HORNBY | Simon Kohler Retires from Hornby

'Mr Hornby' In this month's episode of Signal Box we say thank you to 'Mr Hornby' as Simon retires from Hornby.
Over 40 years dedicated Hornby and many more to the model railway industry Simon Kohler will be enjoying retirement.
We have put together a collection of some of Mike's highlights from the past few years with a couple of message of thanks too.
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[@simonkohler8419]

Thanks Mike, greatly appreciated but can I make it clear please, I have not retired I have just left Hornby. As of last week I restarted my consultancy business, KOHLER coms that I mothballed when I returned to Hornby 5 years ago. I still have plenty of fuel in my tank and relishing my new challenges. Thanks again Mike, working with you has been an absolute pleasure. Good luck and best wishes. Simon

[@DeanPark]

Simon, all the best to you. Hornby will miss your experience. Lets hope they don't go backwards again now that you have left. You made countless of 'good calls' in your time, releasing some iconic product and while you cant control what the factory sometimes churns out, you were always open to constructive feedback from me and personally went out of your way to find the solutions to problems. Now that is someone who goes the extra mile for the customer. Bravo. Maybe see you up in Scotland sometime. Perth model rail show is always a good one! ;-) Cheers Dave

[@paupaupaupaupau]

So they fired you again? WTF?!?!😮

[@modeloco]

👍

[@CymruJedi]

Ngl it’s weird to hear the actual company he worked for say “whatever you may think of him” when talking about a former member of staff 😂

[@thedappercook]

Not necessarily unusual as not everyone is liked by everyone else. It's just how it goes.

[@ThePostie1971]

Yes was a strange thing to say

[@Monty13Transport]

He's done Hornby proud, but it's sad to see him go after all these years. Well done Simon! ❤

[@jamesmatthews8332]

Happy Retirement Simon. From us all at South East Essex Railway society. Which you gave us a fantastic evening about 5 years ago at our base at Leigh on Sea. As you know Paul Barnard and friends are some of our members. Look forward to seeing you at Warley in November.

[@Monty13Transport]

​@@jamesmatthews8332 Did you mean to put that as a comment?

[@ingridthurston-polkey653]

Hi Simon have a happy retirement watch all Hornby railway 🚃 thank you 🙏

[@Monty13Transport]

@@ingridthurston-polkey653 Did you mean to put that as a comment?

[@davidchilds9590]

Simon is a one-off. I was impressed by his consistent willingness to interact with enthusiasts , make his e-mail address known and respond to comments and suggestions. Enjoy your retirement, Simon (not that I see you putting your feet up!).

[@cazza1630]

I'm absolutely gutted, all we can say as a community is thanks for all your years you have have to the hobby and Hornby, you will be massively missed and good luck in the future

[@oldfella3919]

Wholeheartedly agree. Many thanks Simon

[@paulhughes5438]

Well said

[@sonsofanoraks]

Good luck Mr Kohler, have a happy and productive, relaxing retirement and thank you for all that you have done.

[@Kennedywh]

Thanks, Simon, for all you’ve done and especially for enabling Hornby to keep on doing better and better.

[@joshhemingwaythewlismetcalfe96]

Thank you for everything Simon, to bring the best model trains ever made. Happy retirement Simon. We love you.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

I sincerely hope that you get one of the many honours that the government can bestow on you. You’ve done MIRACLES for Hornby and railway modelling!!

[@The-UFS]

He was the face of what hornby has become and it's survival, he was the best at his job. He was a true inspiration in the railway modelling community.

[@melchestermodelrailway]

Only met Simon once at the Great Dorset Steam Fair - he was selling Hornby models and he sold me a class 71 loco at a knock-down price. I hope he has a long and happy retirement.

[@richardswiderski4985]

Sorry to see you go Simon good luck with your retirement enjoy it .

[@angieallen5933]

So pleased to have met you in February. I'm glad I got to the visitor centre before you retired and that I was able to talk to you. Your passion for Hornby and model railways in general really shows and you interact so well with Hornby fans and your fans. Enjoy your retirement.

[@missmanxee]

My dad and I are big steam and railway model enthusiasts and have really enjoyed watching all the hard work and dedication that both Simon and his amazing team at Hornby have shared with us inside the wonderful world of model railways on Hornby A Model world series on Yesterdays Channel that still continues to inspire and delight both young and old to this day thanks again Simon we will miss you 😢 and hope you have a fantastic retirement 👍❤️

[@richardbradley2335]

A Great British institution ...well done Simon and all that work there.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Congratulations on a fantastic career at Hornby and thank you everything you've done and I'm sure you will continue to do for our hobby.

