A huge model railway collection, the life’s work of an enthusiast given his first train set at 18 months old, has smashed expectations at auction.
The Nigel Thornley Collection went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Staffordshire saleroom on September 11. Experts had estimated it could achieve £70,000 but it steamed to £100,000.
Rail enthusiasts came out in force to bid on 350 lots in what Hansons described as ‘a tribute’ to a man who did so much to preserve the history of trains.
Mark Holder, Hansons’ trains and railwayana expert, said: “Interest was strong right from the start. Some models had been specially commissioned at great cost. Individual model locomotives were selling for £1,800 each.”
Top-selling items included lot 28, a gauge 1 ‘City of Manchester’ loco, £1,700; lot 35, a scratch built LNWR 0-8-0 by Bill Davis, £1,250; lot 134, a 0-4-0T Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) Railmotor by Peter Priestly, £1,200, and lot 146, a 7mm finescale L&YR Dreadnought loco, £1,800.
“This collection was a joy to bring to market,” said Mark. “The response from bidders was a tribute to Nigel’s rail knowledge and expertise. Fellow enthusiasts recognised how exceptional his collection was. And there’s more to come. The collection is so vast Hansons will be selling more Nigel Thornley railwayana in its October 9 Toy Nostalgia Auction.”
Nigel’s passion for trains enriched his life for more than 70 years. His collection included an eclectic mix of models featuring many Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway prototypes in 7mm scale, general railwayana, train books and more. As well as collecting and building models, he devoted countless hours to ensuring Britain’s railway heritage was preserved.
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, according to his family who 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 Nigel.
“At the age of 14 he used to be picked up by Richard Greenwood, a father figure in railway preservation, and taken 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 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, heritage trusts and guilds and 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
The Nigel Thornley Collection was sold on September 11 in Hansons Auctioneers’ Toy Nostalgia Auction. To find out more, contact Mark Holder: [email protected].
