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Jouef HDI

Jouef HDI stood for Jouef Hobby Developments Ireland and stands for a failed attempt around 1981 by the French model railway manufacturer Jouef to create a low cost factory on the Shannon Industrial Estate in Ireland.

Background
And they would lose their wager! At which pint (or point even), the penny probably drops as the name Jouef comes to mind. Many folk will be aware of their manufacture for Mettoy owned Playcraft Railways of a cheap and cheerful range of HO scaled trains from 1961. From near the outset those first two North British designs were Playcraft's only prototypical British locos. The shunter came in clockwork or electric, the main line engine in eight wheeled electric drive complete with a chunky flywheel and remarkable performance for something that scalewise could have a lot of holes picked in it. Much later, each model donned rail blue, which versions are quite hard to find nowadays.

Playcraft petered out in the early 1970s. Jouef however was not done with the British Isles yet. In 1975, a rather different version of the rail blue D6100 appeared as a Jouef model with a new chassis. It was still a poor model and sold likewise. Jouef persevered and in 1977 a BR class 40 in rail blue arrived along with Mark Three coaches. The latter were scale length and very impressive. So was the 40 and since all were to 00 scale they sold. A green engine came along in 1978. The models lasted some years but around 1982 the French company was in difficulty.

At this point the tale really starts to sound like an April Fool. Enter Ireland's only ready to run manufacturer of model railways! In 1983 adverts placed by Hobbies Limited from Dublin showed a variety of 'Jouef Pattern' stock. Mark Threes were there. A CIE liveried 2nd class coach with tension lock couplers was clearly a continental repaint. Only one loco was present. This was a Belgian (green with yellow stripes said to be the livery) version of the German V200 (is the penny dropping?).

Despite a large number of Jouef catalogues beside me - showing Moroccan and Portugese models - save this one advert, I had no more knowledge of this loco until the turn of the millennium. A bit more about Hobbies was known. They continued to advertise and in 1986 a limited supply of green or blue class 40s appeared. The story became a little clearer when from 1988 the Southern Model Railway Company from Blessington in County Wicklow appeared advertising the 40s.

I bought one of these from Southern Model Railways brand new for £20 on the 30th December 1999. Something of a bargain one might think. Since 1996 Southern Model Railways has been Tony Reece at 4 Ely Close, Worcester, WR5 IJX. It was Tony and another friend Nick Gillman who took the windup even further when I was asked if I wanted a Jouef Warship for £14! No, no they must have been thinking of Fleischmann or Marklin. My doubts were answered when Tony duly supplied 825 Intrepid. The engine was moulded in rail blue and evidently was a passable attempt at the British engine.

On the base of the engine was moulded Jouef Made In Ireland HDI. The 40s say Made in France and it appears that French made components were assembled in Ireland. I had heard of Jouef Made in Ireland HDI before, for earlier in 1999 an Irish contact had furnished a strange and rather battered Bo-Bo diesel with the same inscription. It seemed to be the body without pantographs of a Jouef German outline E10 electric mounted on the French Monomoteur Bo-Bo chassis. This was 1306 of the opening vision.

A bit more of the story can be put together. Various folk had told me about the Irish Jouef factory. The adverts never made this 100% clear though the implication was that Irish manufacture was taking place. It is only seeing the Made In Ireland mould that confirms this. The contacts suggested that the factory was on the tax free Shannon Airport Industrial Estate.

In the end the answers came from Mr Bill Thursfield from whom a feature about Irish Jouef is appearing in the SNCF Society Journal for March 2000. Before Jouef had got into difficulties, a grant aided Irish factory at Shannon was opened in 1980 under the guise of Hobby Developments Ireland (HDI). MRC 8.78 p415 changes this to 1978! also see MRC 4.78 p220 a note about new factory to employ 400

Catalogues do exist and a surprising diversity of products made. Some 18 locomotive designs appeared. The BR Warship was product 8921 and seems to have been sold with crude repaints of continental coaches in BR livery. In origin it was a German V200. There was a further CIE loco being a repaint of the standard SNCY Y class four wheel diesel shunter.

