Warbonnet

Turn Your Deltic Up To 11 With Our DCC Sound Decoders and Speaker Kit Have you bought one of our new DC/DCC ready Deltics and wish you went for the DCC sound version? Are you seeing videos online of the full Napier drone on our factory fitted sound models and fancy a slice of the action? Well, now you can upgrade for the full Accurathrash experience! With a sugar cube speaker already installed in your locomotive, you can now order our new "Accurathrash" EM1 type bass reflex speaker, and our full sound project pre-loaded on an ESU Loksound 5 decoder. So, you can fully retrofit your Deltic and it's all plug and play! We are also launching a Lokpilot 5 which is completely tailored for our Deltics, so you can access all the lighting an control functions with ease. Stock is due in approx. 4 weeks time, and once again we offer unbeatable value, with the Loksound 5 sound decoder priced at £100.00, the Accurathrash speaker is £14.95 and our Lokpilot is just £29.50. Pre-order here: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/dcc-decoders-and-accessories View the full article

Prefer stuff like this personally

Our NEM pockets are at the correct NEM height (we double checked after too!) so we were puzzled by that. Still, second best loco ever on his leaderboard. We'll take that. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Great to see them landing on layouts and in collections. They're selling fast, so if you fancy some, now's the time to act: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons Cheers! Fran

With production of our first run of our hotly anticipated Class 37s underway, it's time to reveal the first sample of our Class 37/7 tooling. This forms the basis of the forthcoming Heavy Tractor Group (HTG) limited edition model of their locomotive, Class 37/7, no 37714 and a glimpse at our future. The model was presented to the HTG for appraisal and checking over ahead of decoration samples which will arrive later this year. It also showcases our thinking for their second production run of the Class 37 project, after the first production run of Class 37/0, modernised Class 37/4 and 37/6 begin to arrive in stock later this year. The Class 37/7 will be forming part of an extensive run two of the English Electric icons which will be announced later this year, along with other variants of this popular class. A limited edition model of 37714 was essential as the real locomotive formed a large basis of the initial research for our Class 37 project, and producing a model in its Railfreight Metals sector livery as per service condition seemed a fitting tribute. Fans of the machine in preserved machine can replicate it in its preserved guise too, with the optional “Cardiff Canton” nameplates being available in etched format in the detail pack, but not printed on the locomotive body sides. During May, we were lucky to visit the Great Central Railway at Loughborough to visit the locomotive, meet HTG officials, and introduce the model to the real locomotive. As per any pre-production model, small tweaks are required, but overall the model is shaping up to be the most accurate rendition of the Class 37/7 heavyweights in model form to date. Speaking about the model, Graham Hubbard of the HTG stated; “We are honoured to have helped Accurascale with the development of the 37/7 for their superb range of locomotives. The levels of detail are truly excellent and the model truly is a small version of the real thing! "We cannot thank Accurascale enough for their amazing support for us ,with the limited edition model of 37714 ,will see not only 37714 but also D6700 secure for the future." Our Senior Project Manager Gareth Bayer explained the significance of the model and the future of the Accurascale Class 37 range; “We were keen to get the Heavy Tractor Group on board for the Class 37 project, as their locomotive sports a number of features that a rare on preserved examples but common on the fleet as a whole, especially on the post 1990 fleet. Happily they very graciously allowed us to borrow 37714 on a number of occasions, for 3D scanning, measuring - inside and out - and sound recording, and all of these surveys contributed heavily to making our first run of models as accurate as possible. “The 'heavyweights' are a particular favourite of mine so it has been pleasure to work with the HTG to create what we think is the definitive model of this distinctive Class 37 sub-type. The group's exclusive edition of 37714 is also the perfect taster for our second run that will introduce many all-new variants, including several never before tooled, to the mix. “As with our initial range, this exclusive will correctly match the configuration of the real thing, including double riveted roof, plated bodyside windows and steps, welded replacement long range fuel tank, single piece nose grilles, windscreens with toughened middle window only, and the correct style of cab interior.” As you know, sales of the Accurascale Class 37 have been very strong, with our website sold out on our direct sales (except for new exclusive 37 402!) and several retailers now selling out on pre-order too. The demand for the HTG limited edition of 37714, which is strictly limited to 504 pieces has been similarly strong, with stock rapidly depleting. This locomotive will be in stock in Summer 2023. Be sure to keep an eye on our website for run 2 of the Class 37 later this year, and visit the HTG site to purchase your limited edition model of 37714, available both in DC/DCC Ready and DCC sound fitted guises: https://www.heavytractorgroup.org/shop View the full article

Nice to see the magnesites in action on Barrow Street!

