Hornby April 2026 News Update
Another month has flown by and we’re back with another Hornby news update. April has seen a rather raunchy April Fools prank, the announcement of an exciting new TT:120 train set, and plenty of new arrivals for your layouts.
The TT:120 April Range Launch
Every year, we announce our OO gauge models in January. And every year, loyal TT:120 enthusiasts demand something new for them.
This clamour lasts until the official TT:120 range launch in April. That means the pressure is on to announce the models that will bring the most joy to your collections. We think we did pretty well, with top pre-orders in the range coming from classics like the Class 30/31s. And the Black Fives made quite an impression on you all too.
You can see our full round-up of the range launch models here. But if you had planned on adding anything from the range launch to your layout, don’t delay! Pre-order activity has been frantic!
The unveiling of OnlyTrains
Imagine a new platform where you can show off your large layouts, your steamy locomotives and your dirty diesels. It sounded like a great idea in theory, but for some reason, the Hornby bosses didn’t go for it. Shame, because it sounds like some of you would have really loved it!
We had a lot of fun coming up with this year’s April Fools prank. If you missed it, refresh your memory here.
Were you fooled?
Our second announcement on 1st April introduced the TT:120 Coalfield Train Set. This was arguably a riskier announcement, as you might not have believed us after the OnlyTrains stunt!
Luckily, our set (internally known as the ‘Barry Growler’ due to its potential connections with Wales) hit the right tone, and pre-orderers went wild for it! The Coalfield Train Set is expected in stock later this year, so secure yours now.
Events
Rails of Sheffield In-Store Event
We had a lovely weekend up at the Rails of Sheffield store on the 10th, 11th and 12th April. Visitors to the store got a little sneak peek at upcoming models and we were able to show off some of our samples too. We loved chatting to model shoppers, and we hope you all walked away with some exciting new purchases from Rails.
Model World LIVE
We spent the 24th, 25th and 26th April in Birmingham at Model World LIVE, chatting to model enthusiasts from all over the country. We hope you enjoyed browsing the 190 stands, the inspiring model layouts and the incredible scale modelling displays.
Blog posts
We’ve already linked you to two of our blog posts from this month, but we also had a couple of product-focused blogs for you this month. If you’ve not yet had a chance to read them, now’s as good a time as any!
Preserve the legacy of Railway 200 with LNER Azuma Class 801/2 5 Car Train Pack offers an incredible insight into the stunning Darlington livery on the popular Azuma train. Meanwhile, Trains for climate change on Earth Day talks about our amazing Avanti West Coast - Class 390 - 390121 - 4 Car Train Pack (COP26 Livery) and the story behind that design.
Immerse yourself in model railway reading today!
That’s all for this month. Continue the conversation over on the Hornby forum and let others know your thoughts. Or check us out on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
