Bowser HO Scale Model Railroads &Trains

Bowser Manufacturing was founded in 1948 by Bill Bowser in Redlands, California. The company sold a very limited number of model train engines. In 1961, Bowser was purchased by Lewis and Shirlee English and the company was moved from California to their basement in Muncy, Pennsylvania. The company acquired Penn Line in 1963, and the model train business outgrew the basement, so the company moved to Montoursville, Pennsylvania in 1965.

In 1976, the couple's two sons, Lewis K. English Jr. and Lee K. English, joined the company and took over office, wholesale, and production management. The company has acquired several model railroad and related hobby businesses over the years, including Cal Scale, Cary Locomotive Works, and Pitman Motors. Lewis English Sr. passed away in 2012 at the age of 93. His son Lee currently heads the company.

Bowser currently manufactures model railroad products in HO scale and N scale. They also offer a line of HO scale streetcars, Cal scale detail parts, Cary detail parts, and Selley pewter accessories.

Quick Facts

• A portion of the Cary and Cal scale parts currently offered by Bowser are model engine details made from lost-wax brass castings
• Penn Line, which was acquired by Bowser in 1963, was the first model railroad manufacturer to use printer’s lead to cast locomotives
• Using printer's lead allowed for much greater detail than in the past. Bowser continued to produce Penn Line locomotives until 2011