Graham Farish

Graham Farish is a British-origin model railway brand specializing in N gauge models of British railway equipment. The brand traces its corporate origins to Graham Farish Ltd, founded in the United Kingdom in 1928. The original business was based in Poole, Dorset, and initially operated in radio parts and related kits. After the Second World War, declining demand for radio sets encouraged the company to enter the model railway field. During the early 1950s, Graham Farish concentrated on British OO gauge products. Its range included locomotives, track, wagons, coaches and supporting accessories. The company also produced less conventional items, including figures and railway-themed accessories; some early products, such as the 1953 Coronation figures associated with Russell Gammage, have subsequently attracted collector interest. Early die-cast products were sometimes made from low-quality post-war mazac alloy. Those parts could later suffer from zinc pest, causing deterioration and making surviving examples a concern for collectors. The brand’s defining commercial development came with the expansion of British N scale. Graham Farish established the GRAFar label as one of the principal sources of British-outline N gauge models at a time when the broader British model railway market was under pressure. Its initial N gauge range appeared around 1970 and included the 9400 Pannier Tank locomotive, four-wheel coaches, LMS suburban-style bogie stock and Southern-inspired Mainline coaches. These products were offered in liveries associated with the principal historical British railway companies, including the Caledonian Railway, LMS, Great Western Railway, LNER and Southern Railway. As competing mass-market suppliers such as Lima and Minitrix withdrew from British N gauge during the late 1980s, Graham Farish became the dominant major supplier in that segment. The company consequently moved away from OO gauge, where competition was stronger, and focused its resources on N scale. By the late 1990s, the range had expanded to approximately 350 lines, covering locomotives, coaches, wagons, buildings, train sets and larger layout packages. The technical development of the locomotives involved several motor and gearing changes. Early 1970s models used three-pole armature motors and brass gearing. Five-pole motors were introduced in the early 1980s, while later gear materials went through several stages. Short-lived white nylon gears were followed by thin black plastic gears, some of which were prone to splitting. Thicker plastic gears were later adopted to improve reliability. These production differences remain relevant to owners and collectors comparing older British-made models with later releases. In 2000, Graham Farish was acquired by Bachmann Industries, a subsidiary of Kader Industries, now generally referred to as Kader Group. Manufacturing moved from the Poole facility to Kader’s factory in Hong Kong in 2001, and the Poole operation closed. Under Bachmann ownership, the brand remained focused on British N gauge while benefiting from the wider Bachmann product-development program. Many Graham Farish releases were derived from or coordinated with Bachmann Branchline OO models. Research into a prototype could therefore support both an OO model and a later N gauge version, often with the N gauge release following several months later. The post-acquisition range broadened to include numerous steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, diesel multiple units, coaches, wagons and railway accessories. Examples include British Rail Standard and LMS steam classes, Southern and Great Western subjects, diesel shunters, main-line diesel locomotives, modern freight locomotives and multiple-unit trains. The brand’s products are generally divided by collectors between older British-made models and newer Chinese-built models. Older examples can carry historical and collector appeal because of their British manufacture, while users often favor the l…

Graham Farish Ltd was established in the United Kingdom in 1928. The company was based in Poole, Dorset, and originally made radio parts and kits. The contraction of the radio market after the Second World War led it toward model railway manufacturing. In the early 1950s, its products were primarily OO gauge British railway models, including locomotives, track, wagons and coaches. Some accessory products from this period, including Coronation figures made in 1953 in association with Russell Gammage, later became collectible. The company’s early products reflected the technical and material constraints of the post-war period. Locomotives used distinctive two-pole direct-current motors, while some die-cast parts were made from impure mazac alloy. Such alloy components could later deteriorate through zinc pest. Motor and gearing designs changed over time: three-pole motors were used in early 1970s products, five-pole motors appeared in the early 1980s, and several generations of nylon and plastic gears were introduced before a more durable thicker plastic design became standard. Graham Farish’s most important strategic development was its move into British N scale. Around 1970, the company introduced an N gauge range under the GRAFar identity. The first subjects included the 9400 Pannier Tank locomotive, four-wheel coaches and bogie stock representing LMS suburban and Southern Railway designs. The range expanded across the liveries of Britain’s historical railway companies and gradually became the company’s central market. The withdrawal of Lima and Minitrix from the British N scale market during the late 1980s left Graham Farish as the principal major supplier of British-outline N gauge models. The company subsequently withdrew from OO scale as competition in that segment increased. By the late 1990s, the range contained roughly 350 lines, from locomotives and rolling stock to buildings, starter sets and complete layout packages. In 2000, Bachmann Industries acquired Graham Farish. Bachmann was part of Kader Industries, which later became known as Kader Group. In 2001, manufacturing moved from Poole to Kader’s Hong Kong factory, and the Poole facility closed. Under Bachmann ownership, Graham Farish continued as the group’s principal British N gauge brand. The company expanded its catalogue with N scale versions of many historical and modern British railway subjects. The relationship with Bachmann’s OO range enabled shared research and product planning: a prototype could be developed first as an OO model and later adapted for N scale. The resulting range included steam classes such as the LMS Jubilee, rebuilt Scot, Black Five, Stanier 8F, B1 and BR Standard designs, along with diesel shunters, main-line diesel locomotives, multiple units and freight stock. The brand’s products are commonly distinguished between British-made examples and later Chinese-built models. British-made models are often valued by collectors for their age and domestic manufacture, whereas the later models are generally preferred for operating layouts because of their greater detail and improved mechanical reliability. Graham Farish remains an active Kader/Bachmann brand serving collectors and model railway operators seeking British railway subjects in compact N gauge.

