[johnboy]

John English made some petty detailed kits and finished products back in the day. In fact, Lionel purchased tooling from HObbyline and used those models as the basis for their HO products during the 1960s.

I grew up about a mile from his facility and have a vague recollection of this location but 60 years have passed and that's about all I have.....a vague recollection. And of course much has changed in the surrounding area.

Does anyone have any photos, or can you direct me to any photos of the building. I've long since moved away but return annually and would like to see if the building still stands.

Thanks

 

[Old_Hobo]

Perhaps you could check it out on one of your annual visits....?

 

[johnboy]

Perhaps you could check it out on one of your annual visits....?

Problem is I dont remember exactly where it was, and with all the construction that has taken place in the past 60 years, it could have been torn down, modified, or incorporated in another building.

And having only a vague recollection of what it looked like originally, I'm lost.

Even a street address would might help

 

[CTValleyRR]

Aren't you making this harder than it needs to be?

Morrisville is a small town, about 2 square miles and ~9000 inhabitants. Looking at Google Maps, most of it is residential and there are only a few places it could have been. Not many signs of a huge construction boom, either. Asking around those areas (business owners, especially) would probably turn up someone who remembers it. You could even take a virtual tour yourself via Google Steeet View and see if you recognize anything. I'm sure you remember your old address; that might narrow the search, although just about everything in Morrisville is within a mile.

You could also try calling the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce. Someone there can probably give you the address. Their phone number is (215) 943-7400.

You could also try the Historic Morrisville Society, which might have pictures of the area, or they might direct you to someone who does. Their phone number is 215-295-2194.

Note that I uncovered all this information with a little digging on the Internet.

 

[Akoustic]

Aren't you making this harder than it needs to be?

Morrisville is a small town, about 2 square miles and ~9000 inhabitants. Looking at Google Maps, most of it is residential and there are only a few places it could have been. Not many signs of a huge construction boom, either. Asking around those areas (business owners, especially) would probably turn up someone who remembers it. You could even take a virtual tour yourself via Google Steeet View and see if you recognize anything. I'm sure you remember your old address; that might narrow the search, although just about everything in Morrisville is within a mile.

You could also try calling the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce. Someone there can probably give you the address. Their phone number is (215) 943-7400.

You could also try the Historic Morrisville Society, which might have pictures of the area, or they might direct you to someone who does. Their phone number is 215-295-2194.

Note that I uncovered all this information with a little digging on the Internet.

You Folks are amazing. To take the time to research and help a poster is just incredible. You truly go all out to help. Best regards.
Dwight

 

[Big Ed]

You Folks are amazing. To take the time to research and help a poster is just incredible. You truly go all out to help. Best regards.
Dwight

I have spent I guess about an hour on and off searching and can't find a location.
We have a plant down in Morrisville, but they are far away from the town. They are by the old US STEEL plant.

Maybe the OP was mistaken about the location?

I did find some info pointing a few miles upstream on the Delaware river from Morrisville saying that English trains ( hobbyline) used to be located in Yardley, Pa.
Not Morrisville.

Some pictures and talk from the Tyco train forum,
http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13209

I agree, the best thing you could do is look when you visit.

 

[Dennis461]

lost cause

I doubt you will find any useful information.
I live near Mantua NJ where trains were manufactured.
I visited the factory and store a couple of times before they folded up and sold out. It was a tiny place. It is still there but easily mistaken for a four car garage.

I suspect the John English facility would not have been any more noticeable.

 

[Big Ed]

Copy and paste,

HObbyline is from 1953 to 1957. John English the parent company was a post WW2 1946 to 1957.

 

[CTValleyRR]

Copy and paste,

HObbyline is from 1953 to 1957. John English the parent company was a post WW2 1946 to 1957.

Yes. Although John A. English himself only died in 2013 at the age of 99. He apparently went on to bigger and better things after his stint making HO railroad models. Here is a link to his obituary:

https://obits.nj.com/obituaries/trenton/obituary.aspx?n=john-a-english&pid=162994960

 

[Eilif]

If you have access to Model Railroader magazines (or know someone with MR online all access)of those years maybe you'll find an advert and a mailing address.

 

[CTValleyRR]

If you have access to Model Railroader magazines (or know someone with MR online all access)of those years maybe you'll find an advert and a mailing address.

That was my first thought. Unfortunately, all the ads and catalogs I could find just said "Morrisville, PA".

 

[Lehigh74]

Sorry. I only have a photo of one building in Morrisville and it’s not the one you are looking for.

 

[charter.pa]

English trains ( Yardley PA )was sold to Pennline. Pennline sold to Bowser ( I don't have dates ). Bowser is in Montoursville PA. There is a train shop in the front of Bowser MFG. It is called English trains. I do not believe this is the facility that made John English Trains. I will give you the directions to the plant. It's two minutes off of I-180 in PA.

 

[charter.pa]

You may find more info at HOseeker.NET. This site is full of good info on old steamers. Possibly even at English trains. 570-368-2516

 

[CTValleyRR]

You may find more info at HOseeker.NET. This site is full of good info on old steamers. Possibly even at English trains. 570-368-2516

Not in this case. There is only a single catalog reference, and it just says Morrisville, PA.

 

[johnboy]

Thanks

I've been "away" from the form for awhile bothered by a number of medical issues, but appreciate all the replies.

I do have a good bit of information about the man, his company, and how many of his designs were subsequently used by other companies including Lionel.

However in all his catalogs, ads,etc., I could never find a street address. Granted, Morrisville was and still is a small town, but not displaying the full address in outside communication would still be unusual.

No big deal if I don't find it, but I am curious to see if the building still exists.