.............is now part of Rails of Sheffield

https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/olivias-trains-joins-the-rails-family

Olivia's Trains have pulled out of the 'family'

Quote from: Newportnobby on October 07, 2025, 05:12:01 PMOlivia's Trains have pulled out of the 'family'

Do the Manson's own Rails then?

John P

This is what Rails have actually said:

"We would like to provide an update following our recent announcement regarding Olivia's Trains.

Since our original statement, circumstances have changed, and  Rails of Sheffield will no longer be taking over the Olivia's Trains brand. Olivia's Trains have decided not to proceed with the agreement, and as such, they will continue to operate independently.

However, we want to reassure our customers that very little has changed in our plans. We are still moving ahead with the launch of our own customisation services - Rails Bespoke,  offering digital & sound fittings, high-quality weathering and other customisations for your locomotives and rolling stock.

Our new highly experienced customisation team is eager to begin. We are applying the finishing touches to our bespoke studio with state of the art technology, heavily investing in expert technicians and equipment. No expense has been spared making sure we have the best of the best.

The Rails Bespoke service is currently in development, and we look forward to sharing full details with you some time later this month.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we finalise these exciting new services and can't wait to bring you the best in model railway customisation — directly from the Rails of Sheffield team!"


Having used Rail's advanced weathering services on OO and N gauge models, they are very good and worth every penny. Just a happy customer.

Bob

A curious turn of events. Given they were taking the Olivia's staff on, what now? Presumably nothing changes, but surely that's massively unsettling to those folk, who now look to Rails for continued employment?

We'll probably never be privy to the detail behind the decision.

Quote from: njee20 on October 07, 2025, 10:06:33 PMA curious turn of events. Given they were taking the Olivia's staff on, what now? Presumably nothing changes, but surely that's massively unsettling to those folk, who now look to Rails for continued employment?

Maybe the terms just weren't right for Olivia's Trains but as..........

Quote from: Bob G on October 07, 2025, 05:55:15 PMOlivia's Trains have decided not to proceed with the agreement, and as such, they will continue to operate independently.

........it's safe to assume all is as before any agreement so staff are safe unless Olivia's Trains cease trading (my bold)

Yeah, but last week they were happy to give it all up, I'd be seriously twitchy that next time there won't be Rails to swoop in and take the staff.

I'd guess that several of the staff that were moving to Rails will still be doing so, otherwise Rails wouldn't be continuing to promote their new/enhanced DCC fitting and weathering services.

Quote from: Steven B on October 08, 2025, 09:07:29 AMI'd guess that several of the staff that were moving to Rails will still be doing so, otherwise Rails wouldn't be continuing to promote their new/enhanced DCC fitting and weathering services.

But they already do simple DCC fitting, and advanced weathering. It's good too.

I had asked them if they had shopped it out to eg TMC and they said that was the standard that they were going for.

Perhaps they are moving into fitting sound modules which might require some sort of surgery?

Quote from: Bob G on October 08, 2025, 09:32:55 AMPerhaps they are moving into fitting sound modules which might require some sort of surgery?

For those who own the trains?

Quote from: Newportnobby on October 08, 2025, 11:04:29 AM

Quote from: Bob G on October 08, 2025, 09:32:55 AMPerhaps they are moving into fitting sound modules which might require some sort of surgery?

For those who own the trains?

There was a new user recently who was disappointed that Rails would not fit sound to his HST (a model not designed from the start to accommodate a speaker). Perhaps Rails is indeed moving in that direction. Only time will tell.

So the surgery I was thinking of was of course to the model, but if the cap fits, as they say...

And for some reason I then started musing on the ELP record "Brain Salad Surgery" ...

Bob G

And Bob, you were probably thinking of "Welcome back, my friends, to the show "Forum" that never ends"" - which of course followed "Brain Salad Surgery"...

Tim

Sorry gone off topic...