Hi everyone, We have begun shipping these out and they're now in stock! Order yours here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/exclusive-irm-buses/products/cie-forklifts Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Great news! The Magnesites are now in stock and being dispatched to customers as we speak. Ordered yours yet? https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons Cheers! Fran

Thanks guys, a truly great day here after a long, hard slog. The team that worked on it put their heart and souls into it and it will show. Our CAD man is especially buzzing today. I might even have a celebratory Makky Ds this evening while others soak up the plaudits Cheers! Fran

We've published some delicious decorated samples of our forthcoming Class 37s on social media in recent weeks. In the meantime, we have been working hard behind the scenes to progress the project and we can now give you a full update on where we are at. Firstly, for those of you who have missed the decorated pictures; just drink this awesomeness in. Don't they look pretty? Apart from some fit and finish issues which always occurs with pre-production samples, and naturally will be remedied on the model that enters traffic on your layout, our EE Type 3s are looking very tasty indeed. Samples of the four main types we are producing in the first run (The first 5 built, 37/0 with Scottish 'car' headlamp, 37/6 and modern Class 37/4) as well as Accurascale Exclusive 97301 have all arrived, been tested and feedback was sent to the factory for subtle tweaks and improvements. Some areas we have identified for improvement are on the roof, which requires better fit and finish to accurately represent this crucial area. We are also tweaking the horn grilles as they just don't quite cut the mustard. We have also further enhanced the fan grille and other areas since these decorated samples were made. Thanks to the eagle eyed viewers and feedback gained from RMWeb regarding the position of the Scottish car headlamp, and further work with the factory to reduce its size, we are making improvements in this area too. The printing and paint in general will receive enhancements too, as evidenced on the sector Class 37s with their poorer paint coverage in some areas. Again, the models you receive will be spot on. On our original batch of EE Type 3's, D6700-6705, require some additional work around the connecting doors on the front of the locomotives, as we are not happy with the fit and finish here, and other small areas that require improvement. However, once implemented, they will form a cracking model of one of the nations most favourite diesel locomotives. We knew our Class 37s would be very popular when we first announced them at Warley in 2019. However, we did not know just how popular they would be. It seems our attempts at producing the definitive model of these icons have proven to be a massive success among modellers. So much so, that to avoid swamping the factory and to ensure delivery in a timely fashion, we will now have to batch produce them and deliver the entire first run over three deliveries. The delivery schedule is as follows: Batch 1 is the Scottish Headlamp 37/0s and modern 37/4s. These are now in production and scheduled to ship at the end of August from China, arriving in stock in mid-October. Batch 2 is the 37/6s and the Yellow 97/3. Planned shipment end of October, arriving in stock in mid December. Batch 3 is the Blue/Green 37/0s. Planned shipment end of December, arriving in stock in February 2023. Naturally, we would've loved to deliver these in chronological order of when they were first announced, but the tweaks required per sub class dictate the delivery schedule now, with the first batch the easiest to progress into production while further tooling work continues on the Class 37/6 and the blue and green Type 3s. The good news is that production is now underway, with injection moulding of batch 1 complete and painting is about to start. Of course, with complete sell out on pre-order, you may have a feeling of missing out. However, we have some good news! A previous modern Class 37/4 was ear-marked for a special commission that was not proceeded with. So, we have added it to our "Accurascale Exclusives" range instead, and now offer it for sale to you direct. Welcome to 37402 in the retro classic livery of BR Blue Large Logo livery. Outshopped by Loram in February 2016, 37402 was the second member of the Direct Rail Services Class 37/4 fleet to be returned to the BR large logo scheme, after 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, which had led the way after being repaired and repainted into this iconic paint scheme by the SRPS at Bo’ness in late 2013. 37402 was released from Derby wearing non-standard numbers and with its Stephen Middlemore nameplates still in their ‘Compass’ livery position below the radiator, although these were fortunately both fixed at Kingmoor before the locomotive entered traffic a few weeks later, going straight into action on the Cumbrian Coast loco-hauled services between Preston, Barrow and Carlisle. 37402 became a regular on these popular workings and while they ended in May 2018, DRS had plenty of employment for its expanding fleet of heritage liveried Class 37/4s. This included Network Rail test, saloon and railhead treatment trains, the Greater Anglia ‘short set’ passenger services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, nuclear flask, engineers, railtours, stock moves, ‘thunderbird’, route learning and other duties. By the end of 2018 the sight of pairs of large logo 37/4s either top and tailed or working together became almost commonplace all over the network. The detail configuration of this locomotive is identical to our other large logo ETH-fitted ‘tractor’, 37409, with the main spotting features of these DRS era machines being the revised LED tail lights, multiple working socket on the nose, toughened windscreens, cab step and door kickplates, and – for those machines that previously wore Compass branding – the plated central window on both sides of the body. Notably though, 37402 was provided with a large Eastfield ‘westie’ logo in the classic position, an embellishment never given to 37409. This locomotive will arrive in batch 1 in October, so make sure you pre-order yours to avoid disappointment. Considering how the rest of the Class 37 range has sold this will not hang around for long. Order here! View the full article

