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About

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Our Story So Far

Our Story So Far

My father is the founder of Andrew Clark Models, so I grew up in a world filled with model trains and collectables. From a young age, I was taken on monthly trips to the National Railway Museum in York, where little Ellis would press his nose up against the glass of the O Gauge layout and gaze in wonder as its trains raced around the landscape within. And at the Shipley Model Railway Exhibition, I would spend hours running pre-owned models (brought home by Dad) on all sorts of layouts. The seeds were sown…

I’d been working in a coffee shop when, towards the end of 2011, Dad offered me a desk in his office should I ever want to start a business – he was a little shocked when I handed in my notice that very day! I purchased a desk, a computer, a notepad and various model railway books and magazines, and began planning. I established Ellis Clark Trains the following year and was soon travelling the length and breadth of the country buying pre-owned model railways.

We’ve since grown from a one-man business to one of the best-known pre-owned specialists – and in recent years, we’ve made a name for ourselves as an award-winning manufacturer. But how did we get here, and why do we do it?

My team and I love what we do. Above all, we believe that being friendly, approachable and understanding towards individual needs lies at the heart of a successful company. The model railway business is like no other; it’s a close-knit family to which we’re proud and humbled to belong. The passion and generosity shared by model railway enthusiasts inspire us to put in the long hours, late nights and attention to detail that make Ellis Clark Trains what we are today.

Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Meet Ellis

An unswerving dedication to the craft of model railways has seen Ellis steer the company from a one-man show to today's international business. ‘The Boss’ wears many hats, from creator to mentor and sometimes diplomat – all accomplished with good cheer in the confident toll of his jaunty baritone. Ellis is renowned for his passion for quality and customer service, but what else can we say about the man who started it all? A collector of railwayana, you may be aware of his enthusiasm for fine coffee, the fruits of which can sometimes be sampled as he makes music on a bewildering contraption that only he knows how to work. You may not know that as a Tolkien aficionado, he’s rumoured to have once gone ‘full Aragorn’ while recreating scenes from the literary classic in the wilds of Ilkley Moor. A man of many talents, indeed.

Meet Amey

Amey’s organisational talents are the priceless glue that holds it all together. An expert in problem-solving, multi-tasking and general common sense, Ellis’ partner in business and in life rules the office with an infectious laugh and questionable singing skills. Not that you’d consider questioning a former karate champion… A devotee of intense exercise and the equally extreme sport of knitting, Amey replenishes her zeal by exploring the nearby hills and dales with Albert (whom we’ll meet later); regardless of what fires are to be fought at work, the scene below Amey’s desk is one of complete serenity as a sleeping Cockapoo lies curled at her feet. Though Amey claims not to be a railway enthusiast, she’s been noted secretly filming trains outside our warehouse and at the nearby heritage railway – and so will surely soon fall to the Dark Side.

Meet Neil

‘Weathered by Neil Armitage’ has become an industry trademark for good reason, as Neil’s customisation skills are second to none. He can also make or fix pretty much anything, and it’s always fascinating to watch an engine enter one side of his workbench to emerge rejuvenated or transformed from the other – there is, perhaps, no tool that Neil can’t wield. An EM gauge modeller of some renown, Neil’s exploits are often accompanied by his version of tea, which to everyone else resembles milky sludge. A larger-than-life presence able to converse enthusiastically on almost any topic you care to name, in rare moments of silence the gentle hiss of his airbrush provides a comforting soundtrack as he perfects his latest masterpiece.

Meet Hannah

Hannah is our Assistant Officer Manager, a role she relishes with a vibrant sense of humour and a smile that’ll melt your heart. Flitting effortlessly from product development to customer service to dispatch – depending on the day – Hannah hones her creative leanings through the fine art of needlework and a blossoming romance with N gauge trains. Hannah loves exploring the Great Outdoors with her family, but even more adventurous is her passion for ‘wild’ swimming in the most unlikely of places. So should you chance upon a babbling brook or windswept tarn high in the Yorkshire Dales when Hannah’s not at work, you may just come to believe that mermaids really do exist…

Meet Holly

When you pick up one of our exquisitely detailed models and admire the artistry of its decoration, you’ll be holding a little piece of Holly in your hands. Responsible for the design of everything from logos to lettering to the miniature prints on the compartment walls of our carriages, Holly’s eye for detail and cleverness with colour ensure our products are fit for the catwalk. But as with all our team, her talents don’t end in the office; when not refining the shape or hue of a model’s Sunday best, she’s finding the back of the net as one of Skipton Town Football Club’s finest forwards. So whatever the task at hand, we can’t fail to score with Holly on our side!

Meet Dave

Already a familiar face in the industry, Dave joined us in 2022 and is our Pre-Owned Manager. His jovial enthusiasm and can-do perspective are accompanied by an encyclopaedic knowledge of anything on rails; what he doesn’t know about a model or a prototype probably isn’t worth knowing. Dave travels the country (and sometimes the world) in pursuit of the fantastic pre-owned models he brings back to Skipton and in the process has developed an intimate relationship with ‘Bluey’ – aka the company van. A founding member of the Modern Image O Gauge group, when not occupied with model trains he can be found at the driver’s desk of heritage trams and (man of taste that he is) indulging in the sport of ‘Tractor-chasing’ – or following class 37s far and wide, to the uninitiated.

