About Us
About Rails of Sheffield
Rails of Sheffield is a family-owned business with over 50 years of experience in the model railway industry. From its roots in Sheffield, the company has grown to become one of Europe’s leading model railway retailers, serving customers worldwide.
Through Railsofsheffield.com and its highly regarded eBay store, Rails of Sheffield supplies an extensive range of products to enthusiasts across the globe. In addition, the business operates a flagship store and a station store in Sheffield, allowing customers to experience the range in person. Known for its expertise, reliability, and commitment to customer service, Rails of Sheffield continues to be a trusted name within the hobby.
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Our History
ORIGINS - 1970 TO EARLY 1980S
Founded by Hedley Barber in December 1970, Rails began by buying and selling second-hand model railways, a passion that remains at the heart of the business to this day.
Operating from the back of Hedley’s shop on Holmesdale Road in Dronfield, on the southern outskirts of Sheffield, interest grew steadily throughout the decade. By the early 1980s, Rails had become a regular fixture at toy fairs and swap meets, including the well-known Buxton Pavilion Fair.
From then until 2000, the team attended thousands of events across the UK, building a loyal and knowledgeable customer base that continues to support the business today.
LAUNCHING THE STORE - 1980S TO 1990S
As Rails’ loyal customer base continued to grow, the need for a dedicated retail space became clear. During the 1980s, the business moved into a ‘proper’ shop at 35 Chesterfield Road, Heeley Bottom, just a few doors from the current flagship store. From this location, Rails significantly expanded its mail order operation, with advertisements becoming a familiar sight in specialist publications.
In the early 1990s, Rails relocated to 29 Chesterfield Road, establishing what would become its permanent home. Continued growth followed, and in 1996 the neighbouring shop unit at No. 27 was acquired, marking the beginning of a period of rapid expansion.
If you’ve ever wondered about the origin of the Rails name, it’s all down to Hedley’s proper Yorkshire attitude to spending money. The original shop on Chesterfield Road had previously been The Sheffield Photographic Centre; rather than buying a new sign, he simply recycled five of the red plastic letters from the old shop front and rearranged them into the name "RAILS".
In the late 1990s, Rails launched its first website, becoming one of the pioneers of online model railway retailing, offering both new and second-hand items. This era also saw the growth of the ‘limited edition’ business, with many exclusive liveries commissioned from major manufacturers, a tradition that continues to define Rails today.
RAPID EXPANSION - 2000s
The rise of online marketplaces in the early 2000s transformed the second-hand model railway business. The ability to promote and sell rare and collectible model trains worldwide allowed Rails to grow rapidly, and today we are proud to be the largest model railway eBay shop in the UK, and one of the biggest in the world.
To support this expanding business, the Rails family has traveled far and wide to acquire model railway collections, ensuring a constantly evolving stock for our customers.
As our business grew, so did our premises. Throughout the 2000s, we purchased No’s. 21, 23, and 25 Chesterfield Road, followed by a series of nearby buildings and offices to house our eBay operations, storage, sorting, and packing departments.
A NEW ERA - 2010s to 2020s
Sadly, Hedley Barber passed away on August 11th, 2015, leaving his son John, grandsons Adam and Oliver, and John’s wife Tracy to continue running the company he founded, with the support of long-serving staff and other family members. Remaining a family-operated business, Rails continued to thrive well into the late 2010s.
A major milestone came in 2018 with the opening of an impressive new showroom. Featuring beautiful displays of popular locomotives and rolling stock set against real Sheffield steel, stonewalling, and other natural materials, the showroom became a standout attraction. Its launch also spurred a complete refurbishment of the entire ‘front of house’ area, now encompassing five formerly separate units at 21–29 Chesterfield Road.
During this period, Rails expanded into new ventures, including launching its own exclusive line under the ‘Rails Limited’ brand. This brought exciting new models to enthusiasts, such as the Stroudley ‘Terrier’ steam locomotive in collaboration with Dapol, and the North Eastern Railway Electric Autocar with Heljan.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE - 2020s+
Now one of the largest model railway retailers in Europe and the UK’s favourite, Rails of Sheffield has become a true flag carrier for the hobby. We are dedicated to taking model railways to new heights and introducing the joy of modelling to as many people as possible for years to come.
Rails of Sheffield is proud to be a corporate and commercial partner of the National Railway Museum, working alongside Locomotion Models under the new Railway Icons brand. Together, we bring exciting new products to the market while supporting the preservation of Britain’s rich railway history.
In 2021, we opened our purpose-built warehouse in Dronfield, a multi-million-pound development that consolidated our warehousing and administration. This move allowed us to streamline operations and continue delivering the top-tier service our customers expect.
In 2025, we launched a satellite shop at Sheffield Railway Station, connecting with a whole new audience at one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs and bringing the model railway experience closer to enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
We are truly excited for what’s to come and are committed to continuously improving our business in every way, for the customers we value so highly. Our goal is to make every interaction with Rails of Sheffield enjoyable, inspiring, and memorable, today and in the decades ahead.
Our Store Locations
FLAGSHIP SHOP
21-29 Chesterfield Road
Heeley, Sheffield, S8 0RL
OPEN 9am to 5pm (Mon/Tue + Thurs to Sunday)
SATELLITE SHOP
Sheffield Railway Station, Sheaf Street
Sheffield, S1 2BP
OPEN 10am to 6pm (7 Days a Week)
OUR HEAD OFFICE
The nerve centre of our website, online operations, customer support and warehousing!
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Our Values, Vision & Mission
Our Vision
To be the go-to retailer of choice for all things model railways and related products, inspiring hobbyists and collectors across the globe.
