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Train firm Hornby steams to success
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Tuesday 1st Feb 2005.
MODEL group Hornby's trains steamed to their best Christmas sales performance since the mid-1970s.
The group sold more than 100,000 model train sets in the run-up to the festive period, outperforming sales of its Scalextric slot racing cars.
Hornby, which now produces all its models in China, attributed the success to renewed popularity of its model railways among 40-50 year-olds, who are buying them as a serious hobby.
The group, which employs 140 people in the UK, said product ranges launched in early 2004 had proved very popular.
It said its Live Steam model train and historic Scalextric racing car ranges had strengthened its position in the hobbyist and enthusiast market and were attracting new customers.
Broker Baird expects Hornby to turn in pre-tax profits in the year to the end of March of £7.4 million, against £6.5 million a year earlier.
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