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Mullets with style – in 00 and N!

Revolution Trains is offering the BR Borail EB/EC ‘fishbelly’ flat wagons, and air-braked YLA Mullet, YQA Parr and YQA Super Tench derivatives, as its next wagon in both 00 and N gauges. These wagons were introduced at the end of the 1950s and many remain in use now, albeit rebuilt.

25140 with BR Borail wagons in mixed train at Loughborough. Photo courtesy John Dedman.

These wagons were built in batches between 1959 and 1961. The original Borails were either fitted with five bolsters (Borail EB, diag 1/483 ) or had plain decks (Borail EC, diag 1/482) and were used primarily for pre-stressed concrete beams, girders or lengths of rail. They were fitted with 8′ plate bogies and vacuum brakes, and in the 1970s coded BRV under TOPS.

Revolution BR Borail EB with bolsters, chain loops and plate bogies
BR Borail BRV at Workington. Photo courtesy Paul Bartlett.

In 1981-2 150 BRV wagons were fitted with air brakes, Y25 bogies and new decks on top of the original decking. The wagons were re-coded BRA for use carrying rail in the Speedlink network. The five stanchions were replaced by six of a slightly different design, and tensioning ratchets were added to each side. Within a short time they began to be transferred to the engineer’s fleet, and given the fishkind name Mullet.

66711 with short engineers train of 3 x OCA and 1 x YLA Mullet at Charlton in 2019. Photo courtest Adam Snow.
Revolution YLA Mullet with air brakes, tensioning ratchets and Y25 bogies
BR YLA mullet wagon – still in Railfreight red – at York. Photo courtesy Paul Bartlett.

Some of the air-braked conversions were rebuilt without bolsters but with two longitudinal timbers for carrying sleepers, and recoded YQA Parr. They also feature end flaps and small corner footsteps. Revolution is offering this variant too.

Revolution YQA Parr with Y25 bogies, longitudinal timber baulks and end plates.
33113 at Stratford with rake of YQA Parr sleeper carriers in 1990. Photo courtesy Michael Hart.

In 2010 several were rebuilt again; deck equipment was removed and ISO engineers’ modules with drop-down doors and mesh sides were fitted. These retained the YQA code but were redesignated Super Tench.

YQA Super Tench at Eastleigh in 2020. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.
Revolution YQA Super Tench with ISO modules on deck.

Due to their versatility, strength and usefulness numerous YLA Mullet, YQA Parr and YQA Super Tench wagons remain in use in 2021. They’re used for carrying almost anything the engineers may need to transport between depots or to and from possessions include rail, sleepers, equipment and waste.

YLA Mullet carrying crane lifting beam at Northampton in 2015. Photo courtesy Dan Adkins.
66703 with YQA Super Tench wagon and JNA Falcons at Eastleigh in 2020. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

The Revolution Trains models will cover all variants and tooling allows for numerous detail differences and prototypical variations in buffers and brake wheels to enable specific wagons to be accurately represented.

Air brake equipment on YQA Parr model.
Research visit to the Dean Forest Railway

Revolution Trains would like to thank the Dean Forest Railway for allowing us access to examine and measure one of the YQA wagons in their fleet, and would recommend anyone looking for a good day out to book up and enjoy a trip in their beautifully maintained stock. You can book here.

GWR Small Prairie 5541, built 1928, at the Dean Forest Railway in April with mixed raike of BR Mk1 and Mk2 stock.

The models will feature our usual attention to accuracy and detail, and the order book will be opening soon – look out for our limited-period low EarlyBird price.

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Mk5s arrive…

Revolution Trains has received first EP samples of its forthcoming Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper and Mk5a Trans Pennine Express coaching stock.

Left to right: Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 seated, club and accessible sleeper cars.
TPE Mk5a T1, T2 and DT cars.

Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 coaches

The Caledonian Sleeper cars are of four types: Seated, Club (with wifi dom on roof), Accessible Sleeper (PRM) and Standard Sleeper. Each vehicle is unique with accurate underframe, interior and bodyshell variations.

Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper Club car and Accessible (PRM) Sleeper.
Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper Seated car.

The models feature working Dellner type couplers in kinematic NEM pockets, though each pack will also include standard NEM couplers to enable the models to be coupled to a locomotive, as well as full interiors, saloon, cabin and vestibule lighting as standard, numerous separately fitted details – especially on the undersides – and photo-etched grilles where appropriate.

Detail showing etched parts, interiors, wifi dome and inside bearing bogies on Mk5 Club car.

Revolution is offering a total of eight different packs to enable complete Lowlander (London Euston-Glasgow/Edinburgh) or Highlander (London Euston-Aberdeen/Fort William/Inverness) rakes to be recreated or to allow shorter rakes representing the split portions of the trains to be modelled.

The diagrams show normal operating arrangements – during the last 14 months Lowlander and Highlander trains have operated from time to time in shorter forms due to reduced loadings.

92023 at Chelmcote with Caledonain Sleeper in January 2019. This train can be recreated with Revolution Trains’ Class 92023 and Mk5s.
Photo courtesy Nigel Gibbs.
Accessible (PRM) sleeper and Club car.

