Hattons Model Railways

Hattons Model Railways was a British specialist retailer and manufacturer serving the model railway hobby. Norman Hatton founded the business in Liverpool in 1946 after leaving the army. The first shop, at 142 Smithdown Road, initially sold a broad mixture of hard-to-find post-war goods, including household items, fireworks, bric-a-brac and other opportunistically sourced stock. Model locomotives and toys proved to be among the strongest sellers, leading Hatton to concentrate increasingly on railway modelling and related hobbies. The business developed from a local shop into a major mail-order retailer during the 1950s through the 1990s. Hattons bought substantial quantities of stock, including surplus Meccano inventory, and promoted its range through advertisements in the model railway press. Mail-order customers in the United Kingdom and overseas became an important part of the company’s growth. The Smithdown Road premises were expanded in 1999, the same year that Hattons launched its first website as an online catalogue supporting telephone and postal orders. A more direct online ordering service followed in 2002 under the eHattons name. This transition helped Hattons display a large and frequently changing inventory to customers beyond Liverpool. The retailer sold locomotives, rolling stock, track, scenery, tools, paints, die-cast vehicles, aircraft models, plastic kits and accessories from brands such as Hornby, Heljan, Dapol, Peco, Oxford Diecast and Gaugemaster. It also operated a substantial pre-owned business, buying and selling second-hand model railway equipment and related collectables. Norman Hatton semi-retired in 1998 and handed operational responsibility to his children, Keith and Christine Hatton. Following Norman’s death in 2005 and Keith’s death in 2008, Christine Hatton continued to lead the company with managing director Richard Davies. As the online operation expanded, the business moved much of its stock to a warehouse in Widnes known as the Hattons Hub. In January 2016, the Smithdown Road shop closed after seven decades and operations were consolidated at the Montague Road site in Widnes. The former Liverpool premises later became a tearoom. Hattons also expanded beyond conventional retail. In 2013 it began buying and selling pre-owned model railways, die-cast vehicles and plastic kits. The activity became a dedicated service called Hattons Model Money, through which customers could submit items for valuation and sale. In manufacturing, the company initially commissioned external producers for products it had designed, including models made by Heljan and Dapol. From 2018 it increasingly produced models itself under the Hattons Originals label. Its releases included P Class and Andrew Barclay industrial locomotives, 50-ton Warwell wagons, FEA intermodal wagons, Rail Head Treatment Train vehicles and Class 66 locomotives. A range of historic four- and six-wheel coaches was planned for 2021. On 8 January 2024, Hattons announced that it would cease trading. The company attributed the decision to changing market conditions, including higher compliance costs associated with Brexit, shifts in the size and demographics of its customer base and supply-chain disruption. The retail operation closed permanently on 4 February 2024. In April 2024, Rails of Sheffield was reported to have acquired the Hattons brand and model railway toolings, with a possible future online relaunch of the brand. Hattons therefore remains historically significant as a specialist retailer, even though its original operating business is defunct.

Hattons Model Railways originated in Liverpool in 1946 when Norman Hatton opened a shop at 142 Smithdown Road after leaving the army. The original business was not initially limited to railway modelling. Hatton dealt in a wide range of scarce or opportunistically sourced post-war goods, from household supplies and fireworks to bric-a-brac and unusual items such as gas masks. He identified model locomotives and toys as particularly successful lines and gradually transformed the shop into a specialist model retailer. By the late 1950s, growing stock levels required larger premises. Hattons moved to 180 Smithdown Road in 1958 and benefited from a major purchase of surplus Meccano stock at a heavily discounted price. The company used extensive advertising in the model railway press to reach enthusiasts outside Liverpool. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, mail-order trading became a central growth engine, attracting customers throughout Britain and internationally. Norman Hatton semi-retired in 1998, leaving the business to his children Keith and Christine. In 1999 Hattons purchased 182 Smithdown Road, expanded across both buildings and introduced its first website. The initial site functioned mainly as a searchable or browsable catalogue for customers who still placed orders by post or telephone. In 2001, the business moved again, this time to larger premises at 364–368 Smithdown Road. In 2002, eHattons enabled customers to order online directly, accelerating the company’s shift from a traditional shop and mail-order operation to an internet-led retailer. Norman Hatton died in 2005. Keith Hatton died in 2008, after which Christine Hatton continued running the company with managing director Richard Davies. During the early 2010s Hattons moved most stock to a warehouse in Widnes, Cheshire. The Liverpool store finally closed in January 2016, with the company consolidating operations at its Montague Road site in Widnes. The move reflected the increasing importance of online sales, the impracticality of splitting inventory between two locations, the need to modernise the old premises and limited customer parking. The former Smithdown Road building later became a tearoom. Hattons broadened its business in 2013 by entering the pre-owned market for model railway equipment, die-cast vehicles and plastic kits. This became a significant online category and developed into Hattons Model Money, a dedicated service allowing customers to obtain valuations and offer collections for sale. The retailer’s general catalogue covered locomotives, rolling stock, scenery, track, tools, paints, model vehicles, aircraft and kits, alongside products from many established hobby manufacturers. The company also became a manufacturer. Before 2018, Hattons generally designed or specified products while using outside firms such as Heljan and Dapol for production. From 2018 it began releasing self-produced models under Hattons Originals. The first major releases included P Class and Andrew Barclay industrial locomotives, followed by Warwell wagons, FEA intermodal wagons and Rail Head Treatment Train equipment. In 2019 Hattons introduced a broad Class 66 locomotive programme. A range of four- and six-wheel coaches representing late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century railway practice was planned for 2021. After operating for almost 78 years, Hattons announced on 8 January 2024 that it would close. Management cited a combination of altered market conditions, higher compliance costs after Brexit, changes in the customer population and supply-chain problems. The shop and trading operation closed on 4 February 2024. Later in 2024, Rails of Sheffield acquired the Hattons name and model railway toolings, creating the possibility that selected products and the brand would return through a different online operation.