Meet Angie

In charge of dispatch, Angie will tell you that she’s not really a ‘trainy’. But no model train alive has yet defeated Angie’s unique ability to snugly package it ready for its journey to a new owner. An accomplished chef, Angie loves to feed us, her super-sized chilli bowls and fiendishly good roast potatoes always hitting the spot with 16 hungry mouths. Angie’s easy-going calmness and worldly wisdom make her the perfect antidote to an often-crazy day, and when not safely seeing off our trains to all points of the compass, she likes nothing better than a stroll in the countryside with best pal Oakley, a chocolate-coloured member of the ECT Canine Club.

Meet Nikki

Nikki is our CAD engineer and as Production Lead inhabits our very own ‘Area 51’, where she’s responsible for transforming research into reality. Every curve, seam, joint, rivet, piston, wheel and gear that graces our models has run the gauntlet of Nikki’s drawing board, where she designs and redesigns in pursuit of perfection. Those of us not technically inclined are convinced there’s some dark magic at work, but she assures us it’s all accomplished with earthly technology and the fact that she’s just damn clever. Nikki’s extensive interests include art, electronics, computers, model-making, music, books, walking, and indulging in quality snuggle time with her cats. She’s basically interested in everything.

Meet Sam

Marketing boy-wonder Sam joined us in 2023 and masterminds our brand image and communications. From creatively picturing our latest products to perfecting the design of our packaging and merchandise, he skilfully orchestrates our various media channels from behind a bank of screens that wouldn’t look out of place in either Mission Control or a Bond Villain’s hideout. A devotee of mullet revival and the ‘Would you rather?’ game – as well as a seasoned video gamer – Sam’s arch-nemesis is the humble wasp. And while we may tease, we also secretly sympathise, as he sits by the window. So they’ll get him first.

Meet Faye

As Condition Manager, Faye is responsible for the testing, photography and listing of our smaller-scale pre-owned models, and her autograph has graced thousands of the little test cards you’ll find packaged with your purchases. Not that her railway duties end there, for come the weekend Faye can be found taming the furnaces of full-sized steam engines as a qualified Fireman on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Arguably the coolest customer on the team, unflappable Faye regularly sets records for the number of engines per day that pass her exacting inspection standards. This famous composure is only challenged by the appearance of any eight-legged creature –when it quickly starts to evaporate…

Meet Robert

Venture through our showroom door and it’s often Robert’s friendly welcome that will usher you into our emporium of model railway delights. His impressive knowledge of both our product range and railways past and present will ensure you’re entertained and will seldom leave empty-handed. A gifted modeller, Rob regularly wows us with one of his latest projects and is particularly skilled at ‘rescuing’ down-and-out diesels and restoring them to a new glory. His fetish for cake extends to being able to smell it from some distance and even through walls – not that he needs to worry about his waistline, as away from work Marathon Man Rob can be found enthusiastically clocking up road miles or yomping in the hills.

Meet Beth

Beth is our customer service specialist and the newest recruit to the ECT clan. A seasoned problem-solver and customer care expert, Beth says it was the lure of something a little bit ‘different’ that saw her step into the mad and wonderful world of models. We trust she’s not disappointed… Having learned to speak fluent ‘train’ in record time, whether it’s an order, a query or a niggle - Beth will sort you out. When not sorting you out, Beth enjoys embroidery (are you seeing a pattern here?), exercise, films, family time and dog time with four-legged friend Brian.

Meet John

Electronics wizard John joined the team in March 2024. Already renowned in the industry for pushing the boundaries of digital control (and especially DCC sound), John employs his unmatched knowledge of anything with a chip or a circuit in cutting-edge product design. He works closely with Nikki in ‘Area 51’ – though as they communicate in a language all of their own, they could be perfecting wormhole technology, for all we know. John’s love of all things model railways led to the love of a good woman when he met his wife Jenna amid the oil and steam of 5-inch gauge locomotives. A serial exhibitor of model railway layouts and an active YouTuber on the subject, John’s motto is ‘Eat Sleep Trains Repeat’!

Meet Sara

As our researcher, it’s Sara’s job to go digging – at least in a metaphorical sense! Sara’s special ability lies in scouring archives, roaming museums and clambering over preserved engines with her finest toothcomb in search of the truth. And then to dig deeper. Because as a manufacturer, we’d be lost without the facts, figures and foibles that enable us to bring a train to life in miniature. Rest assured we’re in good hands, as with her background in scientific research (we didn’t ask too many questions…) and dedication to detail, Sara misses nothing. Her easy charm also ensures success with human subjects when engaged in said digging…for how could you refuse? Not that you should be completely fooled by that sweet smile, for after hours (though presumably not at the museum), Sara morphs into the Queen of Scream with her fondness for the scariest of horror films. This dark side is tempered by a love for romantic fantasy, music and nature – a quirkily fascinating mixture that makes her not only thoroughly nice to be around but  an indispensable part of our development team.

Meet Andy

More about Andy coming soon!

Meet Albert

We’ve left ECT’s poster boy ‘til last, as he needs little introduction. Highly skilled at crumb-hoovering and being achingly cute, this playful teddy bear has a knack for brightening your day with one look from those big brown eyes. Albert’s ‘official’ duties include public relations and security – not that he’s remotely fearsome enough to actually enforce the latter. Unless, that is, you’re a plastic bottle, a cardboard box or any sort of vacuum cleaner attachment. Then you should be very afraid…

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