Dapol
Encyclopedia
Dapol Ltd is a Welsh
model railway manufacturer based in Chirk
, Wales
. The factory where design and manufacturing take place is just over the border in England
.
The Dapol trading name is known for its model railway products in N and OO gauge
s.
in North Wales, a huge fire destroyed the old site at Northwich
near Manchester
, and large quantities of products and historical Wrenn
material were destroyed.
In 1996 Dapol sold many of its model railway lines to Hornby
and Bachmann
In 1998 the company came under the control of a new board of directors headed by George Smith, who retires on 1st October 2010.
The company remains in the ownership of the Boyle family who founded the company.
In 2001 Dapol sold the little-exploited Wrenn product line (bought in 1993 from G & R Wrenn
) and trading name to three G & R Wrenn collectors.
For a period ending in 2001 Dapol also produced a wide range of Doctor Who
models. In 2002 the BBC
declined to renew the licence. The Dapol site also hosted the 'BBC Doctor Who Experience' exhibition until 2003.
In 2004 Dapol were awarded the 'UK Small Business of the Year' award.
In 2007 Dapol were awarded the Model Rail (magazine) 'N-gauge Manufacturer of the Year' award.
In 2010 Dapol were awarded the Model Rail (magazine) 'N-gauge manufacturer of the year', 'Best N gauge steam loco of the year' (Terrier), 'Best N-gauge Diesel locomotive of the year' (class 67), Best N-gauge Rolling Stock of the year (MK3 coach) making a 'clean sweep' for all the awards for N gauge.
In 2010 Dapol welcome a new Managing Director Joel Bright, director for the previous 8 years & uncle of the current Owner Craig Boyle. following the retirement of previous MD George Smith
in the British 'ready-to-run' market. Continuous improvement in model specifications has led to the introduction of 40:1 gearing in locomotive drive mechanisms, NEM couplings on all stock, and LED lighting strips for coaching stock (yellow for 'older' coaches, to represent incandescent illumination, and white for more modern coaches and EMUs to represent fluorescent fittings).
Kits are moulded in grey plastic (polystyrene) and the range features buildings, road vehicles, wagons and locos. Some of the kits use moulds bought in 1993 from the Airfix
company, some of which in turn originated with Kitmaster prior to being bought by Airfix in 1962..
layout still requires a decoder to control its motor.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
model railway manufacturer based in Chirk
Chirk
Chirk is a small town and local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It has a population of over 4,000....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The factory where design and manufacturing take place is just over the border in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The Dapol trading name is known for its model railway products in N and OO gauge
OO gauge
OO gauge or OO scale model railways are the most popular standard-gauge model railway tracks in the U.K. This track gauge is one of several 4mm-scale standards used, but it is the only one to be served by the major manufacturers...
s.
History
In 1994, while the company was moving to its previous location at LlangollenLlangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
in North Wales, a huge fire destroyed the old site at Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and large quantities of products and historical Wrenn
G & R Wrenn
G & R Wrenn was a toy company specialising in the manufacture of model railways. It was founded in 1950 by George & Richard Wrenn.- Origins :...
material were destroyed.
In 1996 Dapol sold many of its model railway lines to Hornby
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
and Bachmann
In 1998 the company came under the control of a new board of directors headed by George Smith, who retires on 1st October 2010.
The company remains in the ownership of the Boyle family who founded the company.
In 2001 Dapol sold the little-exploited Wrenn product line (bought in 1993 from G & R Wrenn
G & R Wrenn
G & R Wrenn was a toy company specialising in the manufacture of model railways. It was founded in 1950 by George & Richard Wrenn.- Origins :...
) and trading name to three G & R Wrenn collectors.
For a period ending in 2001 Dapol also produced a wide range of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
models. In 2002 the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
declined to renew the licence. The Dapol site also hosted the 'BBC Doctor Who Experience' exhibition until 2003.
In 2004 Dapol were awarded the 'UK Small Business of the Year' award.
In 2007 Dapol were awarded the Model Rail (magazine) 'N-gauge Manufacturer of the Year' award.
In 2010 Dapol were awarded the Model Rail (magazine) 'N-gauge manufacturer of the year', 'Best N gauge steam loco of the year' (Terrier), 'Best N-gauge Diesel locomotive of the year' (class 67), Best N-gauge Rolling Stock of the year (MK3 coach) making a 'clean sweep' for all the awards for N gauge.
In 2010 Dapol welcome a new Managing Director Joel Bright, director for the previous 8 years & uncle of the current Owner Craig Boyle. following the retirement of previous MD George Smith
N gauge
Dapol manufactures a growing range of N gauge locomotives, coaches and wagons, and is the main competitor of Graham FarishGraham Farish
Graham Farish is a company that produces large quantities of British outline model railway equipment in N gauge.-History:The Poole, Dorset based manufacturer of radio parts and kits entered the model railway business in the late 1940s, after the need for radio sets reduced post World War II...
in the British 'ready-to-run' market. Continuous improvement in model specifications has led to the introduction of 40:1 gearing in locomotive drive mechanisms, NEM couplings on all stock, and LED lighting strips for coaching stock (yellow for 'older' coaches, to represent incandescent illumination, and white for more modern coaches and EMUs to represent fluorescent fittings).
OO Gauge
In 00 gauge, Dapol manufactures ready-to-run wagons and kits.Kits are moulded in grey plastic (polystyrene) and the range features buildings, road vehicles, wagons and locos. Some of the kits use moulds bought in 1993 from the Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
company, some of which in turn originated with Kitmaster prior to being bought by Airfix in 1962..
Cleaning wagon
Recently, Dapol has become more well known after producing a track cleaning vehicle, which features motorised cleaning pads and a powerful vacuum cleaner. This wagon is non motorised, but to be used on a DCCDigital Command Control
Digital Command Control is a standard for a system to operate model railways digitally. When equipped with Digital Command Control, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled....
layout still requires a decoder to control its motor.