[@Thatonesaddletank]

He's done a great job, Have a nice retirement man, you deserve it

[@Trainsandbits]

Thank you Simon kohler you are the best I love the work you have done I love all the locos I have gotten form Hornby I will miss you Simon kohler love from Harry Easton

[@saddler501]

Simon, thank You for all You have done for this hobby. TT120 is excellent. Your chat at last years Warley was Great and enthused both the Wife and Me. Happy retirement, but You will be missed. All the Best.

[@James-Akers]

Its such a shame to see you go Simon. You've done yourself and Hornby proud in your long service for the company and on the hand full of times I've managed to chat to you, you've always taken on my feedback for future projects I'd like to see Hornby produce, answering questions on projects you've had on the stands at exhibitions, and you have always come across as passionate for your job and your love for Hornby, and that passion has driven me to make me even more confident and passionate for this wonderful hobby we have. I wish you all the very best for the future and hopefully one day we may cross paths again James

[@riftwalkers165]

thanks for all the hard work you have done Hornby proud

[@myalfie]

Sad to see Simon go I watch the tv series and he seems a very nice gentleman, happy retirement Simon well deserved, Hornby will miss you!

[@mikesmith5139]

Thank you for an excellent video. May I wish Simon a very happy retirement. I really enjoyed the Hornby A Model World television programmes where Simon's enthusiasm shines through so brightly. Those programmes really helped me get back into model railways again.

[@davetevens5080]

Good luck in the future Simon wherever your travels take you. You will be missed but certainly not forgotten. Thank you Mr Hornsby 😊😊

[@peterlewis7292]

Simon what brilliant ambassador you are to Hornby and it's brands, you are a credit to the company. Many thanks for the TV series "Hornby a model world" a brilliant insight to the world scale modeling. As a viewer may we wish you a very long and happy retirement. Rgds, Peter.

[@newcastlerabbit]

Thankyou Simon. Thankyou for your passion for the hobby. Enjoy your retirement.😊

[@chairmakerPete]

Very decent chap, our Simon! Had the pleasure of discussing the TT120 range at Gaydon last year, and now I've got a lot of Hornby TT120 rolling stock and can't wait for more. Good salesman! Thank you, Simon. Hornby and the hobby will miss you 👍

[@modeloco]

❤ All the best Simon. Just really got to know him and yes, he has recently given me his full support, toggled with his passionate positivity and, his time, even as he jetted off to Germany. The news has been so swift after launching TT:120 and then, The Centenary Celebrations with Flying Scotsman, Dublo models, NRM, TV episodes & HM7000 as well. Now this news has come and leaves me slightly baffled but, hey ho. My next episode will include my own tribute in the form of a TT layout I’ve been hard at work on and that now sits perfectly between OO and N. The models are superb and run beautifully. Highest Regards Mr. Hornby x

[@modeloco]

Why do I hear the name George Waller echoing in my thoughts?

[@pemboart]

Happy Retirement Simon. Thank you for all your work in the industry!

[@bentullett6068]

Enjoy your retirement Simon. Thankyou for all you have done over the years.

[@stupat3]

What a great guy to listen to on all the Hornby tv series. Best of luck in your consulting business Simon. I’m sure you’ll make it as good as you did with Hornby. Stuart from Queensland.

[@alanturner1184]

Simon certainly got me interested in modeling after watching on TV be it from a sofa point of view. All the best Simon

[@chrisrichmond403]

Thank you for all you have done. Happy retirement & enjoy putting your feet up.

[@heatherhudson8694]

Love this guy, his passion, his motivation, his team!

[@LBSC70]

It's sad to see him retire

[@toniandbazduffy9703]

I never had the pleasure of meeting you Simon . I wish you all the best with your retirement. You will be a huge loss to Hornby and the model railway world . Thanks for all you done for this great hobby. Take care Basil from Ireland.