Hi everyone, Just a wee Magnesite update. Turns out the pallet was too tall for the connecting air freight flight from London to Dublin (smaller plane) so it had to be trucked instead. They will arrive with us now on Friday and dispatch will begin early next week. We apologise for this unforeseen slight delay, but they are mighty close! Cheers! Fran

Hi George, That's an incorrect assessment I'm afraid. I'm off back for a lie down after reading the post itself. I'm still speechless. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, On the back of yesterdays discussion, here is a look at the NIR Mark 2s. Please move discussion on the NIR models to that thread and keep this one for the BR models. Cheers! Fran

Yes.

Following the news that our brand new magnesite wagons are complete and will be in stock from next week, we can now reveal the decorated samples of our first IRM coach project, the NIR Mark 2B and Mark 2C Enterprise coaches. These samples were first displayed at the Bangor show in late April and since then have been under assessment by the IRM Engineering and Project Management team. As previously explained, we insist on decorated samples of all models before production as an indicator of correct livery shades and details. Decorated samples are usually suffering from poor assembly and livery application, with fuzzy elements and poor masking before it is perfected for production. The NIR Mark 2 samples are probably the worst we've seen so far for fuzzy lines, so please excuse this and rest assured the final models will be much, much better! These samples are also lacking some interior and exterior parts, so once again please excuse this. These models are missing things like headrests, partitions and interior handrails in some places, while exterior is missing the brass contact strips in the bogie for interior lighting (hence bowed bogies). Glazing and general fit and finish will also be improved on the models you receive upon delivery. The drivers window on the driving car is also being further refined. Okay, so that's the drawbacks taken care of (and all will be sorted on the models that will glide along your layouts!) so let's move to the strong points. Once again we have gone to town on tooling, with the unique to NIR generator car, driving car and buffet all modelled as per the prototypes, allowing modellers to model a complete Enterprise train. We even take it further, with correctly widened bogies for Irish track gauge over their BR counterparts. Fully detailed interiors are also present, right down to the diesel generator in the generator coach! There is also full bespoke interiors in the buffer car and drivers control desk in the driving car. Full interior lighting is available and controlled by magnetic wands, allowing you to turn on and off the lighting, as well as the head and tail lights in the control car (which will also have cab light, and a DCC socket if you want to control your directional lights via DCC than a wand) We are pretty excited about them as you can imagine, and production will commence in the coming weeks, keeping us on course for a Q4 2022 delivery date. While these samples are very rough, they do give us all a nice flavour of what we can expect from these models when they arrive. Overall, we're petty pleased with them at this stage! Our Mark 2 range has proven very popular indeed since we first announced them with now over 50% of the production run already sold out on pre-order. Given the popularity and collectability of NIR models, and that these will include the first bespoke NIR tooled models ever produced, they will likely appreciate in value and become collectable for many years to come. Prices for all this awesomeness is €189.99 per triple coach pack, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging to Ireland and the UK. Our RPSI coach pack will also arrive at this time, with the triple pack priced at €219.99 with proceeds going to the RPSI for railway preservation efforts! To help spread the cost ahead of arrival, you can now select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. Just follow the simple steps and you will have flexible payments set up in no time. So, if you want to recreate those classic Enterprise trains of the 80s and 90s, when Hunslets, 111s and NIR blue 201s reigned supreme on international trains between Belfiast and Dublin, not to mention railtour trips across Ireland, make sure you get your pre-order in right here before they sell out! View the full article