Our Mission
At Rails of Sheffield, we strive to be the world’s leading model railway retailer by:
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Creating an inclusive, safe, and inspiring workplace.
Delivering exceptional, high-quality products from trusted manufacturers.
Championing sustainable and responsible business practices.
Delighting every customer and exceeding expectations.
Setting the highest standards of excellence in the model railway industry.
Our Values: Driven by the Rails Principles
At Rails of Sheffield, our values guide everything we do. We are committed to:
Customer-Centric – Putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.
Integrity – Acting with honesty, fairness, and transparency in all our dealings.
Continuous Improvement – Constantly seeking ways to enhance our products, services, and workplace.
Innovation & Creativity – Embracing new ideas, technologies, and partnerships to enrich the hobby.
Teamwork & Respect – Valuing trust, collaboration, and respect for our colleagues and community.
Passion & Accountability – Being passionate about model railways and taking responsibility for delivering excellence.
Winning Spirit – Striving for excellence and aiming to lead the industry while staying true to our roots.
These values are further embodied in our Rails principles, which define how we operate every day:
R
Respect for Customers & Community
We treat every customer with honesty, fairness, and care. Our South Yorkshire roots anchor our purpose, and we remain committed to supporting our community.
A
Always Authentic
From second-hand treasures to exclusive commissions, we act with integrity and genuine passion. Authenticity is the hallmark of our reputation.
I
Innovation with Purpose
We embrace new technologies, ideas and partnerships that enhance the hobby—while honouring the heritage that built our business.
L
Loyalty to Family Values
As a multi-generational, family-run business, we work together with trust, respect andcommitment. Our people remain our greatest strength.
S
Service Beyond Expectation
We strive to deliver exceptional service in every interaction—whether in our showroom,online or around the world.
OUR PARTNERS
At Rails of Sheffield, we’re proud to work with a wide range of trusted partners who share our passion for railways, heritage, and high-quality modelling. From our longstanding collaboration with the National Railway Museum to exclusive models developed with leading manufacturers, these partnerships let us offer unique products and exciting projects to enthusiasts worldwide.
We also value the many respected brands we work alongside and remain committed to supporting charitable initiatives within the railway community—helping preserve the past and inspire the next generation of railway fans.
The National Railway Museum
Rails of Sheffield is proud to be a Corporate Partner of the National Railway Museum, supporting one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to preserving and celebrating Britain’s railway heritage. This partnership reflects our long-standing commitment to the railway community and our passion for ensuring that historic locomotives, stories, and engineering achievements remain accessible to future generations. By working alongside the NRM, we help contribute to vital conservation, education, and engagement projects that inspire enthusiasts, families, and researchers alike.
James May Gin
Rails of Sheffield is proud to have collaborated with James May’s gin brand to create a series of unique, railway-inspired products. Together, we’ve produced limited-edition gin train packs, blending James May’s playful creativity with our passion for railways. These exclusive items include collector-friendly packaging, miniature gin-themed wagons and even special offers for the James Gin website.
HENDERSON'S RELISH
Rails of Sheffield is delighted to work with Sheffield’s iconic Henderson’s Relish, celebrating a true local favourite alongside our passion for railways. Together, we’ve created exclusive railway-themed products and special promotions that bring together the city’s culinary heritage and its rich railway history. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting local brands while offering our customers unique, collectible items that are full of character and connection to Sheffield.
OUR CHARITY INITIATIVES
Rails of Sheffield is committed to giving back as much as possible to various charitable organisations. We make yearly donations to a number of national and local charities.
As mentioned above, we also work very closely with the National Railway Museum as a Corporate and Commercial Partner to help preserve our national railway heritage.
On top of this we have also supported various railway heritage groups in the past, including the Caledonian 828 Trust, donating £2,000 to help support the running of their glorious locomotive.
We also work with our partner brands to bring new products to the market which can help to support charities, including our 'Sheffield Childrens Hospital Charity' Vent Van as well as our Revolution Drax Hopper Wagons - which saw a sizeable sum donated to Martin House Hospice.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
Rails of Sheffield is committed to improving its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) footprint through a range of practical actions that reduce waste, lower emissions, and support circular economy principles.
100% RECYCLED & SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
Rails of Sheffield has replaced traditional packaging with fully recyclable materials, including:
- 100% recyclable cardboard boxes
- Paper packing tape instead of plastic
- Eco‑friendly bubble wrap
These changes significantly reduce single‑use packaging waste and support recycling systems.
ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS
The main warehouse facility is designed with sustainability in mind, including solar panels installed on the roof to generate renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil‑fuel grid electricity, lowering operational carbon emissions.
Sustainable Returns (Loop Returns)
Rails of Sheffield uses Loop Returns, a sustainable returns management platform that can help make returns more environmentally friendly by:
- Encouraging reuse of original packaging rather than new packaging for returns
- Offering options that reduce needless shipping
- Supporting routing of returned items to resale, recycling or donation, keeping products out of landfill where possible
These practices align with circular economy principles and help cut the carbon footprint associated with returns.
Second‑Hand Buying & Trade‑In
Rails of Sheffield operates a Model Money trade‑in service (secondary market), enabling customers to sell or trade in used items, keeping products in circulation rather than discarded. This:
- Supports reuse of model railway equipment
- Reduces demand for new production
- Extends the life of existing products
- Trade‑in and resale are core elements of a circular economy, reducing waste and resource use.
Customer reviews also confirm strong participation in second‑hand buying and selling, highlighting the value and sustainability benefit of this service.
CAREERS AT RAILS OF SHEFFIELD
We currently have no opportunities available