[@musoseven8218]

When I've been lucky enough to meet and talk with Simon Kohler, I always found him to be a kind respectful, knowledge chap, I'm sure that he'll be missed at Hornby and elsewhere. I remember talking to him about Triang TT and O gauge etc years back, his passion always shone through. He leaves the hobby and Hornby with a fantastic legacy of his ideas, achievements and successes. My first train set was a clockwork Triang Dock set, a circle of track, that aged 4, I laid end to end tight reverse curves so as to make the set more linear and railway like. That led to some 55 years of modelling. I always loved getting Hornby and Lima catalogues, day dreaming about the products and layouts within. And I loved H&M products, superb brand. Happier, simpler, times. I wish Simon well in his new endeavours💜👍✌️😊

[@Aaron-ShaMelBo100]

Best wishes Simon... keep in the picture for us on KZbin and Also at shows 😀👍

[@alantraish3368]

Good luck and thanks for your passion for turning it around. I met you at Ally Pally and willing to talk to anyone ( see if you can get those 12 wheeler pullmans back in the range before you go!) All the best and welcome to the club

[@TONYNORTHEASTERN]

I was very lucky to bump into Simon in a lift at the hotel in Milton Keynes. what i found is that he was kind enough to give up a few moments of his time just to talk to you. Thank you Simon, and all the very best in your retirement. best wishes Tony

[@AdiPullen]

I've always got on Simon kohler He alway had time for me He will be missed Thank you Simon kohler Keep safe ARP

[@EW00AW04]

Happy Retirement Simon! You are a legend thank you for giving me so many memories with your trainsets!

[@bevg9900]

What a joy it was to meet Simon when I brought Bruce Malcolm to the visitor centre on his birthday in January this year. He had supplied Simon with photos of Formula One cars to accurately replicate the team colours on the models and he was delighted to see Simon again and to introduce me to him. What a place you have built up there, it's fantastic and I wish you well, Simon , in your future and all the Hornby team as they take up the reins.

[@barrymctrustery5715]

Simon you will be missed met him twice what source of knowledge and information good luck and happy retirement.

[@speleokeir]

Wishing you all the best for your retirement Simon. Hope it's a long and happy one.

[@leecochrane4398]

Best of luck for the future Simon, thanks for for all the great ideas, forward thinking and imagination.

[@drevo50]

Good luck and best wishes from someone who has been buying Hornby products for 40 years. The jump in detail and quality over that time has bene immense and Simon has been a huge part of that. I just hope the team doesn't lose focus and continues to deliver to people like me. Can't help but wonder if he'll be back at some point...

[@stephencawley2330]

Will be sadly missed all the best for the future thx for the video

[@captaincool3329]

I'm saddened by Simon leaving, though I hope he's doing this to pursue the goals he has whatever they are. To me, he's been the Mr. Hornby fatherly mentor figure who's witnessed a lot and- with the greatest to respect to the rest of the Hornby team- I think everyone's going to feel a bit lost for a while as that knowledge, experience and recognition within the modelling community isn't easy for a company to replace, especially for a figure like Simon Kohler.

[@wamgoc]

Thanks Simon!👏👏👏👏

[@damianinCanadaTT-OO]

I already sent him a thank you and good luck email. Of course because it is Simon he replied. Great ambassador for the hobby

[@DamiensTrainsandTravels]

Happy retirement Simon, live in Wellingborough but the model shop in Northampton my local where he worked!

[@davidoldboy5425]

Have a great retirement Simon, your passion always shone through

[@ianstewartbrown5308]

Love the enthusiasm of the whole team,

[@madmatt34070]

Enjoy your well earned retirement, it has been a pleasure knowing you and having our chats at shows. I know if Dad was still here he would wish you the same.

[@hantercans]

Just thank you!

[@josephparkinson4054]

Dear Simon thank you for saving Hornby I live in Ireland Dublin and stay in Hearn bay next time will visit the museum thanks for everything

[@user-zs1km5wu1r]

Thanks for the new APT. worth the wait.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Simon always displays such enthusiasm about the model railway hobby and seems to be quite generous with his time to other enthusiasts. He really is "Mr Hornby" to generations of model rail hobbyists. I do hope he stays involved in the hobby in some way and we get to see him occasionally. Thank you Simon Kohler for your great contribution to the hobby, and we all wish you well.

[@drgfan35]

Best wishes Simon! And thanks from Victoria Canada. Model Rail,January 2005 I won Q&A Star Letter and voucher for Hornby goods for my piece on my pet foible “close coupling” mechanism. He took much valuable time with me and much appreciated emails back and forth. A credit to the hobby.

[@davidreith8282]

Hope you enjoy your retirement as much I have enjoyed making Airfix kits for the last 55years

[@andrewross3293]

It’s your time now Sir. I hope you have a happy and healthy retirement. You and your fine company have given millions of hours of pleasure to so many. Kind regards. Andrew.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

he did honby prod keep up the good work you all do thanks lee

[@dustinainsley8792]

Happy retirement Simon I wish you well in retirement and good health.👍👍👍👍👍

[@steveksi]

Nice. Happy Retirement.