Sorry, you’re quite correct. There were 3 Mark 2Bs, two of which became mini buffets and 4109. If anyone has a pic of 4109 in service please share it! Have amended my post and will sit on the naughty step. The project manger has given me a right earful. Cheers! Fran

Hi Noel, The NIR variants of these Mark 2 coaches ran on CIE metals daily every day of their service careers, so perfectly part of the Irish scene and equally at home in our range. They also ran on railtours across the country, not to mention rugby match specials to Landsdowne Road, a direct service for the ferry at Dun Laoghaire and of course, multiple daily Enterprise services. They bring a lovely dash of colour to the orange and black scene. And also, after bringing out lots of CIE centric models, it was great to be able to serve fans of NIR with models for once, the first bespoke models for NIR ever. We have a large percentage of our customer base north of the border and they seem very happy to see these. Also, with the sky high prices NIR liveried locomotives currently command, perhaps the demand is not as limited as you may believe? Those locos need something to go behind them too. They also carry what is probably the best liveries that these coaches wore, but that's perhaps a biased personal opinion. Further Irish outline coaches will be forthcoming in time too, but patience as always, is required. Cheers! Fran

erm, they will have though? https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/mark-2-coaches We will have an update on our NIR variants in the next couple of days. Cheers! Fran

Following hot on the heels of our Mark 1 Suburban announcement earlier this week, and with the modern Mark 5 coaches in production and progressing nicely, it is now time to bring you an update on our other hotly anticipated coach project, the Mark 2Bs. As you can see, decorated samples have arrived! As previously explained, we insist on decorated samples of all models before production as an indicator of correct livery shades and details. Decorated samples are usually suffering from poor assembly and livery application, with fuzzy elements and poor masking before it is perfected for production. The Mark 2Bs samples are probably the worst we've seen so far for fuzzy lines, so please excuse this and rest assured the final models will be much, much better! These samples are also lacking some interior and exterior parts, so once again please excuse this. These models are missing things like headrests, partitions and interior handrails in some places, while exterior is missing the brass contact strips in the bogie for interior lighting (hence bowed bogies) and etched water filler flaps that will be provided in a polybag for 1970s modellers who wish to make their coaches in “as built” condition. The the Western Region destination boards and frames are also not fitted but once again will be included in the detail pack. We also want to improve the glazing and general fit and finish. Okay, so that's the drawbacks taken care of (and all will be sorted on the models that will glide along your layouts!) Well, the colours are looking good and now those interiors really pop when some paint has been applied. We went to town on them with our usual "The Accurascale Way" mantra and it is really starting to show. We are pretty excited about them as you can imagine, and production will commence in the coming weeks, keeping us on course for a Q4 2022 delivery date. While these samples are very rough, they do give us all a nice flavour of what we can expect from these models when they arrive. Overall, we're petty pleased with them at this stage! Our Mark 2B range has proven very popular indeed since we first announced them. Prices for all this awesomeness is £59.99 per coach, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging across the UK from Accurascale direct. If you order two or more coaches direct from Accurascale, you can now select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. You can also order them from your preferred local Accurascale stockist, now with over 130 outlets across the world and growing all the time! Pre-order by clicking here. View the full article

