PECO

PECO is the collective trading identity associated with the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd, Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd, and the Pecorama site in Beer, South Devon. The business was established in 1946 by Sydney Pritchard, initially operating from a small cottage and serving the specialist railway-modelling market. It developed from a UK-focused supplier into an internationally distributed manufacturer of model railway track, electrical accessories, scenic products, kits, and selected rolling stock and locomotive products. The brand is particularly associated with model railway trackwork. Its portfolio covers a broad range of scales and gauges, including Z, TT:120, N, 00, H0, 0, Gauge 1, and several narrow-gauge formats such as N6.5/Nn3, OO9, H0m, O16.5, SM32, and G scale. This breadth allows PECO to serve beginners building compact layouts, experienced modellers creating detailed permanent layouts, and specialist enthusiasts working in narrow-gauge or garden-railway formats. Its two principal track families are PECO Set-track and PECO Streamline. Set-track is based on standardised rigid components, including curves, straight sections, crossings, and turnouts. The system is intended to simplify layout construction and is suitable for less-experienced modellers or users who prefer ready-planned geometry. Streamline is the more flexible and technically varied system, offering a wider range of turnout and crossing geometries, different rail profiles, and flexible plain track that can be cut and formed to suit a layout. Within Streamline, PECO has supplied products using different rail codes and electrical configurations for different modelling requirements and regional markets. PECO has also developed supporting product categories. PECO Trackside includes building kits and scenic accessories, while PECOlectrics identifies electrical control products such as point motors, switches, and related layout-control equipment. The group has owned or incorporated other recognised model-making names, including Ratio, Wills, Modelscene, Parkside by PECO, and Harburn Hobbies. These brands extend the group beyond track into structures, scenery, rolling stock kits, and hobby retail or distribution. Publishing is another important part of the organisation. Peco Publications and Publicity publishes Railway Modeller and Continental Modeller magazines, together with instructional books and booklets covering subjects such as wiring, scenery, baseboard construction, outdoor railways, and related modelling techniques. This publishing activity complements the manufacturing business by providing reference material and practical guidance to the same enthusiast community. Pecorama in Beer served as both a corporate base and a public-facing model railway attraction. It included model railway displays, a shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway. According to the available reference material, the tourist attraction closed in November 2025. The closure distinguishes the visitor attraction from the wider PECO manufacturing, publishing, and distribution operations, which remain the core of the brand's identity in the available information.

PECO originated in 1946 when Sydney Pritchard established a model railway business in a small cottage in the United Kingdom. The enterprise later became associated with several legal and operating entities, notably the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd and Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd. From its early specialist beginnings, PECO built a durable position in the railway-modelling supply chain by concentrating on components that are fundamental to nearly every layout, especially track and turnouts. The company expanded its product coverage across the principal scales used by railway modellers. Its catalogue came to include Z gauge, TT:120, N gauge, 00 gauge, H0 gauge, 0 gauge, Gauge 1, and a range of narrow-gauge formats. This multi-scale approach enabled PECO to serve both the British 00 market and overseas H0 and North American-oriented users, while also supporting specialist narrow-gauge and garden-railway communities. PECO's track business developed around two complementary systems. Set-track provided standardised rigid geometry intended to make layout construction straightforward. Streamline addressed more advanced requirements through a larger selection of turnout and crossing designs, multiple rail profiles, and flexible plain track. The company also supplied different electrical arrangements for turnouts, including Electrofrog and Insulfrog, before beginning the transition toward Unifrog from 2019. The Unifrog concept combined an electrically isolated metal frog with the option of electrical connection, reflecting the continuing importance of reliable control and compatibility in model railway layouts. The brand broadened beyond track through PECO Trackside scenic products and through PECOlectrics control equipment. It also became associated with a portfolio of other model-making businesses and names, including Ratio, Wills, Modelscene, Parkside by PECO, and Harburn Hobbies. These activities gave the group exposure to structures, scenery, kits, rolling stock, and hobby retail in addition to its core track systems. Publishing formed a parallel part of the organisation's development. Peco Publications and Publicity publishes Railway Modeller and Continental Modeller and produces practical literature on wiring, scenic modelling, baseboards, outdoor railways, and related techniques. These publications reinforce PECO's role as more than a component manufacturer: they provide knowledge and inspiration for the same customers who use its products. Pecorama, located in Beer in South Devon, represented the public and visitor-facing side of the organisation. The site featured model railway displays, a retail shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway. The available reference material records that the attraction closed in November 2025. PECO's continuing identity is therefore principally tied to its manufacturing, brand portfolio, publishing, and international distribution activities rather than to the former tourist attraction.