• 2001

  Production transferred to Hong Kong

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  Manufacturing moves from Poole to a Kader factory in Hong Kong, and the Poole facility closes.

• 2000

  Acquisition by Bachmann Industries

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  Bachmann Industries purchases Graham Farish and incorporates the brand into the Kader group.

• 1980

  Five-pole motors introduced

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  The company improves locomotive motors by moving from earlier three-pole designs to five-pole armatures.

• 1970

  Launch of the British N gauge range

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  Graham Farish introduces an N scale range under the GRAFar label, beginning with locomotives and several types of British passenger stock.

• 1950

  Early OO gauge expansion

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops British OO gauge locomotives, track, coaches, wagons and accessories.

• 1940

  Entry into model railways

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  After the Second World War, reduced demand for radio products contributes to the company’s move into model railway manufacturing.

• 1928

  Graham Farish Ltd is founded

  [1]Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org

  The Graham Farish company is established in the United Kingdom and later operates from Poole, Dorset.

A specialist British railway modelling brand positioned around detailed and broadly accessible N gauge models, combining historical British railway subjects with modern rolling stock and the product-development resources of Bachmann and Kader.

• Locomotives · 1970

  British-outline N gauge locomotives

  The core Graham Farish range consists of compact N gauge models representing British steam and diesel locomotives. Subjects span historic railway-company designs, British Rail classes and modern freight and passenger locomotives. The catalogue includes models such as the 9400 Pannier Tank, LMS Jubilee, Black Five, Stanier 8F, B1, BR Standard classes, diesel shunters and main-line diesel classes.

• Rolling stock · 1970

  N gauge passenger coaches

  Graham Farish produces N scale coaches representing passenger stock from Britain’s historical railway companies and later nationalized railway periods. Early products included four-wheel coaches, LMS suburban-style stock and Southern-inspired Mainline coaches. Later releases were coordinated with Bachmann development programs and broadened the historical and modern coverage.

• Rolling stock · 1970

  N gauge freight wagons

  The freight range covers British railway wagons in N scale for both historical and contemporary layouts. These products complement the locomotive and coach catalogue and support the representation of goods traffic across different railway eras.

• Multiple units

  Diesel multiple units

  The brand’s later catalogue includes N gauge diesel multiple units such as Classes 101, 108 and 153. These models extend the range beyond locomotive-hauled trains and represent British regional and local passenger operations across different periods.

• Starter sets and layouts

  Train sets and layout packages

  Graham Farish has offered complete N gauge train sets ranging from beginner packages to large layout bundles. Late twentieth-century examples included starter sets and Magnum layouts supplied with track, buildings and other components for constructing a complete operating scene.

• 2001

  Transfer of manufacturing to Hong KongStrategy

  Background

  Following the Bachmann acquisition, production was reorganized within the Kader manufacturing network.

  Action taken

  All manufacturing was moved from the Poole facility to Kader’s factory in Hong Kong, and the Poole site was closed.

  Aftermath

  The brand’s later products became associated with Chinese manufacture, while older British-made models retained a distinct collector identity.

  Source

• 2000

  Acquisition by Bachmann IndustriesM&A

  Background

  Graham Farish had become a major British N gauge supplier, while Bachmann Industries was building a broader model railway portfolio within the Kader group.

  Action taken

  Bachmann Industries acquired Graham Farish.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued under Bachmann ownership and gained access to shared product research and development with Bachmann’s OO range.

  Source

• 1970

  Prioritization of British N gaugeStrategy

  Background

  The company entered N scale while the wider British model railway market was contracting and established OO manufacturers faced difficult competition.

  Action taken

  Graham Farish developed the GRAFar range and made British-outline N gauge the central focus of its model railway business.

  Aftermath

  The strategy established Graham Farish as the leading major supplier of British N gauge models after competing mass-market manufacturers withdrew from the segment.

  Source

1. 1Graham Farishen.wikipedia.org