The 1971 book is a late Tri-ang Hornby-era snapshot just before the discrete “Hornby Railways” identity fully took over. It reads like a capstone to the 1960s programme: classic steam dominates, BR blue dieselisation is visible, and the catalogue still wears its playful, mixed-range DNA—from breakdown cranes to Battle Space oddities.
Range themes. You get a broad, price-listed OO collection with 10 sets, 26 locomotives (of which 18 steam), and healthy wagon and coach support (notably 55 freight and 28 passenger items). Big hitters included R.861 9F “Evening Star”, A3 “Flying Scotsman” in both BR and LNER guises, and a solid BR blue diesel spread around Classes 08, 31, 35, 37 and Electric AL1/EM2.
Notable models & re-liveries. The big-wheel charm of R.354 “Lord of the Isles” sat alongside heavy metal like R.864/871 Coronations and R.259 “Britannia”—models that framed Tri-ang’s signature look and tender-drive habits of the era. The catalogue also still accommodates left-field items (e.g., Battle Space Turbo Car) that today fascinate variant collectors.
Scenic & accessory updates. System-6 track, operating mail coach and cranes remain centre-stage; the price list shows complete set pricing (e.g., RS.604 Night Mail 199/-), useful for provenance matching.
Why 1971 Still Resonates with Collectors
It’s the last great “Tri-ang Hornby” compendium—prefiguring the Hornby Railways branding while keeping the exuberant late-’60s breadth. The full UK price list and comprehensive steam/diesel cross-section make it a superb reference for condition/value comparisons and variant chasing.