This year, we're marking a very special milestone – 80 years since Hattons Model Railways was founded in 1946.

Although Hattons is sadly no longer trading, its name remains one of the most recognisable in the history of the hobby. As custodians of the Hattons brand, we're proud to help preserve that legacy and, just as importantly, keep celebrating it with new products and projects for modellers to enjoy.

To mark the anniversary, we've today announced a special OO Gauge 80th Anniversary Vent Van in a striking silver colour scheme, alongside our first-ever N Gauge Rails and Hattons novelty Gunpowder Vans. We've also got a selection of classic Hattons Originals products available with savings of up to 48% off RRP, including a new Layout Tools Bundle for just £9.95.

And for anyone wanting to take a trip through model railway history, don't forget the Hattons Directory – an incredible resource documenting decades of models, manufacturers and releases. 80 years on from 1946, the Hattons name lives on – and we've got plenty more planned for the future.

This specially designed wagon marks 80 years since Hattons was founded, with a striking silver and black anniversary livery featuring the dates 1946–2026, classic Hattonsbranding and a nod to the company's Liverpool roots with 'Return to Smithdown Rd' lettering. The commemorative design makes this a fitting tribute to a retailer that played such an important part in the hobby for generations of railway modellers.

We're expecting this special novelty van to arrive later this year and you can pre-order yours now for £19.95. Each one comes complete with special collectors packaging too!

You asked, we listened! Since we launched our popular Rails of Sheffield and Hattons Model Railways themed vans in OO Gauge, many of you have been asking for similar ones in N Gauge - so to answer the call we're pleased to present this new duo of Gunpowder vans in both Rails and Hattons colour schemes.

We're only producing a very limited number of these so do make sure to place a pre-order to ensure yours is guaranteed.

On top of this, we've also decided to re-run our popular OO Gauge Rails of Sheffield Vent Van as stocks have run dry for a SECOND TIME! A new run of these is expected in the near future and they're available to pre-order now. Don't forget you can also collect our 'Hattons' and 'Keep on Railway Modelling' vans right now too.

We've also put together a brand-new Hattons Originals Layout Tools Bundle, bringing together a few simple but incredibly useful essentials for building and maintaining a model railway. The bundle includes a handy pin hammer, a pack of track pins, and a compact screwdriver set – ideal for jobs such as laying track, fixing scenic items in place, making adjustments to rolling stock, and tackling those small layout jobs where the right tool makes all the difference.

Whether you're just getting started with your first layout or simply want a few extra tools to keep close to hand, it's a practical little kit to have in the modelling toolbox. Best of all, the complete bundle is available for just £9.95, making it an easy-value addition to your next order.

Alongside our new Layout Tools Bundle, we’ve also got a selection of Hattons Originals layout accessories still available in stock, with some fantastic savings of up to 48% off RRP. The range includes useful wagon load kits as well as jars of loose load materials, ideal for adding extra realism to open wagons, goods yards, industrial scenes and scenic areas around the layout.

With prices starting from just £2.95, these are handy, affordable additions to the modelling cupboard — whether you’re working on a new project or simply stocking up on useful scenic materials while they’re still available.

One of Hattons' most useful resources is still very much available to explore — the Directory. Still accessible at hattons.co.uk, the Directory is a brilliant archive for researching decades of model railway releases, covering a huge variety of locomotives, rolling stock, manufacturers, liveries and product ranges from across the hobby.

Whether you're trying to identify an older model, check when a particular version was released, compare liveries, or simply enjoy a bit of model railway nostalgia, it's an incredibly useful reference tool.

As we celebrate 80 years of Hattons Model Railways, it's also a great way to look back through the history of the hobby and see just how much has changed — and how many memorable models have come and gone along the way.