A gigantic model railway collection, the life’s work of an enthusiast who was given his first train set at 18 months old, could fetch more than £70,000 at auction.
Nigel Thornley’s passion for trains enriched his life for more than 70 years. As well as collecting and building models, Nigel devoted countless hours to ensuring Britain’s railway heritage was preserved forever.
Now hundreds of items, carefully amassed over decades, are set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on September 11 in a sale hailed as ‘unmissable for rail enthusiasts’.
Some 350 lots in The Nigel Thornley Collection include an enormous and eclectic mix of models featuring many Lancashire and Yorkshire prototypes in 7mm scale, general railwayana, train books and more.
Mark Holder, Hansons’ specialist in trains and railwayana and auction manager, said: “This model train and railwayana collection is so large and comprehensive it deserves an auction all of its own. Nigel’s love of trains was all-encompassing and his passion comes through on every level. The collection could sell for £70,000 and deservedly so.
“There’s something for everyone, from fine scale O gauge and gauge 1 examples, with OO gauge and die-cast Dublo trains to postcards and a large cache of books. And if you like building your own models, there are unbuilt kits from manufacturers like DJH. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime collection offering items that are rarely available for sale. Interest is already strong. This is an unmissable sale for rail enthusiasts.”
The late Nigel Thornley (1949 – 2021), from Chester, was given his first train set by his father when he was an 18-month-old toddler. His family offered the following tribute:
“Nigel began his love of trains with Hornby Dublo 3-Rail track as a small boy. When he was 12 years old, he used to go to the local signal box and help out. On one occasion he got a warning the inspector was on his way, so hid round the back. But the inspector knew he was there, called him in and put him through his paces answering a series of questions about signal boxes and how they were used. He then got Nigel to demonstrate the correct way to operate the levers and signals. Finally, he said ‘the lad can stay’ – much to the relief of the signalman and the delight of Nigel.
“At the age of 14 he used to be picked up by Richard Greenwood, a father figure in railway preservation, and taken over to Haworth in City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, for the weekend to help restore a Pug. That Pug is still in service at Haworth’s Keithley and Worth Valley heritage railway. He became a founder member of the Keithley and Worth Valley Railway Society.
“In his late teens/early twenties he got together with his friend, Trevor Hughes, to form the Rochdale Model Railway Society which is also still thriving.
“His real passion was the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Society, and he became an avid modeller of engines, coaches and rolling stock and collector of anything he could find of his beloved L&YR. However, he still modelled and collected other locomotives and stock from other lines too.
“He was fanatical about wanting to preserve things for posterity and, determined that nothing should be lost, he and his fellow society members worked with the Manchester Archives to ensure as much information as possible was saved and recorded there. He literally spent hours searching the internet for items which he then bought on behalf of the L&YR and sent to the archives.
“He was a member and supporter of many railway societies and heritage trusts and Guilds and was a regular face at exhibitions. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
A celebration of Nigel’s life will be held on May 28, 2022, from 4pm, at The Whitby Sports & Social Club, Dunkirk Lane, Chester Road, Ellesmere Port, West Cheshire, CH65 6QF
CLICK HERE TO BROWSE THE CATALOGUE
The Nigel Thornley Collection will be sold on September 11 in Hansons Auctioneers’ Nostalgia & Toy Bygones Auction. To find out more, contact Mark Holder: [email protected]. Catalogue