Trans Pennine Express – Beacon Rail Mk5a coaches

Trans Pennine Express operate their Mk5a sets in permanent rakes of five branded Nova 3 in push-pull mode with Class 68 diesels. Each set features a driving trailer (DT), standard trailer with bicycle rack (T2), two Standard trailers (T3) and a first trailer with standard draw gear at the outer end (T1).

TPE DT + T2 car.

The Revolution models feature the same kinematic couplings and similar levels of detailing to the Mk5 sets and are available to pre-order in two complete 5-car sets.

Inner end of T1 car, and outer end of DT car.

In addition to the interior saloon and vestibule lighting on all cars as standard, the DT features directional head and tail lights at the cab end.

Underside of DT car showing details, wire sanding pipes and bogie bearings and power pickups.
TPE Nova 3 at Keckwick in January 2019. Photo courtesy Dave Harris.
Caledonian Sleeper and TPE operating routes.

Once the samples have been assessed and checked decorated samples will be prepared before the models go into production.

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Decorated samples are MMA-rvelous…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming MMA/JNA ‘Ealnos’ box wagons in N gauge.

N-EAL-101A MMA wagon in DB red livery

There are now nearly 1000 Ealnos in service, with more on order, and since their introduction in 2016 by DB they have rapidly become the dominant big box wagon on the network. DB wagons are coded MMA under TOPS, all other versions are coded JNA.

DB Cargo MMA ‘Ealnos’ wagons being unloaded at Warrington Dallam freight terminal in 2019. Photo courtesy Peter Laithwaite.

As well as being used on well-established flows from quarries in the Derbyshire Peaks, Midlands and Mendip hills in Somerset, they are often seen on spot hire trains usually in VTG dark blue. The spot-hire trains are usually used for short-term flows and since all they need for loading or unloading is a bucket grab they can be seen almost anywhere.

N-EAL-104A JNA in VTG blue ‘spot-hire’ livery
59206 with Ealnos wagons in Touax red and VTG Mendip rail silver. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

Mendip stone trains – previously operated by DB, but now handled by Freightliner – use both VTG silver and Touax red JNA wagons; both among the variants offered by Revolution.

N-EAL-108A and N-EAL-105A

The wagons are also used for stone trains from quarries in the East Midlands, some with Tarmac branding and some without, and these versions are also being offered along with two versions in GBRf livery and in the latest Cappagh mid-blue. The Cappagh wagons operate in both branded and unbranded versions, and both are available.

N-EAL-106C GBRf/Ermewa and N-EAL-107A VTG/Cappagh.

Some versions are available with flashing tail lamps (look for the L code suffix) and the wagons will be provided with drop-in moulded loads. The images show the loads before final stone texture is engraved in the tooling.

As always, the wagons will feature Revolution’s high levels of detail and reflect our obsession with accuracy, including three different arrangements of brake equipment.

Models have prototypically accurate variations in brake gear.

Other versions on offer include VTG mid blue, VTG plain silver and Ermewa unbranded grey.

Subject to some very small amendments and adjustments these wagons are now approved and awaiting a production slot. We expect to close the order book within the next 6-8 weeks, but until then they can be ordered at the low pre-production price.

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Parcels to go!

Revolution Trains has opened the order book for its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels unit, with a low Earlybird price of £120 available until midnight on 16th July 2021.

Revolution is offering six versions, covering the entire lives of these units from their introduction in 1960 to their final withdrawal in 1990, and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions.

CAD has been approved and tooling is underway. We are anticipating that EP1 samples will be here in 6-8 weeks.

M55990 at Manchester Victoria. Photo courtesy Mark Carter.

As well as the gangway/non-gangway variation, the tooling has been designed to allow variations including round, oval or clipped buffers, sandbox variations, differences in exhausts and plated headcode boxes.

For those modelling the BR Green/transition era, two models are on offer: M55987 in green with speed whiskers, and W55994 in BR green with speed whiskers.

BR Blue era enthusiasts have M55990 in Parcels Service livery with domino headcode displays – as carried from the mid-1970s until its withdrawal, and W55991 also in all-over blue with plated headcodes, representing this unit from 1981 onwards.

Finally we are offering two units in the eye-catching 1980s-90s Royal Mail red livery; one has plated-over headcode boxes but retains the gangway, the other has the last end variation: fully flush with the gangways removed.

Note: CAD images show approved designs. Some details (eg buffers, exhausts) may vary on production models following further research. Livery diagrams are basic graphic images for illustrative purposes only.

N-128-55987A – M55987 in BR green with speed whiskers

N-128-55994A – W55994 in BR green livery with single speed whiskers

N-128-55990A – M55990 in BR blue with yellow ends and domino headcode display

N-128-55991A – W55991 in BR blue with yellow ends and plated over headcodes with marker lights

N-128-55992A – 55992 in Royal Mail red with gangway and plated over headcodes with marker lights

N-128-55993A – M55993 in Royal Mail red with plated gangway and plated headcodes

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Read All About it! Projects updated!!