1. 2025Pecorama attraction closes

   The Pecorama tourist attraction in Beer, Devon, closes in November, including its model railway displays, shop, and Beer Heights Light Railway.

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2. 2019Unifrog transition begins

   PECO begins phasing out Electrofrog and Insulfrog turnout lines in favour of the Unifrog configuration.

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3. 1946PECO is founded

   Sydney Pritchard establishes the business in a small cottage in the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of the PECO model railway enterprise.

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A specialist, technically broad model railway supplier positioned around dependable track systems, multi-scale compatibility, practical layout-building support, and long-term service to enthusiast communities.

• PECO Set-trackModel railway track

  A rigid track system comprising standard curves, straight sections, crossings, and turnouts based on conventional British model railway geometry. Set-track is designed for straightforward layout planning and construction, making it suitable for beginners and for experienced modellers who want to avoid fabricating or extensively customising trackwork.

• PECO StreamlineModel railway track

  A more flexible track family for experienced modellers. It includes plain flexible track, multiple turnout and crossing geometries, and rail profiles suited to different scales, regional practices, and levels of modelling fidelity. The range has included code 100, code 83, and code 75 rail for 00/H0 applications, as well as specialist profiles for other gauges.

• PECOlectricsModel railway electrical equipment

  The PECOlectrics brand covers electronic and electromechanical accessories that support layout operation, including point motors, switches, and related control equipment. These products complement PECO's track systems by helping modellers operate turnouts and manage electrical functions on a layout.

• PECO TracksideScenic modelling

  A range of building kits and scenic items for model railway layouts. Products are available for several gauges, including O, OO, TT, and N, and are intended to provide structures and lineside details that complement track and rolling stock.

• PECO publicationsModel railway publishing

  Peco Publications and Publicity publishes Railway Modeller and Continental Modeller magazines, along with books and booklets on wiring, scenery, baseboard construction, outdoor railways, and other practical aspects of railway modelling.

• PECO rolling stock and locomotive productsModel railway rolling stock

  PECO has supplied a smaller selection of rolling stock and locomotive products in kit and ready-to-run forms, particularly for N gauge and OO9 applications. These offerings supplement the company's stronger position in track and layout infrastructure.

• 2025Closure of the Pecorama attractionStrategy

  Pecorama operated as a public tourist attraction as well as a site associated with PECO, featuring model railway displays, a shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway.

  What changed. The Pecorama attraction closed in November 2025.

  Aftermath. The visitor-attraction component ended, while the available reference material continues to describe PECO as a manufacturer and publisher of model railway products.

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• 2019Move from Electrofrog and Insulfrog toward UnifrogGeneration change

  PECO's Streamline turnout portfolio historically included Electrofrog and Insulfrog configurations, which used different approaches to frog electrical continuity and isolation.

  What changed. The company began phasing out those configurations and replacing them with Unifrog turnouts featuring an electrically isolated metal frog and an optional wire connection for energising it.

  Aftermath. Unifrog became the newer electrical configuration described for PECO turnouts, while the earlier systems were placed on a transition path.

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• 2025Pecorama tourist attraction closes

  The Pecorama visitor attraction in Beer, Devon, including its model railway displays, shop, and Beer Heights Light Railway, closed in November 2025. The closure concerns the tourist attraction and does not by itself indicate that PECO's manufacturing or publishing operations ended.

  Other
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• 2019PECO develops the Unifrog track configuration

  PECO began phasing out its Electrofrog and Insulfrog turnout configurations in favour of Unifrog. The newer design uses an electrically isolated metal frog that can optionally be energised through a wire connection.

  Product generation
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1. Peco