[@renown16]

i have only been here since 2020 i am sad to see him go. Good luck for the future Simon

[@pauldyer3312]

Thank you, Simon, for what you have done sir it's going to take some very big shoes to fill your place.

[@kenstevens5065]

Thanks so much for all you have done for the hobby. You might find life a bit empty when you first leave but I'm sure you'll cope and I understand you'll continue working. A bigger model railway at home perhaps as well? Make sure it's Hornby and that you get a good ex staff discount. Frank Hornby must be looking down and proud of what you've achieved.

[@tonyslight826]

He will be so missed and such a nice guy not that i new him personally but from a response I got from him personally when I emailed Hornby about something I taken back by the friendly response I got from him I have always called him Mr Hornby and told him so when I heard of retirement and emailed him. I'm sure we all wish him the very best in the future. Well done some.

[@alanmaddern8171]

Congratulations on your retirement Simon well deserved hope you still keep modelling railways! 🚂🚂

[@EastMidlandsTrainspotting]

Good luck in the future Simon, hope you have a good retirement, we will miss you!

[@grahamthorpe904]

All the best, Happy retirement 👍🏼

[@JH-si9oe]

Have a long and wonderful retirement. I hope who ever takes over is as passionate about Hornby as you are.

[@kenfowler1980]

All the best Simon!

[@nhaslum]

Best wishes Simon!

[@tsr207]

An excellent face of the company - he certainly raised the profile of Hornby !

[@TERRYBARTLETTRAILMAN28]

I remember Simon Very well and saw him come visit Stewarts Lane Depot with the film crew for Hornby A model world series 2 which was the episode starter set it was for him to come and see Clan Line and chat telling him how much I love the hobby and which locos I have but also I met him again at Kings Cross Station when he was showing TT120 I like to say if he is still seeing the comments Thanks Simon it was an Honour in meeting you hope you will come back to Stewarts Lane again to see your favourite loco

[@nightowl606]

Legend in his own lifetime. Thanks Simon , enjoy your retirement. 4:23

[@Haymarket47]

I always found Simon to be positive and helpful. He understood his market well. Who’s driving the business now?

[@chrissharp5073]

Lucky enough to meet Simon at Golden Valley Hobbies when he was doing a Hornby promotion several years ago. Great ambassador for the hobby and Hornby. I had just gone over to DCC with a Hornby Select controller. Had an interesting chat plus he gave me a pressie.. a Hornby rerailer, still have it! Great guy. All the best in your retirement from Hornby but as my Dad used to say " you cant keep a good man down". So I dont think we will hear the last from Simon

[@Jimyjames73]

Yes Simon @6:52 - I've also got 'Smokey Joe' for which I've also had many years!!! - Good luck for the future!!! 😉🚂🚂🚂

[@russellbenton2987]

Well done Simon. Have a great retirement

[@nigel6446]

Happy retirement Simon. You will be missed at Hornby and by all railway modellers and rail fans.

[@grahammummery5732]

Thank you Simon, Hornby will not be the same without you!

[@Calvertfilm]

Simon, a true gent.

[@hurst1936]

Thank you, Mr Kohler

[@dekyras]

End of a great era for Hornby - hope Simon enjoys his retirement 👍

[@kevfrombutterley]

Retirement is the ideal time to build that dream layout! Enjoy 😊

[@nikmayes1995]

Thank you Simon, enjoy your retirement.

[@rogthedodge99]

Best wishes Simon

[@bethanyjames2372]

Happy retirement Simon ❤

[@Bainbridgetown]

All the best in your retirement Simon

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

All the best Simon you’ve been a face in the hobby that has given inspiration to the masses. Good luck for the future. I wish Hornby all the success for the future with a key piece of the team gone I’m sure the past influences and inspiration from Simon the rest of the team will help Hornby grow. Andy

[@paulbarnard5636]

Thank you Simon for all the help you have me send my Dear wife pass away you ask me if hornby could come over and flim hornby live steam We had a great day it help me so much it gave me some thing to grab hold of thank you again

[@kite7214]

Good luck, Simon.

[@Georgeconna32]

Best of Luck Simon. I am sure you will be missed.

[@The-UFS]

Happy retirement

[@Olivers-trains]

Sad too see him go, he is quite nice.

[@michaelwhiles5282]

Given the new DCC system and TT120 neither of which I think will survive Simons departure feels strange- pushed, jumped or something else ?

[@LNER985]

Lies the HM 7000 and TT will survive.

[@jonathanwebb8307]

Wishing Simon a very happy retirement