What was the Mainline Railways company?

Mainline Railways was a British model railway brand that operated between 1976 and 1983, introduced by Palitoy, the well-known toy company behind Action Man and Star Wars figures. At a time when Hornby dominated the UK market, Mainline set itself apart with finely detailed 00 gauge models that were seen as a step up in realism. The brand quickly gained popularity among enthusiasts looking for greater accuracy and finesse in their locomotives and rolling stock.

One of Mainline's standout features was its commitment to fine detailing, with sharper mouldings and more accurate liveries than many of its competitors at the time. Unlike Hornby, which was still producing many models with older tooling, Mainline brought a fresh approach to British railway modelling. The company also made the unusual choice of outsourcing manufacturing to Kader, a Chinese firm that would later become a giant in the model railway industry. This allowed them to produce highly detailed models, but it also came with some downsides.

A key weakness of Mainline models was their reliance on plastic chassis components, which led to long-term durability issues. While they looked fantastic, their running performance was sometimes less reliable compared to Hornby's robust diecast models. Over time, this became a common complaint among collectors, as wear and tear took its toll on the delicate mechanisms. Despite this, Mainline's models were still highly regarded for their appearance, and many are still sought after today by enthusiasts.

The brand came to an end in 1983, when Palitoy's parent company, General Mills, withdrew from the UK toy market. After Mainline's closure, its tooling and designs were split between different manufacturers. Some of the assets went to Dapol, but the most significant legacy was carried forward by Bachmann, which used much of the Mainline tooling when establishing its Bachmann Branchline range in the UK. This move helped Bachmann become a major player in British model railways, continuing Mainline's tradition of high-detail models.