ACE Trains London

08/09/2025

As you may have seen from the earlier posting we unveiled on Saturday at Sandown Park the decorated sample of the coarse scale Standard Class 5. We were very pleased to be able to showcase this brand new locomotive which has been crafted and designed for both coarse scale vintage style enthusiasts as well as a cast bodied all metal finescale locomotive.

This will be a new journey of travel for us as we’ve responded to the many suggestions of customers over the years to produce something that fully meets the expectation of the 0 gauge finescale community.

Shamrock Trains have been very closely involved with research and planning and the way that the 0 gauge finescale ready-to-run (RTR) market is evolving, particularly around what we describe as the 'hybrid' category - not volume plastic injection moulded or premium brass constructed models - but a middle ground characterised by cast metal bodied locomotives with plastic components as currently marketed by Dapol/Lionheart Trains, Accurascale, and Ellis Clark.

Shamrock have now developed a complete and separate platform for finescale developments which will be marketed as Shamrock Finescale: https://shamrockfinescale.com Shamrock Trains will continue to market the complete range of traditional ACE products as well as a selection of 1:43 scale diecast vehicles that perfectly complements the vintage tinplate 0 gauge category.

Len Mills and Martyn Pring have quietly taken on the views and input of many model railway industry experts since the step change into finescale requires very careful planning, particularly around the balance of minimising the use of single-use plastic in favour of metal parts - a key part of the original brief for the Standard Class 5 project - thus maintaining ACE’s tradition of 'all metal models', but also utilising the latest technology developments around motors, gearing and sound systems to produce real value for money models. The notions surrounding all-metal also meets our sustainability ethos as metal ultimately can be recycled.

Shown here is a second coarse scale decorated prototype sample that has literally just been received from the factory of our long-established Chinese vendor relationship which goes back to 2008. We know some things are not quite right - locomotive dome too high, tender rivets too big etc. - so lots of further development work necessary particularly for finescale with all of the regional variations, tender types and locomotive enhancements of the later built engines.

Shamrock Finescale will be the key distribution and marketing point for our forthcoming finescale projects. They’re trying to do things a little differently down on the south coast especially around the bundling and packaging of Southern Railway/BR(S), Great Western Railway/BR(W), and the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&D) - our 4F version in S&D livery remains highly sought after. For much of the late 19th and a large part of the 20th century, the S&D and the line to Bournemouth West was the key holiday route along the former Midland Railway/LMS tracks from the north to Dorset’s countryside. Its closure, according to celebrated railway writer Michael Williams, ‘generated more melancholy, more nostalgia and a greater sense of loss than any other of the lines that Beeching closed.’ Well said Michael, and we fully intend to capitalise on these marvellous sentiments with a variety of Standard Class 5 models that so majestically traversed S&D metals between Bournemouth and Bath Green Park and on to Bristol Temple Meads.

For the Standard Class 5 project Shamrock Finescale have also teamed up with Rob and Michelle Anderson at Northumbrian Painting Services who have developed a complete range of metal and fully painted BR era locomotive figures. Much more on this exciting project to come. These figures for the Standard Class 5 will be suitable for both the coarse scale and finescale versions.

And finally in the pics you’ll notice the 96 sheet advertising boards. This is another splendid collaborative project that Shamrock Finescale have initiated with Richard Ellis at Monk’s Gate models. The advertising boards are exact copies of the type of street-side advertising medium that you could have found from the late 1950s. Thanks to the very helpful team at the History of Advertising Trust for their help in this particular project.

&D (s) (m)

06/09/2025

06/09/2025

We're at Sandown Park today and not Guildex 2025 at Stafford:

12/06/2025

As some people will be aware from other marketing channels Kevin Finch of ACE Trains is unfortunately hospitalised with health issues at present. Clare his wife is endeavouring to manage existing orders and dispatches as she can from the Stationmasters’ Rooms business. In order to best facilitate processes it would be useful if new orders at present could be facilitated via the [email protected] email address so that everything can be consolidated and provide a single point of contact for communication. Alternatively, Shamrock Trains now has a significant stock of ACE Trains products and orders may be placed via [email protected] and 07759 320098. Either way we will be able to manage the business in a professional manner which customers expect. Len Mills is continuing to work on all new ACE Trains projects. Martyn Pring

31/05/2025

ACE Trains London at large today at the annual The Gauge O Guild Group Kempton Park event. Plenty of interest.

