Chilcotts Auctioneers are offering a lifetime collection of model trains at their Specialist Collectors Auction on Saturday, 15 November.

The collection, dubbed ‘Railway Works’, belonged to Nigel Mann, who died in 2023. Nigel was a popular railway modeller who was known for his personal passion and his willingness to help other modellers.

Nigel’s life of collecting

Nigel came from a family of railway enthusiasts, with his father having worked for British Rail.

When he was aged 14, Nigel joined the Whitley Bay Model Railway Group. His mother was also a member, and he willingly helped other members to build their own layouts. Nigel continued his involvement in the group until it closed in the mid-1990s.

Nigel created various layouts at home, including ‘Trenance’, which featured in the Railway Modeller magazine.

He got involved with the West Somerset Railway (WSR) in the late 1970s. He volunteered his time as a passenger guard and signalman for around 40 years.

The auctioneers describe Nigel as “a lynchpin” of the Bristol Model Railway Exhibition. He booked exhibitors and their layouts, and often helped to operate guest layouts.

Nigel also joined the Ipswich Transport Society and contributed regularly to the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. He was a member of the Association of Model Railway Clubs Wales and West of England.

Nigel and his dad built up a large collection over four decades – so large that they had to hire part of a sports hall to lay it out!

Up for auction

Items from Nigel’s collection that are up for auction include ‘N’ Gauge and ‘00’ Gauge trains from various manufacturers, including Hornby, Graham Farish and Mainline from England; Bachmann from Germany; and Lima from Italy.

It also includes steam, diesel, and electric locomotive models, including famous names such as ‘Flying Scotsman’, ‘Lord Nelson’, ‘Blue Peter’, ‘Inter-city 125’, ‘Armada’, and ‘Howard of Effingham’, as well as ‘Devon Belle’ and other Pullman sets.

All the models are in excellent condition and in their original boxes.

Chilcotts has arranged the catalogue for the auction to suit model train collectors in mind. Individual locomotives have been put in a lot, rather than being grouped together.

The auctioneers expect most to be sold for £80-120 (plus 25% Buyers Premium).

The auction also features medals, militaria, toys, models, postcards, books, maps, ephemera, clocks, antiques and 20th-century design.

The auction will take place at the Dolphin Saleroom, Honiton High Street, Devon, on November 15 at 10 am. Prospective buyers may view the sale items in person from Wednesday, 12 November.

Those who prefer to participate online can also view the catalogue and make bids via the Chilcotts website.

“His enthusiasm continued through the years, and when the collection arrived at Chilcotts, there were two containers-worth! Trains, tracks, layouts, books, tickets and line-side accessories were duly sorted and catalogued, revealing many treasures that I’m sure will appeal to model train enthusiasts, as well as plenty of items that can be added to other collections.”

Auctioneer, Duncan Chilcott