“The company had been copying British Hornby trains and obviously thought that they could break into the British market,” said David Nathan of Barry Potter Auctions, which sold the train in Rugby on February 9-10. “However, war was looming and the British public were not about to purchase German trains, despite the fact that it was a model of a well-known British class of engine,” said the specialist. Very few trains were made and consequently this example, entered in boxed, mint condition, sold at £21,500 (plus 15% buyer’s premium and VAT).
Märklin 00 gauge replica
The value of toy trains is rarely tied to world events, but this Märklin 00 gauge replica of a London Midland and Scottish railway locomotive was manufactured by the German toy firm for export to Britain in 1938.