Following hot on the heels of our Mark 1 Suburban announcement earlier this week, and with the modern Mark 5 coaches in production and progressing nicely, it is now time to bring you an update on our other hotly anticipated coach project, the Mark 2Bs. As you can see, decorated samples have arrived! As previously explained, we insist on decorated samples of all models before production as an indicator of correct livery shades and details. Decorated samples are usually suffering from poor assembly and livery application, with fuzzy elements and poor masking before it is perfected for production. The Mark 2Bs samples are probably the worst we've seen so far for fuzzy lines, so please excuse this and rest assured the final models will be much, much better! These samples are also lacking some interior and exterior parts, so once again please excuse this. These models are missing things like headrests, partitions and interior handrails in some places, while exterior is missing the brass contact strips in the bogie for interior lighting (hence bowed bogies) and etched water filler flaps that will be provided in a polybag for 1970s modellers who wish to make their coaches in “as built” condition. The the Western Region destination boards and frames are also not fitted but once again will be included in the detail pack. We also want to improve the glazing and general fit and finish. Okay, so that's the drawbacks taken care of (and all will be sorted on the models that will glide along your layouts!) Well, the colours are looking good and now those interiors really pop when some paint has been applied. We went to town on them with our usual "The Accurascale Way" mantra and it is really starting to show. We are pretty excited about them as you can imagine, and production will commence in the coming weeks, keeping us on course for a Q4 2022 delivery date. While these samples are very rough, they do give us all a nice flavour of what we can expect from these models when they arrive. Overall, we're petty pleased with them at this stage! Our Mark 2B range has proven very popular indeed since we first announced them. Prices for all this awesomeness is £59.99 per coach, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging across the UK from Accurascale direct. If you order two or more coaches direct from Accurascale, you can now select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. You can also order them from your preferred local Accurascale stockist, now with over 130 outlets across the world and growing all the time! Pre-order by clicking here. View the full article

Hi everyone, Half of the run is gone already. Thank you to everyone who has ordered so far! Grab yours here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/exclusive-irm-buses/products/cie-forklifts Some pallet loads to go with them: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/loads/products/fertiliser-pallet-loads-6-pallets-of-fertiliser-bags Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, A few more A Classes have been released back into stock as they were no longer required for warranty back up. Not many, so feel free to grab as soon as possible! https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/a-class-locomotive/availability_in-stock? Cheers! Fran

