Category: Mk5

Revolution Trains, working with our friends from Accurascale, have almost completed the research work on their forthcoming N-gauge models of the exciting new Mk5 coaching stock in operation with Caledonian Sleepers.

Caledonian Sleeper, Serco and CAF kindly allowed us access to Polmadie depot in Glasgow to enable us to carefully record the details and other aspects of the vehicles.

These models are being produced with kind permission and under licence from the Scottish Ministers.

While we were there two 8-unit sets, which had just completed Lowlander runs from London overnight to Glasgow and Edinburgh, were being serviced while a third set (nearest the camera) was being checked over.

There are a number of detail differences between the sleepers as delivered and in service, and we’d like to thank the engineering exam at CS/Serco for talking us through them.

Since their introduction the new sleepers have attracted high levels of praise from passengers.  There are four different vehicles: Standard Sleeper, Accessible Sleeper (with larger berths at each end) Club Car with bar and Seated car.

“Classic” berths with bunks and a sink are now joined by twin and double cabins with en-suite toilet facilities.

All have , stylish, contemporary interiors. Our models will feature these and interior lighting to show it off!

The Caledonian Sleeper logo on the ceiling light in each vestibule is a delightful touch!

Externally the vehicles are sleek and exceptionally smooth-sided as this image shows.

We expect to open the order book on these models very soon, and anticipate selling them in packs of four enabling a full 4, 8 or 16-vehicle train to be assembled.

The stylish livery features three antlers at one end representing Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness, the three destinations served by the Highlander Service.  Two antlers at the opposite end represent Glasgow and Edinburgh, served by the Lowlander trains.

The next stage is to complete the CAD work on these models, and once that is done we can open the order book.   As ever, the sooner we receive orders the sooner we can reach production.

If you are interested in 4mm scale 00 gauge models you can order from Accurascale here.

We’d very much like to thank Caledonian Sleepers, Serco, CAF and the team at Polmadie for accommodating us.

Revolution Trains is proposing Mk5 and Mk5a coaches for N gauge in both Caledonian Sleeper and Trans Pennine Express liveries.

The Mk5 vehicles are the first new loco-hauled coaching stock (LHCS) to be introduced in Britain since the production of Mk4s vehicles for British Rail’s East Coast Inter-City 225 trains three decades ago. They are in use with two operators:  Caledonian Sleeper operates them on Anglo-Scottish overnight services while Trans Pennine Express is introducing them between Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Manchester and Liverpool.   Caledonian Sleeper The iconic Caledonian Sleeper runs every night between London and the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands.  The trains are popular for both business travel and tourism – allowing passengers to fall asleep in the home counties and wake up amid the mists and moors of the majestic Scottish highlands. There are four Caledonian Sleeper trains every night, two in each direction. For most of the journey they’re hauled by powerful Class 92 locomotives, making them the ideal accompaniment to the forthcoming Revolution/Rapido Class 92.  You can still order a Caledonian Sleeper Class 92 here. The shorter services in Scotland are usually operated by Class 67 or 73 locomotives. The Lowlander runs between London Euston, Glasgow and Edinburgh.  At Carstairs the 16 coaches are split, wth the front half for Glasgow and the rear eight for Edinburgh. The Highlander also comprises 16 coaches, but serves three destinations.  At Edinburgh the train divides and then half goes forward to to Inverness, and the rest of the train splits into two further portions: one for Aberdeen and one for Fort William. Caledonian Sleeper is replacing the existing Mk2 and Mk3 fleet with a single fleet of the new Mk5 vehicles compromising four different vehicle types:  Sleeper, Sleeper (Accessible), Club coach and Seated (Day) coach.

These vehicles are all in the company’s attractive Dark Teal colour, with pale silver doors and bodyside antler motif – the prongs of the antlers representing the two Lowlander and three Highlander destinations. Revolution plans to offer models in attractive book-set cases to allow individual portions, or the complete 16-car Lowlander and Highlander sleepers, to be depicted.

These models are being produced with the kind permission of The Scottish Ministers.

Trans Pennine Express The TPE sets are used in fixed rakes of 5 between Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Manchester and Liverpool and are powered by Class 68 locomotives, so ours will complement the highly regarded Dapol model. The vehicles are owned by Beacon Rail and we would like to thank them and TPE for their cooperation in enabling us to produce these models.

All models will feature detailed interiors, switchable coach interior lighting as standard and where appropriate directional head and tail lights.  We are also looking at other exciting features though these are currently still at the design stage.

The TPE models will be sold in complete train packs of 5 vehicles, again in attractive book sets.

As ever, these models can only proceed if enough people pre-order, and we will be opening the order books for both Caledonian Sleeper and Trans Pennine Express models in due course. This project marks our second collaborative venture with highly-regarded Dublin based manufacturers Accurascale. They are producing the models in 4mm scale, and we are sharing much of the research and development to offer modellers the highest possible quality while keeping overheads down as low as we can.