 4 COR.
Hopefully Hornby are aware…..
Firstly – Exminster is on the Western Region (boo! hiss!)
Were any Southern Region Mark 1s turned out in lined maroon? Many arrived in Crimson Lake & Cream, and after 1956 would have been into BR(S) Green.
Such a shame that more Merchants havnt been announced. I’d also have liked some light pacifics in 50s/60s garb,m rather than preservation era to be available.
Yes although Exminster is on the other railway I thought it was the closest to SR territory we got in these announcements.
Hornby have now confirmed that the SR Mk1s will be in BR(S) Green (all the images they provided retailers were in lined maroon!) I have also raised the issue of the missing BSK to make up set 878 direct with my Hornby development team contacts.
With the extent of the new Rebuilt MN tooling suite more versions are certainly going to be announced in due course, remember this announcement is one of four this year, they probably held back slightly this time around as they do not expect first deliveries until April 2027.
Thanks Graham – do you have any insight into whether the new rebuilt MN will have a series 1 tender as well? And is it too much to hope that the tooling is flexible enough to produce 35018?
A small typo on 34053 ‘303 Squadron’ – surely this is only accurate in its current preserved form providing belated recognition to 303 Squadron? If not, does it come with a full set of Sir Keith Park nameplates as well?
Yes four tender versions (inclduing the current clan Line preservation version).
I do not believe that the tooling suite will allow for the unique 35018 as first rebuilt.
I have edited my text about 303 Squadron accordingly
Thanks very much, Graham!
Many thanks for the info Graham, essential as always
Graham, the three green corridor mark 1s make three quarters of set 878 (although various Bulleid’s were added at different times). Any idea if Hornby will produce the missing BSK S34258?
I have pointed out the missing BSK to Hornby.
Graham,
Pleased you’ve drawn Hornby’s attention to set 878 (including BSK S34258) and that these received BR(S) Green (no carriage roundels) during November 1956.
The formation of set 878 altered in June 1963.
‘Loose’ SO no.S3827 was outshopped BR(S) Green 27th October 1959 (no carriage roundel) being transferred to the Western Region 26th
February via Wolverton Works.
The five could look smart together!
Sorry, transferred to the Western Region 26th
February 1966!
Graham
One thing that has long puzzled me is that, with the possible exception of special commissions, neither Bachmann nor Hornby has produced any CLC liveried Mk1s with BR(S) running numbers. I’ve mentioned this to both of them several times over the years – the usual response has been along the lines of “not sure why we haven’t done that”.
Whilst I agree to to certain extent that is a frustration, it is also true that CL&C coaches are generally for some reason the slowest sellers.