01/03/2025

Good morning from the The Gauge O Guild Group Kettering event. We have a good supply of the new ACE Trains P2s, Dukes, DukeDogs and the new hopper wagons. Lots of positive reaction to the new product range.

22/02/2025

P2 2-8-2 locomotive

19/02/2025

*****BIG BREAKING NEWS the E/36 P2 Class is NOW IN STOCK*****

The full range of the long awaited and magnificent premier locomotive edition - the E/36 P2 Class 2-8-2 is now in stock.

Please note all customers who have pre-ordered these stunning limited locomotive editions, you will be notified as soon as we possibly can. We have a very large pre-order list to work through, to process, dispatch, and to delivery, so it may take a little while - PLEASE bear with us. For new customers enquiring about P2 availability, please note that many of the editions are sold out or near to sold out.

As a few of you have noted we did have an initial very small number of P2s delivered a couple of weeks ago which people may have seen at customer running or meets. We did not want to mention this as at the time as we were unable to give an exact delivery date of the main shipment. But finally, as per our heading announcement, we now have some 95% of the range delivered and in stock with the small remaining amount being delivered in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

As well as this stunning ‘New Arrival’ locomotive edition we also do have many other changes and projects that we are full time working on as well. We will be posting photograph images as soon as we possibly can, and along again with a very large backlog of photos of the stunning E/41 Deltic range, and some of the recent stunning past ranges of the E/42 Patriots. So as said, please be patient with regards this.

Also just a note we are due to be at Sandown Toy Fair on Saturday, 22nd February, and then a week later at the Gauge 0 Guild Kettering show on Saturday 1st March. So if you do wish to collect your order there, please do let us know, and we will obviously bring your order with us to Sandown or Kettering for collection for you. PLEASE NOTE we do need to be advised of this though!

****A MASSIVE NEW PROGRAMME OF PROJECTS COMING FROM ACE TRAINS ****

In the next coming weeks, we will also be announcing and listing a superb range of new projects including the E/30 Duke and Dukedog Class 4-4-0 loco with a choice of two tenders, the G7 Bogie Hopper Wagon range, a superb, unusual E/41- Special Series Range Class 55 Deltic Diesel Locomotives, which do have some fantastic livery versions included in this. Also, a stunning E/49 Class 76 EM1 Electric Locomotive range, and an absolute iconic stunner and a must for most - the E/57 Achilles class, Lord of Isles single wheeler locomotive - which will be followed up with a huge range of other single wheeled locomotives.

Some of these range editions are actually available in stock now and will be ready to purchase. Within these ranges also do include some very special editions and some also include a limited edition twin loco set. As well as the outstanding ranges mentioned we also have some other FANTASTIC ranges that we will be producing. These will include coach sets and new project wagons!!!!

So please do LOOK out regarding these great new ranges coming. All of this will be announced on the ACE Trains web site, on social media, a large scale advertising programme in the traditional trade, enthusiast and collector press, and in due course newsletters. ACE Trains is well and truly back in town, and now in its 29th year of operation. Exciting times for the vintage coarse scale 0 gauge sector lay ahead!

***PERSONAL APOLOGY and UPDATES***

We would also like to take the opportunity to provide a personal apology to all our huge clientele of good and loyal customers, and also our new joining customers who have discovered us regarding to the lack of communication in updating business matters and information. Also for the slowdown in web site activity as most of our existing customers are very much used to us posting a regular and full range of information.

