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Bachmann Europe Plc is delighted to have been chosen as licensee to produce the range of electric toy trains from the new television series 'Underground Ernie', launched this morning on BBC Cbeebies channel.
Bachmann have been granted the Worldwide rights to manufacture electric powered toy trains, train sets, tracks, buildings and scale figurines associated with the series that has been created by Joella Productions.
The series is aimed at children aged 3 - 8 and features the voices of former England footballer and now broadcaster, Gary Lineker, as Ernie and comedienne Janet Brown as Victoria.
Graham Hubbard of Bachmann Europe Plc said today "We are delighted to be associated with Underground Ernie and our challenge is to bring the superbly computerised animations into the toy and model shops as working electric trains. We began work a few weeks ago with the full support of our parent company, Kader Holdings Company Limited. Kader's toy division has pulled out all the stops for us and we aim to have the first set on the market before Christmas".
There are a number of trains featured in the series including Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Victoria. There are also visiting trains from other systems including Brooklyn (New York), Osaka, Paris, Moscow and Sydney. All are involved in a host of exciting adventures.
Graham Hubbard continued "We are acutely aware that we need to attract the next generation into the creative world of model railways. Underground Ernie gives us the opportunity to develop a complete system independently of our mainstream business and to attract future railway modellers. We have been excited by the enthusiasm of the creators, producers and other partners to establish Underground Ernie as way of educating children through the adventures that the characters are involved in. It will hopefully in the longer term teach them the benefits of public transport in our cities".
John Deery of Joella Productions said "Bachmann Europe are the perfect partner for us. We met with other toy train manufacturers but we felt that Bachmann not only had the skills necessary to make this happen, but also shared our vision in helping to make Underground Ernie a truly global brand".
The programme will be repeated at 1630 today on Cbeebies channel. Another episode follows tomorrow (26 have been made).
More info on Ernie and his buddies at the Underground Ernie website.