Dapol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

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. As well as developing their own range of N gauge and 00 gauge models, the company produced products using the moulds and designs from Airfix and the former Hornby Dublo ranges which were purchased from G & R Wrenn in 1993. Unfortunately in 1994, while the company was moving to its previous location at Llangollen in North Wales, a huge fire destroyed the old site at Northwich near Manchester, and large amounts of products and of historical Wrenn material were destroyed.

In 1996 Dapol sold many of its model railway lines to Hornby.

In 1998 the company came under the control of a new board of directors headed by George Smith.

In 2001 Dapol sold the little-exploited Wrenn product line 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^[1]. 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