The company was very shortlived. It folded in 1981. Some stock ended up in the sea but other items ended up with Hobbies in Dublin which Matt Ascough Jnr owned and thence later Southern Model Railways. (KEY Ascough note MRN 4.62 p122) In the very short life of the factory apparently stock was produced in tons and the general crudity of the product ensured long term failure.

Meantime I hope some more folk out there will feel inspired to re-create our opening dream. I had a good go on my layout deriving a lot of fun from operating the two North British engines in combined electric and clockwork mode. But has our tale really been a spurious nightmare? If a concern for scale accuracy is your bug, very definitely a nightmare for this is the April fool that came true!

word count 1196

-- on http://www.joueftrains.com/ireland.htm 15.6.04 and also in TCS News 6.2004 p18 by Dave Coxon

Jouef in Ireland This is based on an article by Bill Thursfield which was published in the March 1987 issue of the SNCF Society Journal

In 1979/80, Le Jouet Français (Jouef) was pursuing an aggressive export policy, with stock designs for many railway systems, amongst them British Railways. The recently introduced class 40 diesel locomotive was the first model in 00 (4 mm) scale. To this end, it was decided that somewhere nearer to Britain was needed for the production facilities, to cope with the expected demand and also to supplement French production with train sets for the British, Irish, German and Swiss markets. A grant from the Irish Government was enough to push them in the direction of Shannon, Co. Clare, where in 1980 Hobby Developments Ireland (HDI) was set up. Some support, the nature of which is uncertain, came from Framos, the Jouef distributor in Germany. A colour catalogue in English, as well as German leaflets, were produced by Framos and printed in Germany, showing the HDI range. This literature carried no mention of HDI by name - only the Jouef address at Rue des Archives and that of Framos.

Research into the factory has been made difficult, as the Irish Regional Development Agency has no records of this enterprise.

Click on the links for more details and photographs

Locomotives

There were two ranges of loco produced - one type used a simplified chassis from BB 17000/25521, with single-axle drive, usually powered by a Mabuchi (Hong Kong) can -type motor, though the design of motor bogie also allows fitting of the open-frame Jouef 3-pole motor. The bodies of these models were all unique to the HDI range and in most cases some trouble was taken to evoke the characteristics of the real locomotives.

The alternative range used bogies from the DB electric locomotives 110/139/182 listed in the 1978/79 main Jouef catalogue, but again with the Mabuchi motor and single-axle drive and the bogie adapted to take the Jouef 3-pole motor. The same body (a reasonable representation of a V200), is common to all. We assume that the SNCB, NSB and DSB versions were thought to look like Nohabs.

Also produced but not catalogued was a version of 8501, the SNCF Y51100 locotracteur, moulded in black with a white CIE logo embossed on the cab sides.

Coaches

These were very similar to the French Junior Series mouldings for the UIC Y Type coach with Y24 bogies. They had interiors, but from different mouldings with Jouef HDI Made in Ireland on the simplified underframe which had little detail. Versions in various European liveries (some imaginative) were catalogued. A model in CIE livery was not catalogued.

Wagons

Although there were a number of wagons featured in the Irish catalogue most were from the standard French range. The solitary item produced bearing Jouef HDI branding was a DB car carrier with Y25C bogies with a load of six cars.

Items from the standard French range were also produced; bodies for 020T, 67000, Re 4/4, DB 182, TGV, together with some assembly work of CC7107/NS1306, DB X-type and TEN T2S coaches, but details of this are uncertain.

Train Sets

They also made six standard train sets for the European market which were adaptable depending upon the preferred country; hence the same set could be purchased having a DB loco and coaches, or a SNCB loco and coaches or ÖBB etc.

The End

This sorry enterprise came to an end in 1981 with the collapse of 'Le Jouet Français'.

It could have been good, with rumours of a 2-6-2 Gresley V2 steam locomotive being tooled in 00 (4mm scale) for the UK market, but the models actually issued were not realistic enough even for children! The remnants from the factory (and there were tons of material) were purchased by Matt Ascough Jnr. - whose father was of King Charles Sports centre and M & R fame - for his shop in D'Olier Street, Dublin - Hobbies, later Hobbyphoto, which advertised items in Continental Modeller for Nov./Dec. 1983.