Our latest announcement sees us tackle the star of 'wish lists' across the land. The people movers of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The unsung heroes of the Mark 1 family and of course, the perfect bedfellows for our forthcoming Class 31 locomotives. Welcome everyone, to the 56ft 11" Mark 1 suburban coaches, by Accurascale. The latest addition to our "Moving Britain" range of coaching stock! We've a much more in depth history file on the real Mark 1 Suburban coaches in our "History File" blog which you can read here. Almost 600 of these coaches were built by BR between 1954 and 1956 on the short 56ft 11" frame to provide suburban coaching stock across a variety of BR regions. Sampling a wealth of BR traction throughout their lifetime, from various types of tank engines on the Midland, to N7s, N2s, L1s, B1s and more on the Eastern Region, to most types of Type 2 diesels and more throughout their lifetimes. Of course, they were almost synonymous with Brush Type 2s on the Eastern Region, and when we decided to push ahead with our Class 31 models in OO/4mm, these classic coaches seemed very much the "no brainer" to compliment them. Debuting in the distinctive Carmine Red with black ends in 1954, it wasn't long before the transition to maroon touched these forgotten children of the Mark 1 family, without lining initially before some received these additional embellishments. From 1966 all over rail blue, including coach ends became de rigueur of the suburban fleet, mimicking non intercity DMUs of the day. This latter livery was particularly associated with the Eastern region, behind Brush Type 2s and Baby Deltics, and seen alongside Brush Type 4s and the mighty Class 55 Deltics (both of which could also be seen hauling these coaches on empty stock movements in the Kings Cross area. They last operated a service train in 1977. Our research odyssey for these distinctive members of the Mark 1 family saw us visit the North Norfolk Railway who very kindly facilitated us for two survey trips in late 2020 and mid 2021. Their assistance during development has been invaluable, so make sure you check them out when you're in the area. Full access to both the exterior and interior was granted. Of course, doing these coaches justice is the "Accurascale Way", we have gone to town on the full set of exterior and interior, not to mention covering all configurations of these coaches to allow you form a prototypical rake. One element we are particularly proud of, and one that was forthcoming in customer feedback across the industry, is granting access to the interior in an easier fashion to add passengers and further detail. This is essential considering the increasing detail being added to models. So, with that challenge on board, we have come up with a fully removable magnetic roof! Of course, with a removable roof you need a beautifully detailed interior, right? So, we have gone to town on the interior too, with full interior detail which matches each coach configuration, including etched metal luggage racks and full interior lighting. Because why not? Of course, the exterior is dripping with detail too, with separately applied door handles (and there are many of them!) as well as intricate underframe detail and of course beautiful, free rolling bogies! All six designations have been tooled and covered, five of which have different exteriors and interiors.. From about 1965, patches were added to the bottom of the bodies to rectify the effects of corrosion, so naturally we have also covered that repair for each type. We have also covered both ventilator spacings on the roof, all three types of ventilator and on the BT, we have catered for full height periscopes, half height periscopes and removed periscopes! We go that extra mile to give you that extra smile after all. As with all Accurascale models, the specification list is extensive: Scale length of 227.67mm over headstocks, width of 36mm across body at waist. Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd radius set-track). No visible moulding ejection marks or pips. Die-cast metal chassis with plastic body. Target weight minimum of 135g, to a maximum of 150g. Accurate BREL BR1 bogies, with separate detailing where appropriate. Wheels should be blackened RP25-110 profile for 00 gauge, set into blackened brass bearings. NEM standard coupling sockets, with mini-tension lock couplers with a kinematic close-coupling system. With no gangways, the distance between carriages should be as near to prototypical as possible for R2 curves. Body, interior and underframe are handed, therefore CAD should account for this with fitting being only possible in one axis. Scale width wire handrails, water pipes, passenger communication gear. Separately fitted door handles and lamp brackets. Headstock pipes and cabling included in accessory polybag for customer fitting. Fully detailed die-cast underframe with vacuum cylinders, battery boxes, dynamo and piping applied separately. To feature accurate ‘L’ shaped bracing struts on underframe. Easily removable roof, to allow access to interior for customer detailing. Accurate interior layouts, with detailed seating and luggage racks. (Decorated where appropriate) Interior bulkheads to feature picture frames, an important interior feature of this stock. Full guard’s compartment area detailing where appropriate, including use of etched metal detailing. Prism free flush glazing. Interior coach lighting with stay-alive capacitor, pick up from one bogie and a reed switch to control on/off via magnetic wand. Separately fitted roof vent types, set in correct locations. That's a lot of detail, but it matches our philosophy. After all, it doesn't cost extra to have the detail there, but it certainly adds value to the model you get for your money. We want to create the definitive of each model we produce, and these commuting stalwarts are the latest subjects to benefit from "The Accurascale Way". Want to see them in action? Then check out this launch video with our friends from Hornby Magazine. So, as you can see, we have (so very hastily/poorly assembled) first samples in hand, and are currently assessing them before feeding back to the factory. Improvements will be made in general fit and finish, areas such as brake lines and some underframe details require further finesse too. However, overall they are shaping up very nicely indeed. Multiple running numbers in both BR Carmine and BR Blue make up the first run, with runs in BR Maroon to follow later. Delivery is anticipated for Q3 2022 with decorated samples due later in the year. Prices for all this awesomeness is £64.95 per coach, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging across the UK. If you order two or more coaches direct from Accurascale, you can also select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. You can also order them from your preferred local Accurascale stockist, now with over 130 outlets across the world and growing all the time! Browse the range and pre-order yours today by clicking here. View the full article

If they're rowing a boat through those waves they deserve everything they get! (sorry, couldn't resist) One such brainwave re taxation is to tax SUVs more as they take up more road space. Sounds silly TBH, and a tax by KM system will be a lot fairer.