Now that the Chinese New Year holiday is over and we are well into the Year of the Ox, Revolution Trains has received latest information on the development of its new projects and production of existing ones such as the Sonic Models 56xx 0-6-2T locomotive and our Class 320/321 electric multiple units, both in N. Due to Covid and other factors some models are a little delayed, we understand that this is always disappointing to customers but we would rather the factories made sure that the models were as good as possible rather than rushed out.

We have also agreed a slight delay to the start of the production of the second run of Pendolinos as many of our customers asked us for more time to be able to place an order.

The latest information is on our Projects Page – before contacting us asking for an update on any projects please check the Projects Page – we do our best to keep it updated and it always has the latest information.

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PEP talk – Class 313/314 CAD unveiled!

CAD has been finalised on the forthcoming Revolution Trains Class 313 and 314 ‘PEP’ electric multiple units.

313 DMSO – current version with hi intensity headlight

Versions with the original and revised headlights are being offered, and with the CAD almost signed off tooling will begin shortly.

Centre car with pantograph

Once the models are delivered we anticipate that some models will be available from retailers, but at a higher MSRP to include their margins.

The launch liveries are:

BR Blue-Grey. 1976-late 1980s
BR Network southeast. 1986-mid 2000s.
SIlverlink Metro. 1997-2007
London Overground 2007-2013
First Capital Connect ‘Urban Lights’ 2006-2014
Great Northern ‘Urban Lights’ 2014-2019
Southern ‘Coastway’ 2010-present.
Note: the prototypes have photo vinyls next to the door not featured in this preliminary impression.

In addition to the variants offered above, there are interesting specials and one offs. These will not be part of Revolution’s own production, but we are hopeful of producing one or more as a retailer exclusive.

313121 Network Rail ‘Delivering future signalling’ 2014-present
313201 Southern heritage BR Blue. 2017-present.
This is the first 313 PEP unit built, and was repainted after being confirmed for the National Collection.
Arlington Fleet Services T7 EMU translator car twin set.
These two former driving cars are used for loco-hauled MU positioning moves.
Note T7 units will have standard couplers at non-cab end, not power coupler illustrated.

Revolution is also offering the very similar Class 314 units that operated in Scotland from the late 1970s. There are some minor differences with the 313s and these will be depicted where possible. Please note there are some configurations with the CAD that need tweaking, such as the shoegear which is not present on the 314.

Class 314 DMSO

The Class 314s have carried four liveries; Revolution is initially offering those covering the period from 1983, when the first blue grey unit received the striking Strathclyde PTE orange and black, until 2019 when the last 314s were withdrawn.

Strathclyde PTE 1983-2013.
Scotrail 2011-2019.

Once the tooling begins we will be opening the order book – it will likely be a couple of months time. As ever there will be a discounted Earlybird price for the first couple of months or so, after which it’ll go up to the standard pre-order price.

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Drax-tacular! Biomass hopper samples arrive

Revolution Trains has received EP1 samples of the Drax Power IIA-D biomass hoppers, which are available to order exclusively from Rails of Sheffield.

The models represent the 225 IIA-D ‘Tafoos’ hoppers now in service with Drax power and used to transport biomass from sea ports on Merseyside, Tyneside and Humberside to Drax Power station in Yorkshire. Drax is the UK’s largest power station, generating more than 6% of the UK’s power needs, and is expecting to convert to 100% biomass in 2021.

60076 with Drax hoppers at Gauxholme. Photo Neil Harvey.

The EP1 samples are to check the fit of parts and that the basic dimensions are correct. The prototypes are 17640mm over headstocks, which is 119mm in 1:148 scale.

Bogie brakewheel is missing on this side. It will be present on production models.

The models are being offered in twin packs in three different iterations of Drax livery – original, Northern Powerhouse and the new ‘Renewable Pioneers’ versions. They are being retailed exclusively by Rails of Sheffield.

Drax original livery – version A
Drax original livery – version B
Drax Northern Powerhouse livery – version A
Drax Northern Powerhouse livery – version B
Drax Renewable Pioneers ‘Ben Cruachan’ livery. There are three other variants with different images.

(Wagon artwork courtesy Drax Power)

Revolution JNA Ealnos and IIA-D Tafoos wagons – why not have some of each?
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MMMMA…… tasty!

Revolution Trains has received first egineering samples of our forthcoming MMA/JNA ‘Ealnos’ box wagons in N.

MMA/JNA – 9 rib versions

Introduced on the network five years ago, and there are more than 900 of these wagons in service or on order. The first were coded MMA and are in operation with DB; subsequent versions carry the TOPS designation JNA and carry variously VTG, Ermewa, Tarmac, GBRf, Cappagh and Touax brandings.

There are two main versions – either with 9 or 11 bodyside ribs, and within these there are examples both with and without bodyside doors that enable the wagons to be more easily swept out. Revolution is offering all types, and as well as the alternate body styles the variations in brake arrangements have also been faithfully depicted.

JNA 11 rib versions

As is customary with models from Revolution Trains, the models feature a wealth of detail on the body and underside, including plenty of separately fitted brake components and wire pipes and end footsteps. The first 9-rib wagons, for DB and Ermewa/Tarmac, feature the parking brakes and cylinders on the underframe, whereas the 11-rib variants for VTG incorporate such equipment mounted on the bogies. The parking brake wheels are absent on the samples; this will be corrected for the production models.