A couple of years later, Framos went bankrupt and, on Matt Ascough's retirement, the items came to the U.K. into the possession of Tony Reece of Worcester, (trading as Southern Model Railways) who sold the class 40 models as kits. He continues to market them at swapmeets and by mail. Some are complete models, such as BR Class 40 in blue or green, DB182, CC7107, NS1306 etc but mainly as spare parts, less expensive than those from France. His address is 4 Ely Close, Worcester WR5 1JX (phone 01905 351493). He will supply a list of spares on receipt of stamped addressed envelope, although recent enquiries suggested that the stock is now somewhat depleted.

The locomotive models are not common but do turn up at swapmeets in the UK from time to time. They are much sought after in France and can command a high price.

Any more information regarding Jouef in Ireland would be most welcome.

an update on above text in 12.2009

Jouef in Ireland This is based on an article by Bill Thursfield which was published in the March 1987 issue of the SNCF Society Journal

HDI

In 1979/80, Le Jouet Français (Jouef) was pursuing an aggressive export policy, with stock designs for many railway systems, amongst them British Railways. The recently introduced class 40 diesel locomotive was the first model in 00 (4 mm) scale. To this end, it was decided that somewhere nearer to Britain was needed for the production facilities, to cope with the expected demand and also to supplement French production with train sets for the British, Irish, German and Swiss markets. A grant from the Irish Government was enough to push them in the direction of Shannon, Co. Clare, where in 1980 Hobby Developments Ireland (HDI) was set up on the outskirts of Limerick. Some support, the nature of which is uncertain, came from Framos, the Jouef distributor in Germany.

A colour catalogue in English, as well as German leaflets, were produced by Framos and printed in Germany, showing the HDI range. This literature carried no mention of HDI by name - only the Jouef address at Rue des Archives and that of Framos.

Research into the factory has been made difficult, as the Irish Regional Development Agency has no records of this enterprise, but there is a short report from the August 1978 Model Railway Constructor here.

My thanks to Michael Moynihan for the following comments about Irish Jouef:-

'I remember the Jouef brand in Ireland in the year 1978-79, there were Television advertisements for the trains just before Christmas 1978 with the tagline from Shannon distributors. They also featured a layout on the "Late Late Show", this was a long running chat show on RTE television, every year in the run-up to Christmas, they did a programme called the Toy Show which featured children's toys. A layout with Jouef trains was featured in the 1978 or 1979 show, all I remember seeing is a locomotive and coaches in CIE Livery on the track.'

'They were never widely available in Ireland, Lima and Hornby were more readily available at the time, the only time I saw their Irish sets was in about 1980-81 in a second-hand hand shop in Cork, it was a black 040 French diesel with wagons with a CIE roundel. The price was IR £40.00 which was a very high price at the time.'

Click on the links for more details and pictures

Locomotives

There were three ranges of loco produced - one type used a simplified chassis from BB 17000/25521, with single-axle drive, usually powered by a Mabuchi (Hong Kong) can -type motor, though the design of motor bogie also allowed fitting of the open-frame Jouef 3-pole motor. The bodies of these models were all unique to the HDI range and in most cases some trouble was taken to evoke the characteristics of the real locomotives.

chassisThe alternative range used bogies from the DB electric locomotives 110/139/182 listed in the 1978/79 main Jouef catalogue, but again with the Mabuchi motor and single-axle drive and the bogie adapted to take the Jouef 3-pole motor. The same body (a reasonable representation of a V200) is common to all. We assume that the SNCB, NSB and DSB versions were thought to look like Nohabs.

Also produced but not catalogued was a version of 8501, the SNCF Y51100 locotracteur, moulded in black with a white CIE logo embossed on the cab sides.

All the above were HO scale but HDI also produced the OO scale Class 40 in green and in BR blue. These were produced from the French moulds and therefore had 'Jouef Modele Deposee Made in France' underneath although they were actually made in Ireland.

