Category: Mullet/Parr/Borail

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March forward with new arrivals

We have a considerable quantity of models expected over the next couple of months with many already at sea (and one due to come by air)!

OO gauge/4mm

Borail/Mullet/Parr/Super Tench 60′ engineers wagons have shipped and are expected to arrive in the UK in early March. Update – 19/1/26: all balance invoices generated.

Cartic-4 car carriers have also shipped and are expected shortly after the Borails/Mullets/Parrs/Super Tench in early-mid March. Update – 17/2/26: all balance invoices generated.

KSA ‘Rover Cube” vans and timber carriers – the remade KSAs are largely complete. The timber carrier versions have shipped and are due early March (with the Borails). The vans are in the final stage of production and checking and will ship separately soon.

N gauge/2mm

1938 stock – the much anticipated 38 stock are largely complete with final instructions and packing to be completed before the models are shipped. The 38 stock will be air-freighted so we’re still expecting delivery to the UK in the next few weeks.

Balances: if you paid in full then you don’t need to do anything – we will send out your order(s) when the models arrive. If you paid a deposit we will send you balance invoices for your models starting this week. All the models featured in this update will be invoiced. Please note that sending out all the balance invoices will take some time – please do not chase balance invoices until we have said that they have all been generated. We will update this page with progress of balance invoice generation.

If you are expecting a balance invoice(s) for a model and we state that all invoices have been generated then please check your account on our website if you haven’t received it by email – if you can’t find the balance invoice(s) in your account then please contact us in case we’ve missed it.

We would be grateful if you could pay your balance invoice(s) before the models arrive so that we can get your orders out as quickly as possible.

Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.

If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account.

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N gauge new arrivals: SR inspection saloon/Caroline and Borails/Mullets/Parrs/Super Tench

Updated: 19/11/24 – please read below.

If you would like to collect an outstanding order for there SR inspection saloon and/or Borails/Mullets/Parrs/Super Tench at the NEC on 23/24 November 2024 please contact us in advance by Thursday 21 November so that we can arrange for the correct stock to be brought along – we will confirm if we receive your request (no confirmation = no guarantee that we will have your order!).

A pair of new models in N gauge have recently arrived at our storage facility: the Borail/Mullet/Parr/Super Tench wagons and our SR inspection saloon “Caroline”.

SR inspection saloon/Caroline: all balance invoices have been generated and all models paid in full in advance have been sent out. All orders paid in full by 11/11/24 have been despatched. 10% of balances to be received.

Borail/Mullet/Parr/Super Tench: all balance invoices have been generated. All orders paid in full in advance have been sent out. Orders with a deposit and balance payments will start to go out from 26 November 2024 (apologies the new Warners NEC show is this weekend which takes 3 days out of this week).

Paid in full: if you paid in full you don’t need to do anything other than relax, your model will be shipped first in order of when we received your order(s) (and your order status will be updated)!

Paid a deposit: if you paid a deposit then we are starting to send out balance invoices but that will take a few days to process all the balance invoices for both sets of models. Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched. If you are expecting a balance invoice(s) for a model and we state that all invoices have been generated then please check your account on our website if you haven’t received it by email – if you can’t find the balance invoice(s) in your account then please contact us in case we’ve missed it.

If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 4 November (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!

BR YLA Mullet and YQA parr

IMPORTANT! Please do not chase your balance invoices or delivery(s) – we understand how frustrating it is watching other people’s models arrive but chasing us just delays our ability to send out your models (as we end up dealing with your messages rather than sorting your order(s))! Obviously if you need to tell us something urgent then please still get in touch!

We will update this page with progress of sending out balance invoices and orders in due course, obviously if you haven’t received your order when we have sent out all the orders then please let us know!

If you missed out on ordering direct then you should be able to place an order with one of our retailers, who will be receiving their orders next week.

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September 30th – N gauge deadline day!

It’s another Revolution Trains deadline day – this time for a slew of upcoming N gauge models: the class 313 and 314 Electric Multiple Units, BR Borail, BR YLA Mullet, YQA Parr and YQA Super Tench plus FNA-D modern nuclear flask carrier.

Once the order books close these models will go into production. They will become available in due course from retailers but at a price that includes their margin.

If you are ordering more than one product type please make separate orders as the models are likely to arrive at different times and we can more easily ensure you get the models you want as soon as we have them if they are ordered separately.

Purchase at low pre-production price
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Mullets can look good…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming 00 gauge BR Borail EB/EC and MB wagons, BRV and BRA steel carriers and YLA Mullet, YQA Super Tench engineering flats.

BORAIL MB (front) and BRV rear. Please note all the samples shown have accommodation wheels. Production models will have wheelsets of the correct scale diameter.

The Borails were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s as EB and MB variants (with five bolsters) and EC (no bolsters) for the Eastern and Midland regions to convey pre-stressed concrete beams and other long, heavy items. They had 8′ plate bogies, five-spoke handbrake wheels and twelve chain loops on each side.

Chain loops on each side are separate fittings. On production models the deck will be a slightly lighter shade.

Under TOPS in the 1970s they were coded BRV, then in the early 1980s 150 were fitted with air brakes, six bolsters, recoded BRA and used for steel traffic, particularly rails, primarily from British Steel Workington. These wagons were painted railfreight red during the rebuild.

The shade of Railfreight red will be corrected on this version, and the bolsters will be correclty configured.

Later the fleet was transferred to the engineers and given the fishkind name Mullet. Most received CE ‘Dutch’ livery. On some wagons the bolsters were removed and replaced with longitudinal baulks for carrying concrete sleepers; these were given the fishkind name Parr, while post privatisation some were designated Super Tench, having their upper body replaced with modular ISO standard mesh-sided cages.

Livery variations included variations in CE Dutch – with some wagons receiving Railfreight grey underframes; all-over mainline blue, and EWS maroon. Versions of these are all available to pre-order in packs with two wagons that complement each other.

These are a selection of the twin packs available; full details of the complete range and wagon identies are on the order page. Please note N gauge graphics are shown; however the 00 versions are the same.

Detail features on these models include fine photo etched mesh sides, separate wire and plastic details, NEM couplers in kinematic pockets and four different designs of brakewheel.

Once the decorated samples are assessed feedback will be sent, and then the models will be ready to go into production. The order book will close in due course.

For those who prefer not to pre-order, these twin packs are expected to be available from retailers, albeit at a higher price.

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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.