The 1978 catalogue majors on full-line clarity: steam favourites, BR blue diesel roster, HST sets, and pre-grouping colour returning in force (not least via LNER/GWR pages). It’s also one of the more complete sources for service-sheet cross-dating that year.
Range themes. The HornbyGuide year view lists 9 sets with 24 locomotives (steam 16, diesel/electric 8), and 21 passenger / 32 freight items—excellent breadth for rake building. Sets include B.R. High Speed Train, Inter-City, GWR Branch Passenger and “Express Freight” themes.
Notable models. Catalogue pages carry tender-drive stalwarts like R.063 Britannia, R.065 9F, R.078 “King Edward I”, and key BR diesels Class 25/29/35/47/37; Flying Scotsman and Hall variants give the steam ledger depth.
Scenic & accessories. The 1978 service-sheet cluster (motors, bogies, HST power car, etc.) is unusually rich—handy for restoration research. Price-listed UK release on 1 Jan 1978 rounds off the documentation.
Why 1978 Still Resonates with Collectors
You get breadth, HST era confirmation, and a dense service-sheet paper trail—perfect for collectors who restore or authenticate running gear against period documentation.