9-rib MMA (left) and 11-rib JNA underframes

As with the 00 versions of these models, and our popular IZA Cargowaggon vans, versions are being offered with factory-fitted, battery powered flashing tail lamps.

Because the light unit has to be positioned inside the wagon body, we have tooled a moulded ‘load’ to hide it – the load is being supplied as an option with all the models, which are also supplied with a flat floor to run as empty. The first prototypes are smooth; the finished items will be engraved to represent stone.

These prototypes are primarily to test the quality of the components, their dimensions and fit. These checks are now almost completed and feedback on some minor areas has been given.

Sizing up!

The Chinese New Year festivities mean that factories will be closing down for the next 2-3 weeks, but once they resume toward the end of February we will expect decorated samples of the models to follow.

Which versions do I need?

We have created a helpful diagram showing a variety of authentic trains operated by these wagons, along with a route map, that can be found further down the page. We are aiming to offer in this production run as many of the variants as possible.

These images show each of the different versions in more detail. The suffix -L denotes a version with the flashing tail lamp – but for production reasons only the most widespread and popular liveries will be available with the tail lamp fitted. However, we are investigating the possibility of making the tail lamp unit available as a spare.

9-pillar with door

This version is suitable for DB Cargo MMA versions N-EAL-101A/B/C/D/L

66119 with DB MMA hoppers at Peak Forest in September 2018.

9-pillar without door

This version is suitable for Ermewa and Ermewa/Tarmac versions N-EAL-101A/B/L/C/D

66711 at Irchester with mixed rake of Ermewa and VTG spot hire JNA. Photo courtesy Steve Madden.

11-pillar with door

This version is suitable for GBRf and Ermewa/GBRf versions N-EAL-106A/L/B/C

66028 with GBRF JNAs on the Cumbrian Coast. Photo courtesy Aidan Fort.

11-pillar without door

This version is suitable for VTG and Cappagh versions N-EAL-103A/B, N-EAL-104A/B/L, N-EAL-105A/B/L, N-EAL-107A, N-EAL-117A/C/L

11-pillar without door and body-mounted brakes

This version is suitable for the Touax versions N-EAL-108A/B/C

59206 at Acton in 2020 with Touax and VTG/Mendip Rail JNAs. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.

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Pick up a pantograph!

In response to (overwhelming!) customer demand, Revolution Trains is making its poseable Brecknell Wills high-speed pantographs available as spares.

Small and hard to photograph! (Two shown in different poses but sold as singles)

The pantographs will be priced at £6.95. They are made of injection-moulded plastic with photo-etched metal heads and painted base insulator pots. As supplied these are intended as cosmetic accessories, they are unable to collect current, and are un-sprung but poseable.

Revolution Trains Class 92 locomotive fitted with Brecknell Willis high speed pantographs. Photo courtesy George Dent/Model Rail.

They include full instructions to assist with fitting, and are available to order immediataly.

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Express delivery – Class 128 liveries and options!

Revolution Trains has confirmed the liveries and unit numbers it is offering of the Class 128 diesel parcels unit.

Midland Region versions (55987-990)

M55987 green with single whiskers and centre head code boxes and M55990 BR blue with full yellow ends, centre domino head code boxes

Western Region versions (55991-996)

W55994 green with single speed whiskers and split head code boxes and W55991 Blue FYE with marker lights and corridor

55992 RM red with corridor and 55993 RM red no corridor.

The factory is currently making the final CAD changes and once complete we will open the order book. Obviously CAD has taken longer than we anticipated – for which we apologise – we wanted to be sure that the CAD covered all the many variants of 128s (a surprising number for a class of 10!).

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Fantas-car-tic Four – from Revolution!

British Rail’s iconic and revolutionary Cartic-4 car carriers are the next 1960s era model to be offered by Revolution Trains.

Each four-unit articulated Cartic-4 set could carry 34 (1960s-sized) cars at up to 75mph. In total 538 Cartic-4s were constructed between 1966 and 1972, and they lasted in service until the mid 2000s.

40078 with empty Cartic-4s at Peterborough. Photo courtesy Paul James.

The Cartic-4 was developed jointly by BR and Ford following after the Beeching report of 1963 urged British Railways to focus on efficient block trains for freight and adopt fast, air-braked bogie wagons to replace its fleet of ageing and slow four-wheeled stock.

The design was radical at the time for freight stock – comprising a permanently coupled four-part vehicle in which the inner cars were linked via shared bogies on articulated joints – and two prototypes were constructed and trialled on traffic from Ford’s giant Dagenham plant in September 1964.

The production units differed slightly from the two prototypes, and the majority were built for private vehicle transporters MAT, Silcock & Collings and Tolemans, however some were also built by BR and used to launch its Motorail brand in 1966. This offered motorists the opportunity to take their car on holiday with them, with an extensive network of services between cities including London, Birmingham and Sheffield and Scotland, the South West and North Wales.

A new terminal was opened at Kensington Olympia in London, and ramps allowed both decks to be loaded simultaneously. This is featured in the wonderfully evocative British Pathé film “Car And You By Train” – which you can see here.