British Railways’ creation of standard Mk1 non-gangway stock in 1954 was something of an enigma in comparison to the creation of the ‘standard’ Mk1 gangway design, especially considering that entirely adequate (and in some cases, superior) pre-nationalisation non-gangway stock, even as late as 1953, was still being produced. The Great Western Railway (GWR) had the Collett sets, the LMS had the Stanier sets and the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) utilised not just Gresley and Thompson designs, but Quad-Art and Quinn-Art sets. Perhaps even more surprisingly two underframe lengths were used, 56’ 11“ and 63’ 5”, in a combination of six different designations; Composite (C), Composite Lavatory (CL), Third (T), Third Lavatory Open (TLO), Third Open (TO) and Brake Third (BT) (although the withdrawal of Third Class as a designation in favour of Second Class in 1956, led to the more commonly referred to designations of C, CL, S, SLO, SO and BS for the non-gangway stock). The longer 63’ 5” underframe non-gangway stock found favour with the Southern and Western regions, as the entry to their London termini was unrestricted, while the shorter 56’ 11” stock was ideally suited to the more constricted curves of the suburban termini in North London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and it is this length of Mk1 stock that forms the subject of our newest coaching model release. A total of 596 of the short frame non-gangway vehicles were built by British Railways between 1954 and 1956, with construction taking place at BR’s Wolverton, Swindon, Doncaster, York and Derby works. The Brake Thirds and Thirds formed the vast majority of the stock built, being used across all of the BR regions and these were built to traditional designs of ‘suburban’ stock, along with the Composites and Third Opens, the former being supplied solely to the BR(M) and BR(W) regions and the latter to the BR(M), BR(W) and BR(Sc) regions. Compartments (or bays on ‘open’ designated vehicles) were designed to a nominal length of 6’ 3”, creating nine zones, but on the BR(E) region exclusive CL and TLO stock, the toilet compartments replaced a complete seating zone. In the composite vehicles, First Class compartments received an extra 3” of foot space, with the Third/Second Class compartments being stripped of 2” in length to compensate for this ‘luxury’, becoming the narrowest compartments in British Railways’ stock. First Class compartments had four-a-side seating with armrests; reduced to three-a-side with armrests in the Corridor Lavatory vehicles, while Third/Second Class compartments had continuous six-a-side seating, reduced to four-a-side continuous seating in the corridor Lavatory stock. A big feature of the non-gangway vehicle compartments were the six picture frames, three on one side, two on the other, that featured local regional scenes painted by an array of BR commissioned artists, along with a single mirror. By comparison, the open stock interiors featured two separated bays, arranged in a 3+2 seating arrangement, with six-a-side seating set against the bulkheads. Life for the Guards in the BT was never as comfortable as it was for their mainline colleagues; the Guard’s compartment being open, with no separate goods cage and just a small partition for housing the periscope to separate the Guard from the goods’ van. Externally, there were no major changes in design during the lifetime of the stock, but subtle differences in detail did arise, with different roof ventilator types and positions, end hand rail types, door hinges and vacuum piping arrangements at the coach ends all being observed, while the Western Region even went to the lengths of including small eyelets set into the coach ends to retain the coupling during slip coach operation; an operational use that had ceased to be practiced. From December 1963 onwards, roof periscopes were removed from the Guards’ compartments and the holes were plated over and in the same period, various longitudinal patches were welded to the bottom of the outer compartment panels to combat the spread of corrosion in that area particularly. The most obvious design difference related to the variance in ventilator spacing from the centreline that was associated with the 24 BR Derby built ‘Metrogauge’ Brake Second, Second and Open Second vehicles for the BR(M) Region that worked via the restricted bore tunnels from Kentish Town under St Pancras. To reduce the height from the rail and gain clearance under the tunnels, the ventilators were moved to 1’ 