Coaches

These were very similar to the French Junior Series mouldings for the UIC Y Type coach with Y24 bogies. They had interiors, but from different mouldings with Jouef HDI Made in Ireland on the simplified underframe which had little detail. Versions in various European liveries (some imaginative) were catalogued. A model in CIE livery was not catalogued.

All the above were HO scale but HDI also produced the OO scale Mk3 coaches in BR blue and grey. These were produced from the French moulds and therefore had 'Jouef Model Deposee Made in France' underneath although they were actually made in Ireland.

Wagons

Although there were a number of wagons featured in the Irish catalogue most were from the standard French range. The solitary item produced bearing Jouef HDI branding was a long wheelbase DB double deck car carrier with Y25C bogies with a load of six cars.

Items from the standard French range were also produced; bodies for 020T, 67000, Re 4/4, DB 182, TGV, together with some assembly work of CC7107/NS1306, DB X-type and TEN T2S coaches, but details of this are uncertain.

Again HDI produced all the freight wagons from the French moulds and therefore had 'Jouef Model Deposee Made in France' underneath although they were actually made in Ireland.

CIE models

Paul Roche from Ireland has put together a very interesting web site featuring the HDI models of Irish railways (CIE) vehicles which were produced. Most of these are extremely rare and I am grateful to Paul for the information.

Train Sets

They also made six standard train sets for the European market which were adaptable depending upon the preferred country; hence the same set could be purchased having a DB loco and coaches, or a SNCB loco and coaches or ÖBB etc. Also contained a oval of track, a controller and the carriage washer.

Track

Track was also made in Ireland but so far I have only found examples of the medium radius curves.

Layout 2009

At the Train Collectors Society meeting in November 2009 Andy and Elaine Hyelman exhibited an Irish Jouef layout.

SJ Set

A Swedish Railways (SJ) version of the set is understood to be unique and was offered recently (2006) for auction on a Swedish auction site and sold for 5700 Krone (£422).

The description which accompanied the auction is translated as follows

'A unique Swedish starter set from Jouef. This is the only example that was made and the set was shown at the Nuremberg exhibition in 1980. It was to be made in Jouef´s factory in France (Ireland?), The set contains one loco and four coaches which have all simply been marked as Swedish. The coaches for example are only lettered on one side. The set contains one first class and three second class coaches. Also contains a track oval, power pack and carriage washer. The set was illustrated in an issue of Allt om Hobby (a Swedish hobby magazine) in the same year. It is still unopened and sealed. The box is unfortunately slightly damaged on one side. After the exhibition the set came to Sweden and was shown to the toy trade. The orders were few and it never entered production. This is now a unique opportunity to buy a very odd part of the Swedish model train history. '

My thanks to Stefan Svensson for the above information.

The End

This sorry enterprise came to an end in 1981 with the collapse of 'Le Jouet Français'.

It could have been good, with rumours of a Gresley V2 2-6-2 steam locomotive being tooled in 00 (4mm scale) for the UK market, but the models actually issued were not realistic enough even for children! The remnants from the factory (and there were tons of material) were purchased by Matt Ascough Jnr. - whose father was of King Charles Sports Centre and M & R fame - for his shop in D'Olier Street, Dublin - Hobbies, later Hobbyphoto, which advertised items in Continental Modeller for Nov./Dec. 1983.

A couple of years later, Framos went bankrupt and, on Matt Ascough's retirement, the items came to the U.K. into the possession of Tony Reece of Worcester, (trading as Southern Model Railways) who sold the class 40 models as kits. He continues to market them at swapmeets and by mail. Some are complete models, such as BR Class 40 in blue or green, DB182, CC7107, NS1306 etc but mainly as spare parts, less expensive than those from France. His address is 4 Ely Close, Worcester WR5 1JX (phone 01905 351493). He will supply a list of spares on receipt of stamped addressed envelope, although recent enquiries suggested that the stock is now somewhat depleted.

The locomotive models are not common but do turn up at swapmeets in the UK from time to time. They are much sought after in France and in good boxed condition can command a high price.

Any more information regarding Jouef in Ireland would be most welcome.

RNF has printed out a copy of the 1980 cat and has the JPG in Piccats