Stills from the British Pathe film “Car And You By Train.”

Out of holiday season, the Motorail-branded vehicles were often used alongside the rest of the fleet for new car deliveries. We will be offering as-built Cartic-4s in BR Motorail, MAT-Transauto and Silcock and Collings liveries.

In the 1984, following increasing incidents of vehicles becoming damaged in transit by stones, Silcock and Collings decided to add screens to the sides of the wagons. Some were also given corrugated roofs to protect vehicles from items dropped from overbridges; the roofs were hinged and could be raised to allow loading and unloading. Both these variants are being offered, and they often ran together in the same train.

85005 at Stratford in 1988. Photo courtesy Phil Richards.

This was a success, and within two years MAT had decided on similar measures, using Expamet mesh for its screens. The MAT fleet was inherited by STVA when it took over, and the Cartic-4s, by now coded PJA under TOPS, were refurbished and repainted into its pale grey livery.

47309, also at Stratford, with MAT mesh-sided car carriers in 1991. Photo courtesy Michael Hart.

A very small number of the MAT sets received roofs, however they were to a different design and are not being included.

STVA also decided to remove the top decks from three sets, and run them as single deck units primarily for light commercial vehicles; these lasted in use until 2013 however they are not being offered as they also featured some strengthening additions which would not be practical to tool.

BR drawings have been sourced and CAD work is underway. The models will feature our usual high levels of detailing, with the brake gear on the underside, accurate representations of the deck tread arrangement and separate parts including plastic and photo etched ladders, screens and roofs.

Preliminary CAD work has started following the Chinese New Year holiday

Once CAD is complete the models will be available to pre-order.

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Revolution goes tri-mode for Class 93 locos with ROG!

Revolution Trains is to produce the all-new Class 93 tri-mode locomotive being built for Rail Operations Group by Stadler as its first powered model in 00/4mm scale.

Class 93 image courtesy ROG/Stadler

Rail Operations Group has ordered ten of the new Class 93 locomotives, with options on a further 20, and the first is to be delivered in early 2023.

The Class 93 is designed to operate on 25kv overhead power supply, with an inboard diesel engine, or using heavy duty batteries; allowing it to be almost silent while in stations or other built up areas while optmizing efficiency across the network and maximizing low carbon benefits. The Class 93 will be able to run at speeds of up to 110mph and the diesel power unit is specified to be powerful enough for prolonged mainline running, not just ‘last mile’ operation.

Revolution Trains is delighted to have been chosen by ROG and Stadler to produce the Class 93 tri-mode locomotive, which is arguably the most exciting and innovative development on the real railway for many years.

Neil Bennett, Executive Chairman of Rail Operations Group, said: “Along with our well-established rolling-stock movement business, we have very exciting plans for the Class 93 including low-carbon logistics services operating at speeds of up to 110mph.  I am delighted to be working with Revolution Trains on reproducing the locomotive in model form.”

This will be Revolution’s first powered model aimed at 00 gauge/4mm scale modellers, but Revolution has already delivered, or is developing, six 00 wagons: TEA tankers, MMA/JNA ‘Ealnos’ box wagons, IZA Cargowaggon twins (a Kernow exclusive), IWA ‘Sfins2’ vans, IWA ‘Rfnoos’ timber carriers and FWA ‘Ecofret’ container flats.

The model will be to 4mm:1ft scale, 1:76.2 with RP25-110 wheels with space for EM/P4 fitting. They will feature our usual high levels of detailing including photo-etched and separate parts where appropriate, prototypical lighting arrangements, 21-pin DCC socket, and heavy metal chassis with full provision for DCC Sound. DCC Sound-fitted models will also be available.

We will offer multiple numbers, factory-fitted buffer-beam details at one end (though a spare NEM coupler will also be included for customers who wish to couple the loco at both ends) and we will investigate the provision of a DCC operated pantograph mechanism.

The full specicifation is subject to revision during the design phase, but will be confirmed by the time we open the order book.

Rail Operations Group’s core business is moving rolling stock around the network.

Rail Operations Group has exciting plans for the Class 93, and while initially they are likely to be used mainly to service ROG’s existing and well-established rolling stock movement business, the company also sees the locomotives being used as part of its proposed ‘Orion’ high speed centre-to-centre low carbon logistics trains as well as 110mph intermodal services. For more information see here.

ROG is planning to begin trials of its first converted Class 319 units in April 2021. The images below show the first unit being unveiled last month.

The Class 93 models will be offered in ROG’s stylish green and black launch livery, and it is understood that they are to be named after Roman Gods.

The terms of the licence – which covers both 00 and N gauge models – mean that ROG and Stadler will work closely with Revolution, sharing important technical specifications, 3D data and design drawings, to ensure the models are as accurate as possible and that any changes made during construction are incorporated.