7” from the vehicles’ centreline and the Guard’s periscopes were slightly reduced in height, but this practice also seems to have spread to British Railways’ Doncaster Works as well, as all their non-gangway built vehicles featured wide roof ventilator spacing. From new in 1954, all non-gangway vehicles appeared in British Railways’ Carmine Red on the coach body, with black coach ends, but from 1956 BR Maroon was introduced, again with black coach ends; a livery that lasted until late 1966 when non-gangway stock began to appear in BR Rail Blue, with similarly coloured body ends. In the interim period, between 1959 and 1961, some of the non-gangway stock received lining to the maroon livery, a move led by the BR(M) Region in particular, although examples were noted across all regions, varying in body position between being directly under the window baseline, or by being shifted slightly lower on the body. In BR Departmental service, a number of ex-BT vehicles from BR(E) and BR(Sc) were converted to Freightliner Brake Vans during 1967, appearing in Freightliner Grey and of these, two vehicles were then converted to BTU Tool Vans, appearing in Engineers Yellow with black chevrons on the lower body. While the most familiar images of non-gangway stock date back to the matched rakes of identical BR Blue stock hauled by Class 31 locomotives out of Kings Cross on the former GNR lines, matched rakes were not always the case, especially at introduction in 1954. Marylebone’s Outer Suburban services, out to High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Brackley and even the 69 mile journey to Woodford, were formed as 6-sets with Gresley & Thompson carriages and initially only the Mk1 BTs were allocated into these sets as a replacement. Over at Kings Cross and Moorgate, the intensive Inner Suburban services out to Hatfield and Hertford were formed from two Quad-Art sets, which could not be split and so from the outset, Mk1 non-gangway 5-sets were formed, a formation of BS-S-S-S-BS that actually meant 150 fewer seats than the Quad-Art sets. For the BR(M) St.Pancras-Moorgate-St.Albans/Luton services, the branded Metrogauge reduced height 6-sets comprised of BT-T-TO-TO-T-BT were needed to negotiate the reduced height St.Pancras tunnel, as well as to cope with the intense curves. Improvements to all services were made through the late 1950s; a Second was introduced to the Marylebone service in 1956, and capacity was increased on the Kings Cross Inner Suburban services in the early 1960s by dropping a BS and substituting it for an S, resulting in S-S-BS-S-S and then S-S-S-BS-S-S formations. In the same period, the Dunstable Branch was featuring short BS-S 2-sets which could be doubled up at busier periods to cover capacity. Elsewhere, Kings Cross Outer Suburban/Secondary services extended out to Royston and Cambridge, as well as Peterborough, introducing the CL and SLO carriages in 6-sets comprised of SLO-BS-CL-CL-SLO-BS, or strengthened with the addition of an SLO, or CL, CL, or even CL, S, S to form 7-sets, 8-sets or even 9-sets. Later developments in the 1970s saw formations on the Outer Suburban sets altered to SLO-SLO-CL-BS-CL-SLO, but as withdrawals of non-gangway stock were hastened by the rapid influx of DMUs to suburban and rural routes, and stock was cascaded between regions, the formations fluctuated as stock was withdrawn from service and sent for scrap. In BR’s other regions, BR(W) and BR(Sc), the BT, T, TO and C stock was interspersed with Collet or Thompson stock as required, with both disposing of vehicles quite quickly as DMUs were introduced during the early 1960s. By the early 1970s, the only survivors were those vehicles assigned to the King’s Cross area workings, as the York Road and Hotel Curves could not accommodate longer framed stock such as the Derby Suburban units, and the Cravens DMUs which were used on off peak services, were deemed unsuitable for the busiest rush hour trains due to insufficient power, seating capacity and passenger movement characteristics. The final locomotive hauled services were due to be retired by November 1976, but work at Kings Cross’ station throat led to a stay of execution for 10 months, with the final working of locomotive hauled non-gangway stock taking place on Friday, September 30, 1977, with the 17:42 King’s Cross service to Royston formed as 7-set SLO, CL, BS, CL, SLO, S, S, with coaches 48009, 43003, 43359, 43043, 48006, 46108 and 46147. Check out our new range of 56ft 11' Mark 1 Suburban coaches by clicking here! View the full article