Inspection Saloons were built by each of the major railway companies to provide engineers and railway staff with a vehicle in which they could inspect aspects of the railway infrastructure, such as the permanent way and signalling & telegraph equipment. This 50ft vehicle was built by the LMS and proved very popular indeed, with BR building further examples to the same design some years after Nationalisation. Observation saloons with large end windows were located at either end of the vehicle and chairs were provided to allow meetings to take place, along with a table where plans could be laid out. With a toilet, guard’s compartment and a small pantry/kitchen, the vehicles provided all the amenities needed to sustain the personnel onboard without having to disembark.

A prototype for the Stanier-designed LMS Inspection Saloon was built in 1940 and the LMS would go on to build a further 13 production vehicles in two lots, with minor differences to each other, and the prototype. Following Nationalisation, BR converted two ex-LMS Kitchen Cars into Inspection Saloons in 1957, and built five new saloons in 1959, giving a fleet of 21 similar vehicles. Due to their specialised nature, many of the Inspection Saloons remained in traffic for a long time, with some even surviving into Privatisation. Today, several examples are preserved, including one with the London Transport Museum which sees use on the mainline as part of railtours and charter trains.

Faithfully replicated in OO scale by Bachmann Branchline, the profiled bodysides and ends are adorned with flush-glazed windows, incorporating sliding ventilators and separately fitted windscreen wipers as appropriate. The roof features both shell and torpedo ventilators, along with further roof vents for the kitchen, all of which are moulded crisply, along with separately fitted metal water filler pipes which extend down each end of the vehicle. Below the solebar we find separately fitted steps and a full complement of underframe equipment including battery boxes, gas cylinders, brake apparatus and auxiliary equipment. The pair of bogies is fitted with metal wheelsets, whilst turned metal buffers can also be found at each end. Interior detailing extends beyond the tables and chairs, to a toilet and basin and even a representation of the gas hob, sink and urn in the kitchen compartment! All of this detail is brought to life by the exquisite livery application, to the same high standards that all Bachmann Branchline models are renowned for.

Couple the LMS Inspection Saloon to a locomotive of your choice and you have a complete train in an instant, ready to provide railway officials or special dignitaries with luxury travel and unprecedented views of the line.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 4
• Pristine BR Crimson & Cream livery
• Running No. M45026M
• LMS Bogies
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Close Coupling Mechanism
• Bogies feature metal bearings and integrated electrical pickups
• Detailed interior
• Length 225mm