Class 93 Initial Specification

  • Heavy diecast chassis with smooth electric motor and flywheels and provision for DCC and Sound
  • 4mm-ft/1:76.2 scale 00 (16.5mm) gauge, with provision for simple conversion to EM/P4
  • Separately applied etched metal or fine plastic details
  • NEM coupler sockets with fully detailed, factory-fitted bufferbeam at one end (second coupler in accessory pack)
  • DCC provision: 21 pin decoder socket
  • Prototypical lighting arrangements, switchable for DC users where necessary
  • Twin speakers on sound-fitted models
  • RP25 (110) wheels with provision for simple conversion to EM/P4
  • We will investigate options for a DCC operated pantograph mechanism, though the pantograph itself will be cosmetic

It is intended that the models will be delivered as soon as possbile after the prototypes enter service.

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Order deadline updates – OO Ecofrets, N Pendolinos and IWA holdall vans / timber carriers

We’ve got a number of order deadlines coming up that we thought it would be helpful to summarise our latest thinking. We’re conscious that many customers have been going through difficult times with the impact of COVID-19 and/or just the proximity to Christmas just passed so we try to give as much time and notice as possible, plus we offer the choice to pay a deposit rather than the full amount.

N gauge:

Pendolino (second run) – we had indicated that the order deadline was likely to be end-January to mid-February but in response to customer feedback we will give people more time to place orders. We’re just confirming the production schedule with the factory but we anticipate that the order deadline will be extended to either the end of February or end of March 2021. We don’t want to delay production too much so it is a balance between being fair to those who have already ordered and those who would like a bit more time. We will confirm the order deadline within the next 7-10 days.

Pendolino livery diagrams taking shape. With five 9-car and three 11-car options on offer, that’s a total of 78 drawings!

IWA holdall vans and timber carriers – we are ready to start production of the N gauge models of these wagons and had previously set a deadline of 31 January 2021, with Chinese New Year (12 February) coming up we will delay the deadline accordingly to Sunday 14 February 2021.

00 IWA vans and timber carriers shown – deco samples of the N gauge versions are expected soon.

OO gauge:

Ecofret FWA twin and triple containers sets – the deadline for the Ecofrets was due to be 31 January but due to production schedules we have had to delay production slightly so we will announce a new order deadline after Chinese New Year.

00 FWA ‘Ecofret’ deco samples – three wagons in one pack!

For those of you looking for delivery updates on particular models we update the Projects summary with the latest information that we have as soon as we can – if there is no estimated delivery date on there it is because we don’t have one yet. Please note that until models physically arrive with us they are estimates (as delays can and do happen at various stages even during shipping!).

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Box clever…JNA / MMA EALNOS box aggregates in N on sale!

The order book for our forthcoming N gauge model of the modern JNA/MMA EALNOS bogie box aggregate wagon is now open. Our early bird price offers a discount of £2.50 per wagon and is available until 31 March 2021.

66119 with DB MMA hoppers at Peak Forest in September 2018.

Tooling on this model is now complete and we have just received first samples.  We will be showing these off in greater detail once they have been checked for accuracy.

Sizing up!

We are offering a lot of different versions so hopefully there is a livery for everyone! (Please note that we are offering different variations of each livery/variant according to predicted sales – not all versions have the same number of number variations or light-fitted versions).

DB red MMA
VTG silver JNA
VTG “original” dark blue JNA
VTG / Mendip Rail JNA
Touax maroon JNA

Each version has the correct prototypical variations in: number of ribs (9 or 11); with or without side access doors; accurate underframe and brake details.

In a relatively short period of time the EALNOS wagons have spread far and wide across the network. You can read more about the prototype wagons here. We’ve put together some sample consists and route maps to help customers looking to replicate particular flows – though there are many more than we had space for!

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Blue Monday? No, (Blue Circle) Cemflo Friday!

Production of our Cemflo PCVs cement tanks is complete and the models are due to leave the factory early next week. We’re just waiting for quotes on air and sea shipping before deciding how they will be shipped, but it is likely that they will come by air so we would expect delivery to the UK within the next couple of weeks.

The Cemflo tanks are being produced for us by our friends at Accurascale who’ve done a great job on these distinctive looking tanks and sent us these pictures from the production line. We’ve put some ideas for train inspiration below.

IMPORTANT

If you would like to guarantee your Cemflo wagons at the pre-order price then please place your order now! The price will rise to our MSRP of £29.95/wagon (£89.85 per triple pack) when the models arrive.

Cemflo in our familiar plastic box packaging

Suitable for the early-1960s modellers to the late-1980s modellers, the Cemflo tanks were built between 1961 and 1965 for Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers (APCM) and are probably best known for their use on trains of Blue Circle cement from Cliffe, in Kent, to Uddingston on the outskirts of Glasgow. Later in their working lives, they also supplied a number of other locations, including Aberdeen, Dewsbury, Dundee, Grangemouth, Sunderland, and Widnes. The last Cemflo/PCV wagons were withdrawn from service in mid-1988.

Several types of locomotives were observed hauling Cemflo wagons during their time in service, including class 25s, class 26s, class 27s, class 31s, class 33s, class 37s, class 40s, class 45s, class 47s… even Black 5s, Jubilees,V2s, 9Fs and A4s!

