I was recently thinking that I could do with a few extra pieces of Lyddle End Retaining Wall and started searching for some on Ebay. To my surprise there is very little available apart from the sloping sections and it got me wondering about the history of the product. It was only when I started widening my search that I realised that it is close to twenty years ago that it was introduced, which is probably why I struggled to find some even second hand!

Does anyone know exactly what year it was introduced? I think that they stopped making it around 2009. I guess the fact that they stopped suggests that it wasn't a massive success, but did it sell reasonably well or mostly end up in the bargain bin? It's not as if the Bachmann equivalent has been resounding success either as a lot of the Scenecraft models seem to be stuck on shop shelves for many years despite often being heavily discounted.

I did find this site which lists some of the range from 2007.

https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/hornby-2007/hornby-2007-lyddle-end.htm

I'd love to hear other people's opinions/experiences of the range.

I really rate the Lyddle End stuff and have quite a lot of it. I was gutted when it ceased to be produced as all that happened was loads appeared on Fleabay at ridiculous prices.
Like SD Mouldings stuff, you see it on various show layouts and they look the biz

I think the first Lyddle End models arrived in 2003.

It was a nice range - certainly on a par with Bachmann/Farish equivalent. At the time it was introduced it was a low cost way of producing buildings. With Chinese wages rises, they've become less good value for money.

I'm not sure what (if any) reasons why Hornby gave up on the range. Like the 5-BEL Pullman EMU it appears to have been a half hearted attempt to break into the N Gauge market.

A good proportion of the range can still be found - especially if you look away from the bigger names like Rails and Kernow.

Steven B

Quote from: Steven B on October 23, 2024, 04:31:49 PMI think the first Lyddle End models arrived in 2003.

It was a nice range - certainly on a par with Bachmann/Farish equivalent. At the time it was introduced it was a low cost way of producing buildings. With Chinese wages rises, they've become less good value for money.

I'm not sure what (if any) reasons why Hornby gave up on the range. Like the 5-BEL Pullman EMU it appears to have been a half hearted attempt to break into the N Gauge market.

A good proportion of the range can still be found - especially if you look away from the bigger names like Rails and Kernow.

Steven B

Yeah, I did find a site that suggested that it was introduced in 2003, but I couldn't find any references to to until about 2005. I don't know if that's just because most sites from around that period have disappeared or another reason. Looking at sites that listed the range I do wonder if one reason they stopped making it was because they just expanded the range too quickly and by too much. The fact that they had eight different sets just for Retaining walls was a perfect example of that.


"A good proportion of the range can still be found - especially if you look away from the bigger names like Rails and Kernow."


Right, I didn't realise that as I was only looking for Retaining Wall parts, but that does suggest that it was overproduced (just like the Scenecraft range!).

The first announcement in the Railway Modeller of Hornby's Lyddle End range of scenic items came in the September 2004 edition.  I was surprised to a see a typo in this announcement.


The January 2005 edition of RM contained the first review of eight Lyddle End buildings that had been released including the Waiting Room, Small Waiting Room, Engine Shed, Water Tower, and Platforms/Platform Ramps. 

This review indicated that these samples had been received by RM just after the deadline for the December 2004 edition. 

Ian

I must say that I am surprised to how large the range was considering that Hornby is not a N Gauge manufacturer. I occasionally see second hand examples in shops but usually use Farish Scenecraft or kits especially in preference to Metcalfe.

Tim

I've used the retaining wall sections and found them useful. The thickness of the resin was handy as they form the back edging of part of a module.    I've not used any of the buildings as they don't suit my German layouts.



Some of the TT:120 buildings under Hornby or Arnold brand are also resin.

Quote from: montyburns56 on October 23, 2024, 03:47:46 PMI was recently thinking that I could do with a few extra pieces of Lyddle End Retaining Wall and started searching for some on Ebay.

Which ones do you need? I may have some tucked away somewhere. It will probably take me a while to find them but I'm pretty sure I still have them.

Quote from: Trainfish on October 25, 2024, 12:40:10 AM

Quote from: montyburns56 on October 23, 2024, 03:47:46 PMI was recently thinking that I could do with a few extra pieces of Lyddle End Retaining Wall and started searching for some on Ebay.

Which ones do you need? I may have some tucked away somewhere. It will probably take me a while to find them but I'm pretty sure I still have them.

It was the N8731 Retain Walls Level 1, but I've managed to find some extra pieces that I've bodged together. I wouldn't mind them if they are just laying around as spares, but don't go to any length to find them as I can manage without them. Thanks for the offer anyway!

Quote from: ntpntpntp on October 24, 2024, 08:24:34 PMI've used the retaining wall sections and found them useful. The thickness of the resin was handy as they form the back edging of part of a module.    I've not used any of the buildings as they don't suit my German layouts.



Some of the TT:120 buildings under Hornby or Arnold brand are also resin.

Yeah, the retaining walls were some of the most useful items in the range and I see that you've actually used the less popular sloping sections. There's still quite a few of them around if you need any more in the future.

Quote from: icairns on October 24, 2024, 06:19:53 PMThe first announcement in the Railway Modeller of Hornby's Lyddle End range of scenic items came in the September 2004 edition.  I was surprised to a see a typo in this announcement.

The January 2005 edition of RM contained the first review of eight Lyddle End buildings that had been released including the Waiting Room, Small Waiting Room, Engine Shed, Water Tower, and Platforms/Platform Ramps. 

This review indicated that these samples had been received by RM just after the deadline for the December 2004 edition. 

Ian

Thanks, that's really useful information. I guess the fact that they came out at the tail end of 2004 is the reason why there doesn't seem to be much reference to them until about 2005. And perhaps the range would have lasted longer if they had just stuck to the core railway items that constituted the early releases.

The Lyddle End bits and pieces are such a blast from the past for me. They were only just really underway as I was swapping from OO to N gauge, so they were a welcome addition to get some buildings from Father Christmas. I always remember the platform pieces, and being a teency bit annoyed on how poorly they sometimes fit together. But I recall all the Holly Farm bits, which featured on a very early layout I created, and remained on various layouts for a good 10+ years!

I don't have many bits left, but I do have a single engine shed which I rather love, and while it hasn't a place currently on Birch Abbey, perhaps they will work well on a later layout!

I have a feeling the bits I purchased for my abbey ruins have been made from a similar mould as the castle bits in the Lyddle End range...

My Liddle End parts make a complete village with church, pub, etc, plus Station Buildings and goods shed painted in SR green. I love them. I think the Bachmann versions are variable in quality. Some are nice but others are really crudely made.

I wish Hornby had continued the series.

I have the full set of 'East' buildings for 'Kimbolted' such as the goods shed, engine shed, station buildings and water tower along with a few others.

I, too, was very disappointed when Hornby stopped production of the Lyddle End range.

I have several items on Ferryhill including:

 - N8000 Station Master's Office
 - N8001 Large Waiting Room
 - N8002 Small Waiting Room
 - N8091 Platform Footbridge

Note that the three station buildings were designed to fit together when placed adjacent to each other as shown below. 

Ian