• 2024

  Trading operation closes

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Hattons announces closure in January and permanently shuts its shop and trading operation on 4 February.

• 2024

  Brand and toolings acquired by Rails of Sheffield

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Rails of Sheffield acquires Hattons’ brand and model railway toolings, with a planned future online relaunch.

• 2018

  Hattons Originals manufacturing begins

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Hattons starts producing its own model railway products under the Hattons Originals label.

• 2016

  Liverpool shop closes and operations consolidate in Widnes

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  After 70 years on Smithdown Road, Hattons moves all operations to its Widnes facility.

• 2013

  Pre-owned business expands

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Hattons begins buying and selling second-hand model railway goods, die-cast vehicles and plastic kits.

• 2002

  eHattons begins direct online ordering

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Customers gain the ability to place orders directly through Hattons’ online service.

• 1999

  First Hattons website launches

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The company creates an online catalogue to make its postal and telephone stock easier to browse.

• 1998

  Norman Hatton semi-retires

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Operational responsibility passes increasingly to Keith and Christine Hatton.

• 1958

  Move to larger Smithdown Road premises

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Hattons moves to number 180 Smithdown Road as its specialist model stock expands.

• 1946

  Norman Hatton opens the first shop

  [1]Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Norman Hatton establishes the business at 142 Smithdown Road in Liverpool after leaving the army.

A specialist, broad-assortment model railway retailer built around knowledgeable service, mail order and online availability, with additional expertise in pre-owned equipment and an increasingly important private-label manufacturing business.

• Model railway locomotives · 2018

  Hattons Originals P Class locomotives

  One of the first groups of models produced directly by Hattons under the Hattons Originals label. The range represented the company’s move from commissioning designs through third-party manufacturers toward controlling its own tooling and production programme.

• Industrial model railway locomotives · 2018

  Hattons Originals Andrew Barclay locomotives

  A range of industrial locomotives based on Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. prototypes. These models formed part of Hattons’ early self-manufactured portfolio and targeted modellers interested in industrial and compact railway subjects.

• Model railway freight wagons · 2018

  Hattons Originals Warwell wagons

  A range of 50-ton Warwell heavy-duty wagons developed for model railway layouts. The wagons illustrated Hattons’ strategy of covering distinctive freight equipment that was not limited to standard mainstream rolling-stock categories.

• Model railway freight wagons · 2018

  Hattons Originals FEA Intermodal wagons

  Models of FEA intermodal wagons, forming part of Hattons’ modern railway rolling-stock programme. The range complemented the company’s locomotive releases with container and freight equipment for contemporary British layouts.

• Specialist model railway rolling stock · 2018

  Hattons Originals Rail Head Treatment Train models

  A product range depicting Rail Head Treatment Train equipment used in railway maintenance operations. It extended Hattons Originals into specialist prototype subjects rather than focusing only on regular passenger and freight trains.

• Model railway locomotives · 2019

  Hattons Originals Class 66 locomotives

  An extensive range of Class 66 diesel locomotive models released by Hattons in 2019. The programme focused on a widely recognised modern British railway type and included multiple liveries and operator presentations.

• Pre-owned hobby goods service

  Hattons Model Money

  A dedicated Hattons service for customers wishing to sell second-hand model railway equipment and related collectables. Customers could submit items for valuation, making the service an extension of Hattons’ pre-owned retail operation.

• Historic model railway coaches · 2021

  Four- and six-wheel coach range

  A planned range of four- and six-wheel coaches intended to depict the types of passenger vehicles common in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The project was part of Hattons Originals’ effort to serve historically focused layouts.

• 2024

  Decision to cease tradingOther

  Background

  Hattons cited changing market conditions, higher compliance costs after Brexit, changes in the number and demographics of customers and supply-chain disruption.

  Action taken

  The company announced its closure on 8 January and permanently shut its retail and trading operation on 4 February.

  Aftermath

  The original Hattons business became defunct. The brand and model railway toolings were subsequently acquired by Rails of Sheffield.

  Source

• 2024

  Sale of Hattons brand and toolingsM&A

  Background

  Following the closure of Hattons’ original operation, its intellectual property and model manufacturing assets remained potentially useful to another specialist retailer.

  Action taken

  Rails of Sheffield acquired the Hattons brand and model railway toolings.

  Aftermath

  A future online relaunch of the Hattons name was planned, although the original retailer did not resume operations.

  Source

• 2018

  Launch of Hattons Originals self-produced modelsProduct launch

  Background

  Hattons had previously relied substantially on external manufacturers, including Heljan and Dapol, to produce products it had designed or commissioned.

  Action taken

  The company began manufacturing model railway products itself under the Hattons Originals sub-brand.

  Aftermath

  The programme expanded into locomotives, freight wagons, specialist railway vehicles and later a substantial Class 66 range.

  Source

• 2016

  Consolidation of operations in WidnesStrategy

  Background

  The expansion of online sales made it inefficient to divide inventory between the Liverpool shop and a Widnes warehouse. The old shop also required modernisation and offered limited customer parking.

  Action taken

  Hattons closed the Smithdown Road store and transferred all operations to the Montague Road facility in Widnes.

  Aftermath

  The company operated as a primarily warehouse- and online-led retailer until its closure in 2024.

  Source

1. 1Hattons Model Railwaysen.wikipedia.org