Here are a few links to some interesting flows for inspiration:

A4 60026 at Stonehaven, June 1965

Perhaps the classic Cliffe-Uddingston train – D6582 and D6577 (later class 33s), April 1962

9F 92191 Summer 1962

AL5 E3090 (later 85035) at Leighton Buzzard, 1966

Class 20 retrieving a damaged Cemflo, August 1967

40014, at Chinley Junction, May 1979

08630 at Grangemouth, April 1987

47237 at Millerhill, April 1987

47596, 7M66 Dewsbury – Earles Sidings, June 1988

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Class 92s…but wait, there’s more!

As a final surprise, we are delighted to reveal that three extra Class 92s are being made available.

92008 ‘Jules Verne’ in original Railfreight livery, 92023 in Caledonian Sleeper and 92043 in GB Railfreight.

These were produced by Rapido in response to the high number of requests received from those who missed out after the deadline passed while the models were in production. These are 92008 ‘Jules Verne’ in BR Railfreight livery, 92023 in Caledonian Sleeper teal, and 92043 in GB Railfreight livery.

These models are DC only, and are available from retailers and from Revolution directly (where stocks are available – we have none of the 92023 Caledonian Sleeper models however retailers will have stock), priced at £175 each. Retailers will start to receive their stock later this week.

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Dyson-sational! Class 92 delivery updates and information

92s make it in 2020 – just!

On Christmas Eve the long-awaited N gauge Class 92 locomotives arrived from Rapido, and while this meant delivery before Christmas was not possible, we worked hard over the break to ensure deliveries of the first hundred or so orders did take place before the end of the year.

We are anticipating that by Friday January 15th all paid for models will have been despatched – please keep an eye on our Projects page for progress if you are still waiting for your model (all parts of your order (in your account) will also be marked as “Complete” when your order has been despatched). If you still have a balance to pay then you should have received an email from us – please log in to your account where you can pay any balance due. If you sent us a query or reply regarding your balance payment we will deal with that over the next few days.

Retailers who’ve pre-ordered the models will be receiving their stocks later this week once the last of the pre-orders has been sent. Also available, exclusively from Kernow Model Rail Centre, will be 92017 ‘Eddie the Engine’ in its distinctive Stobart livery.

For those of you looking for support information we’ve added some notes for owners and information on DCC in our support section (we will also add the manual and DCC settings shortly).

Kernow Exclusive 92017 ‘Eddie the Engine’

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response, and would like to say a big ‘thank-you’ to those who’ve uploaded images or videos, or sent them to us, of the models in action.

There are too many to acknowledge individually, but as a taster here are two 92s running on Simon Fenton’s awesome ‘Dallam’ layout; one on a long rake of Farish FIA intermodal twins, the other with Dapol silver bullets Kaolin carriers:

So far the response to the models has been very encouraging, and we would like to register our thanks to everyone at Rapido in Canada and China for all the hard work they’ve put in to help us bring these models to market. As ever with our crowdfunded models, it would never have happened without the support of those who pre-ordered and put their trust in us.

The models feature a myriad of details, and several firsts for mass-produced British N gauge models, including a detailed bufferbeam at one end and a representation of the cab driver’s window blind – a distinctive and visible feature on the prototype due to the large windscreens.

So what can I run behind my new 92?

To help those interested in running accurate trains, we’ve prepared a handy guide to the kind of trains that Class 92s have operated.

They are true mixed traffic locomotives, designed originally for heavy cross-channel freight and ‘Nightstar’ international sleeper trains. They are also equipped with both pantographs for 25kV AC overhead supply and collector shoes for 3rd rail DC power; making them exceptionally versatile. They are also the only class of locomotive currently equipped and cleared for use on HS1, enabling continental-gauge swap-body containers to reach London by rail for the first time.

92023 at Chelscote with the Glasgow/Edinburgh Caledonian Sleeper. Courtesy Nigel Gibbs.

Caledonian Sleeper

The 92s are now the principle traction for Anglo-Scottish sleeper services between London and Glasgow/Edinburgh, though smaller diesels are used on non-electrified lines parts of the journey to Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen.

The forthcoming Revolution Trains Mk5 sleeper coaches should be in production later this year, and will enable full, accurate rakes to be produced.

Mk 5 SLED Accessible sleeper – approved CAD

However, if you don’t have room for the full 16-coach rake don’t despair – as you can see from the table below, Covid has led to shorter rakes becoming authentic!

IWA bogie and IZA 4-wheel twin vans

Class 92s are also long-associated with international van traffic – primarily mineral water from central and southern France and aluminium between the UK and Germany.

IWA vans carrying aluminium between Ditton and Nievenheim, Germany. Photo courtesy Colin Pottle.
92036 “Bertolt Brecht” with a rake of IZAs carrying mineral water at Soulbury in 2013. Courtesy Andrew Chambers.

Again, both these traffics can be recreated thanks to Revolution Trains, with either our IZA Cargowaggon twins (some may still be available at retailers, and Revolution has a tiny number in stock) or with our forthcoming IWA vans in Cargowaggon or unbranded versions.

92010 on car train – photo courtesy Trevor Plackett

Automotive traffic has also been a staple for the 92s for many years, and the Revolution IPA car carriers can help in recreating these on your layout.

Here is a diagram showing just some of the huge variety of trains worked by Class 92s since 2005.

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Class 92s inbound!