Also unfortunately, we have very much fallen behind on our what we are very much known for - our stunning photo images that we usually take. As said please except our sincere apologies regarding these matters. We’re also fully aware because of the quietness and lack of information that’s been posted some of you have had some concerns regarding the future of The Station Master Ltd and ACE Trains Ltd. As most of you where are probably aware, I am the NEW full owner of this magnificent brand-named company.

But please rest assured as we have been extremely busy, as well as completely moving the business just over a year ago now, and which many of you already know this anyway. But with the move we did encounter many problems; but finally everything is up and running and ready to roll as they say.

Most importantly, we’ve been building a huge business plan platform investing in many exciting new projects. Plans for the future are very healthy as you see from the small list of range projects already detailed above. In due course we will be adding to this following our latest business trips to several of our factories abroad. We are now working on some huge project plans which cover some absolute magnificent ranges of locomotives, coaches and wagons. There is so much more to come for our worldwide audience of customers.

Which brings us or should I say a personal note from me (Kev). Mr Steve Guest was a very good friend of mine, and more than just a business colleague. I would like to pay my respect to the very saddened loss as most of you will obviously know now. Steve was such an amazing gentleman, many of you will have known him first hand, and had been with ACE Trains for many years. He imbued a great passion to ACE Trains projects over many years. Many of which may not have even appeared without Steve’s enthusiasm, and quiet and informed research. Such qualities clearly will be missed in manufacturing which came with Steve’s invaluable signature.

***TECHNICAL COMMENTS***

Please also note we have had some substantial web site issues. We still do have some areas of problem, but we are undergoing many changes on the web site/s with so many changes in place and will be changing very soon with a complete new front end feature look. But if you do come across any technical problems or feel something is confusing, or you feel would make things easier when ordering, etc., please do let us know via email or call. Obviously we will help and assist with your request as soon as we can.

All comments and concerns are very important to us as we want to make things as easier as possible for you and for the usage of The Stationmaster’s Rooms and ACE Trains web sites.

Best regards and thanks
Kev and all from The Station Master’s Rooms and ACE Trains.

And thank you again for all of you for your patience and understanding.

24/01/2025

Good morning,

Just an update on progress since the ACE Trains business was acquired by Kevin and Clare Finch of the Station Master's Rooms. A lot of ill-founded conjecture has been posted regrading the future of ACE Trains and the hobby. Kevin realises that the noting of progress to the outside world appears to have been painfully slow, but in the interim a considerable amount of time, and effort has been spent quietly talking to people, in undertaking research and planning, and all of this has been going on in the background during the past year.

Suffice to say there's a clear commitment to the future development of 0 gauge coarse scale - standard scale as Allen Levy used to allude to - with the planned production of new die cast and tinplate product. Kevin has recently returned from a trip to China to see ACE's existing (and potential future) vendor suppliers and exciting plans are now being put in place which will be announced across the board in due course. The existing supplier relationship with ETS in the Czech Republic for smaller product has also now been well and truly cemented with a three year programme.

There is a new email address on the existing ACE Trains web site which has been established - [email protected] - from which I have been answering many enquiries from across the world.

Fresh P2 supplies will be arriving from China via airfreight in the next few days.

03/01/2025

Steve Guest
We were saddened to learn today from Allen and Charlotte Levy, founders of ACE Trains, of the passing of Steve Guest who died peacefully at home on Christmas Eve. Steve, as many of you will be aware, was a stalwart of the Gauge 0 fraternity for many years. He was an active tinplate collector and became a key figure in the ACE Trains management structure.

Steve’s contribution to the hobby was immense and with the Maldon Rail code 200 three rail track system will be remembered for the many memorable working 0 gauge layouts that regularly attended the Sandown Park quarterly convention, and many other Fairs around the country. RIP Steve.

06/05/2024

Following the transfer of the business from Allen and Charlotte Levy, we should be in a position to make a few announcements in the next month. We will also have further information on the P2 project shortly. Our sincerest apologies for the 'radio silence', but as we're sure you'll appreciate there's always so much that needs to be put in place in such circumstances.