From what I can find on the Internet, this Hornby O Gauge LNER Bramham Moor electric model railway engine was manufactured sometime between 1936-1941. So it was well used by the time I got it around age 5.
Unfortunately, it is showing the battle scars of many a boyhood train wreck. It is missing the lightbulb on the steam box, and the wheels on the front bogey are not correct, they should be spoked (like those on the tender). I guess the wheels we see here were ‘borrowed’ from another piece of rolling stock.
Here’s a link to an article on this train – from a museum in Australia of all places. At the time of posting the article incorrectly states that the model is clockwork – which it obviously isn’t. Hopefully, when they get my email they might update their catalog. 🙂 Toy steam locomotive, Hornby No.2 Special Locomotive ‘LNER Bramham Moor 201’, 4-4-0 type, 0-gauge, metal, clockwork operated, made by Meccano Ltd, Liverpool, England, 1935-1939. You’ll also notice that the manufacturing dates don’t agree with others I’ve found online too. It’s hard to know which of the various sources are correct.
Update
The Powerhouse Museum ought to know better than to update its website without redirects … Anyway, they no longer have an image, but here’s a link to the current (January 2025) catalog entry: Hornby toy steam locomotive No. 2 Special LNER ‘Bramham Moor’ 201 Object No. 85/2582-5
Trying to find more information, I found this entry from the Brighton Toy Museum: Bramham Moor locomotive 201 (Hornby Series E220). Interestingly, their entry also links to the defunct Powerhouse catalog entry.
Copyright © 2009 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.