Britain’s Railways were developed primarily to move freight and by the early twentieth century, hundreds of independent companies were operating their own wagons to transport their goods around the UK by rail. Fleet sizes ranged from small concerns with a single wagon to large enterprises whose wagon count could run into the hundreds. The majority of wagons in private ownership were wooden bodied open wagons and by far the most common commodity that they carried was coal, although other materials, including coke, minerals and aggregates might also be transported depending on the nature of business conducted by the wagon’s owner.

Various types of 7 Plank Wagon were built, and this Bachmann Branchline model depicts one with an end door which allowed the wagon to be end-tipped to aid unloading. Side doors and bottom discharge doors are also present, all neatly engraved into the wagon’s bodyshell which is moulded with crisp plank lines and ironwork detailing. This particular wagon also sports coke rails which, because coke was lighter than coal, allowed a greater volume of coke to be carried whilst not exceeding the wagon’s weight limit. Below the solebar the W irons, axleboxes and springs are all reproduced to great effect, with separate brakes and brake leavers and metal door stops completing the look. The model runs on split spoked wheels which are of metal construction whilst metal buffer heads and cosmetic coupling hooks adorn the bufferbeams. Authentic colours and typefaces are employed during the livery application prototype, completing this high-fidelity model.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 3
• Pristine ‘Benzol & By-Products Ltd.’ Red livery
• Running No. 1102
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Length 84mm (over couplings)