Accucraft UK Ltd
Accucraft UK changes hands
We would like to announce that as of 1st May 2024, the Accucraft UK range will be distributed by Maxitrak in the care of Andy and Alex Probyn. Both businesses have a long association with Accucraft USA and manufacture with Bing Cheng and have a reputation for innovation and strong product development in their respective sections of the hobby. Maxitrak will continue to supply the Accucraft UK dealer network and will be responsible for all future warranty work. Ian and Sandy Pearse will be able to fully retire and Graham Langer will concentrate on ‘The Model Railway Clearing House’, his second-hand business.
Ian commented, “Sandy and I have worked extremely hard over the last 24 years to build Accucraft UK Ltd. into one of the major UK suppliers of products for the garden railway hobby.
I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the factories in China and Japan turn my concepts and designs into the popular locomotives we have supplied over the years. Sandy and I are also extremely grateful for the friendship and cooperation we have had from Bing Cheng, CEO of Accucraft Trains.
Over the intervening years we have benefited from the invaluable input from many others, including Dave Mees, Mike Darby, Geoff Calver, Rod Blakeman, Barry Applegate and others too numerous to mention. Thanks must also go to David Fletcher with his expert help with the designs over the last few years.
Graham Langer has been an integral part of the business since coming on board in 2010. Without his knowledge, hard work and unstinting loyalty we would not be in the position we are today, and we are very thankful to have been associated with him for so many years.”
Graham added, “It has been a pleasure to work with Ian, Sandy and Bing and I look forward to watching the brand flourish with Maxitrak. I relish the opportunity to develop ‘The Model Railway Clearing House’ as a stand-alone operation and having more time to focus on my role as a Director and Trustee of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust as well as being able to do more writing in the railway press.”
We would like to thank you, our loyal customers, for all your support and encouragement over the last two decades. We are certain that Maxitrak will continue to deliver outstanding Accucraft models for the UK market.
Barry Applegate, 1934 – 2024
It is with sadness that we record the passing of Barry Applegate, renowned model engineer and Gauge 1 Association Vice President. After a career in engineering, Barry retired to devote an increasing amount of time to his hobby, initially helping Andrew Pullen with some of the Aster designs before playing a significant part in the development of the Gauge 1 Model Company’s 4MT tank, Britannia and Rebuilt Merchant Navy, projects which found him travelling to the Accucraft factory in China. We were extremely grateful to him for his input when the Aster B1 prototype was delivered to us, Barry spending some bitterly cold days steaming the locomotive on his own garden railway. We would like to offer our condolences to his wife, Babs, and the rest of his family.
The National Garden Railway Show
We look forward to seeing many of you this coming weekend in Stoneleigh. Andy and Alex Probyn of Maxitrak will be joining us on our stand so please come and say hello!
