Railway Series Update

Railway Series Update

Last week we posted about some Railway Series pre-cut models from the 1950s that we wanted to know more about, and reader Justin A. Olsen kindly replied:

I saw your page on the Railway Series Press-Out Models, and wanted to throw in my own comments.

These models were first published around 1957 by the same group who published the main books at the time (Edmund and Ward). Card modelling was quite popular at the time however most of these models (Micromodels, Modelcraft, etc.) were at smaller scales and tended to be complex. It seems the Railway Series engines were made to be built up by those with less experience, but the models’ artwork does look nice (I’ve considered building “Gordon” from the scans you showed).

Other engines that were available were Thomas (with coach Annie) and James. The ads always suggested other models were in preparation, but nothing else ever appeared. I would presume they stopped publishing these around the 1960’s or 1970’s once Awdry stopped making new books.

These models are very scarce, I’ve only seen one other example (Thomas) ever appear. Thanks for the scans you posted, I always wanted a go at building one of these models.

Thanks Justin! We’re still interested in purchasing the two models we don’t have yet, Thomas and  James, so if you have some you’d like to sell then do contact us by email or phone.

A Thomas the Tank Engine Mystery – Railway Series Pre-Cut Model Books

A Thomas the Tank Engine Mystery – Railway Series Pre-Cut Model Books

The Railway Series Pre-Cut Model Engine Book No. 2 - Percy with Clarabel the Coach.

The Railway Series Pre-Cut Model Engine Book No. 2 – Percy with Clarabel the Coach.

Update (14 May, 2012):  Reader Justin A. Olsen has kindly replied to our request for additional information on these models; you can read his comments here. We’re still interested in purchasing the two models we don’t have, Thomas and James, so please contact us if you have any you’re willing to part with.

Can you help? We recently acquired two lovely items from W. Awdry’s The Railway Series. These “Pre-Cut Model Engine Books” each contain a story and the parts and instructions for making two toys out of card. We have Number 2: Percy with Clarabel the Coach and Number 3: Gordon the Big Engine & His Tender (click to enlarge the images):

Percy Pre-Cut Model.

Percy Pre-Cut Model Instructions.

I believe these were produced in the late 1950s, as The Eight Famous Engines, the final story book listed on the back of each volume, was published in 1957. Four different titles in the pre-cut model series are described as being available (with more in production), and we would love to know more about these and possibly locate copies of the other two, Thomas the Tank Engine and James the Red Engine.

Please do get in touch if you know more about these sets and their sales records, and especially if you have copies to sell. You can leave a comment on this post or contact us by email or phone.

Below, a few more photos of the model books. If you have a good printer you could even construct them yourself!

Clarabel Pre-Cut Model.

Percy & Clarabel Story.

The Railway Series Pre-Cut Model Engine Book No.3 – Gordon the Big Engine & His Tender.

Gordon the Big Engine instructions.

Gordon the Big Engine pre-cut model.

Gordon the Big Engine’s tender pre-cut model.