The wait is nearly over for our Class 92s. The models left the factory mid last week and are currently at Heathrow awaiting delivery to us (updated: 23/12/20). If the models are delivered to us before Christmas (we’ll update this page once we know) then we will start to send out orders as soon as we get the models – that means the earliest deliveries are likely to be just after Christmas.

If your order(s) are fully paid then you don’t need to do anything other than check that your delivery address is up to date on your account (we check all orders against the latest shipping address on your account and update as necessary).

Outstanding payments

Payments by instalment plan: (deposits placed before 1 Jan 2019) if you paid a small deposit then there should be 3 payments in total for each 92 ( the initial deposit and 2 further payments). If any of the instalments for your order(s) are showing as Partially Paid or Pending Deposit Payment then it means one or more of the invoices is yet to be paid – please pay as quickly as you can so that we can send out your model(s).

50% deposit payments: (deposits placed after 1 Jan 2019) if you paid a 50% deposit then your balance invoice will not have been generated yet but we will generate it over the next few days.

Delivery updates

We realise that it can be frustrating waiting for orders, but please bear with us – there are hundreds of orders to send out and we send them out in order of when they were paid. We regularly update progress of where we have got to on our Projects page in the Notes section. Please don’t message us asking for an update on your order until all parts of your order have been marked as “Complete” – that means your order has been despatched – or until we have said that all orders have been sent and please bear in mind that there are still ongoing delays with the postal system.

Unfortunately there was a last minute delay affecting some of the DCC Sound fitted models so these models will follow in a separate delivery scheduled for just after New Year – if you ordered a mix of DC and DCC Sound models we will ship the DC models first if we reach your order before the remaining Sound-fitted models arrive.

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Something for Christmas and last posting dates

Looking for a present for a loved one or something for yourself? Our stock system doesn’t easily allow people to see what we have physically available for immediate despatch versus projects that are open for pre-orders as both use the “In Stock” status to allow orders to be placed (NB we indicate in the product descriptions if something is a pre-order for a model awaiting production), so we thought it might be useful to give a quick summary of models we have in stock for immediate dispatch.

We realise that it has been an unusual and tough year for many and we’d like to spread a bit of Christmas cheer, so in the spirit of Christmas we’re offering a 5% discount for orders over £100 between now and 17 December on in stock items (please note that this discount is only applicable for in stock items and won’t work for orders for future products). To get the discount place your order as normal and in the discount code box use the code: 5XMAS2020. The code will only apply to in stock items listed below and we reserve the right to refund any orders mixing in stock and future orders – all orders for models in development should continue to be placed as separate orders per product range.

The last date we can guarantee delivery before Christmas is if we receive your order by 17 December 2020 (for UK orders only, for international orders some of the last guaranteed posting dates have already passed so we can’t guarantee that non-UK orders will be delivered before Christmas but we will do our best).

In stock items (available for immediate dispatch):

N gauge

IPA car carriers: limited remaining stock now on sale!

OO gauge

Please remember the discount code only applies to the items listed on this page and please don’t mix with orders for future projects – thanks!

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Gypsum containers from Revolution

Revolution Trains is offering N gauge enthusiasts yet another load for their intermodal flat wagons in the form of two types of 20′ gypsum container.

A and B type containers on PFA flats. Wagons and gypsum containers being sold separately.

Gypsum is a vital constituent in plaster and plasterboard as well as cosmetics, toiletries and fertilizers. It can be mined, but is also a by-product from power stations, and gypsum traffic has been a lucrative source of revenue for the railways for many years.

It can be carried in open box wagons, but in the late 1980s various batches of 20′ containers, to several similar designs, were introduced and these remain in service. Gypsum trains run across the network; notable flows are between British Gypsum at Mountfield, near Hastings in East Sussex, and Newbiggin in Cumbria and power stations in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire among others.

60041 with gypsum containers on PFA wagons

Originally carried on 4-wheel PFA wagons, nowadays they are conveyed on standard 60′ intermodals such as KFAs (as previously manufactured by Revolution), FEA-Bs, FCAs and IFA Megafrets. When introduced they were painted white, with the blue British Gypsum logo of the time on a placard, however by the late 1990s they were being repainted blue and a revised logo was introduced.

Nowadays, many have had the logo, and even the placard on some containers, removed, and they tend to be fairly heavily weathered.

Gypsum containers as offered by Revolution on Tiphook KFA 93330. Photo courtesy Dan Adkins.

Gypsum containers currently in use are 20′ long with various arrangements of bodyside ribs, owner placards and end doors and Revolution is offering two types: one with full height bodyside ribs and one with a top rail.

Type A gypsum container
Type B gypsum container

The models are being manufactured for Revolution by Accurascale, based on their well-received 00 versions, and will be offered in two triple packs, priced at £17.95 each, less than £6 per container.

Pack 1 – British Gypsum original white livery. Please note contents may vary slightly from those shown.
Pack 2 – British Gypsum revised blue livery. Please note contents may vary slightly from those shown.

These models are expected to be produced alongside our forthcoming PFA container flats, and we hope to have them by Summer 2021.

Gypsum containers on Revolution Trains KFA container flat