The PTAs Are Back, And Better Than Ever!

[Warbonnet]

Okay, so we have kept you waiting long enough. It's time to bring back one of our all-time most popular wagons. It's time for run two of our iconic Redpath Dorman Long built PTA/JTA/JUA bogie iron-ore/stone tippler wagons!

They are now back in our plans and with some new, much in demand liveries too!

History

These characterful wagons were built in three batches by the British Steel subsidiary Redpath Dorman Long from 1972 for transporting iron ore to Consett, Llanwern, and Ravenscraig.

The tough looking tipplers stood out further with attractive liveries and rode on distinctive BSC ‘Axle Motion’ bogies. They soon became a favourite of the enthusiast as they became synonymous with the heaviest trains on the British Rail network. The Port Talbot to Llanwern trains saw 27 British Steel PTA tippers triple headed by Class 37s, before the introduction of pairs of the then new Class 56 on 30 wagon trains.

Following the closure of Consett in 1980, a batch of PTAs became temporarily redundant before being snapped up by Procor. These soon found work on Mendip stone trains, going both to Foster Yeoman and ARC. Their use was in block formations from quarries at Merehead, Whatley and Tytherington to depots in London and the home counties.

Once again, the PTAs found fame as wagons in the heaviest regular freight trains in the UK, with 43 wagons being hauled by a pair of class-56 locomotives from Merehead to Acton for Foster Yeoman.

The wagons would be painted in distinctive house liveries of Yeoman grey and ARC mustard, and see service behind the then new Class 59, as well as a wide range of BR locos, much like their British Steel counterparts which were enjoying electric traction haulage on the WCML with pairs of Class 86 and Class 87 locomotives.

The PTAs continued to provide sterling service for British Steel across Britain as well as Yeoman, ARC and its successor Mendip Rail into the 2000s when age began to catch up on them.

Wagon leasing company VTG took on rakes of JTA/JUAs in the mid-2000s and they were used on spoil trains as well as sand and sea dredged aggregates until withdrawal.

The Model

These wonderful tipplers are among our most popular wagons we have ever produced. We last had them in stock in the early lockdown days, and while they were very nice, we have decided to give them some tweaks for run 2. 

Improvements have been around the bogie area, with enhanced features, now featuring better detail around the bogie centres. Also included in this new run is etched brake discs and we now have track pick up for the tail light.

We are covering four different liveries in this second run, featuring two Mendip stone favourites and of course, two British steel iconic workings. First up are the Mendip packs, with Yeoman revised "Big Y" debuting for the first time on our model, a livery much in demand since we first announced our PTA models several years ago. It will be supplemented by two packs of ARC liveried wagons in their earlier livery, featuring the classic olive scheme and "Procor" markings.

As well as the Mendip favourites, British Steel workings are once again well represented, with the legendary Redcar - Consett/South Bank wagons introduced to the range for the first time. This working was famous for utilising pairs of 37s between 1974 and closure of Consett in 1980.

Of course, no PTA run is complete without a re-run of the famous Port Talbot-Llanwern circuit, with three Class 37s! Three new packs with new running numbers debut in the range. 

The price of each 5 wagon book set is £179.95, with a 10% discount if you buy both the outer and inner sets, and 15% when you order 5 or more sets. ARC, Yeoman and British Steel Consett liveries are represented by two sets, one with outer wagons featuring two wagons with buffers and traditional tension lock couplings placed at NEM recommended height, and an additional "inner" set with the higher placed knuckle couplings as per the prototypes. The South Wales British Steel livery features one outer set, and two inner sets.  

As per run one, the "inner" sets are just a "bolster pack" for the outer sets, and will not couple to locomotives, only the "outer" sets. Each outer set also comes with a working flashing tail lamp. 

Delivery is expected in Q2 2026. You can place your pre-order via your local Accurascale stockist, or via the link below to pre-order direct!

Order Your Tippler Wagons Here!

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[DJ Dangerous]

12 minutes ago, Warbonnet said:

…before the introduction of pairs of the then new Class 56…

...with 43 wagons being hauled by a pair of class-56 locomotives…

…and see service behind the then new Class 59…

…with pairs of Class 86 and Class 87 locomotives…

Any hints about future A/S locos?