Maker record
Maison des Trains
La Maison des Trains was a Parisian model railway shop associated with the Vialard family. Listed in Meccano Magazine as Établissements Vialard in 1927, it adopted the La Maison des Trains name in the early 1930s. The shop sold electric train sets and railway modelling supplies, and later developed French locomotive models in 00 and H0 scales. These models used Märklin or Fleischmann motor chassis beneath bodies representing French steam locomotives, including types associated with the PLM, Est and Nord railways. The shop remained at the Passage du Havre until its closure in the late 20th century.
- Founded
- 1927
- Countries
- France
- Locations
- Passage du Havre, Paris, France
- Founders
- Vialard
The story of Maison des Trains
The Paris shop appears in Meccano Magazine advertisements in 1927 as Établissements Vialard, named for its founder. The La Maison des Trains name came into use in the early 1930s, as the scientific toy shop turned toward railway modelling. Located in the Passage du Havre, the business sold train toys and models and became a specialist in the smaller 00 and H0 gauges. Its name also appeared on the back cover of Loco-Revue from the magazine’s first issue in 1937 through December 1979.
After the Second World War, the shop developed French locomotive models using Märklin or Fleischmann motor chassis fitted with French-style bodies. Examples included models representing 241-A-1, 151-TA Est and 242-AT PLM locomotives. The Passage du Havre premises occupied several rooms reached from the passage by a narrow corridor. The shop closed in the late 20th century following demolition of the passage during redevelopment of the site, which took place between 1994 and 1997.