The order deadline closed on 31 October 2017
Prototype
Following the modernisation plan of 1955 British Railways identified a need for faster, higher capacity wagons to cater for rapidly growing petroleum traffic. Working with Esso, Charles Roberts Ltd developed a new design with a capacity of 35t – the result the 35t Class A and Class B tank wagons.
The wagons were designated Class A and Class B (depending on the contents) and hundreds were built. As well as petroleum products they were also used for chemicals and molasses.
From 1960 a modified suspension was introduced, and examples of the wagons remained in service into the 1990s.
They operated in long block trains and also as smaller cuts in mixed freight trains, and were hauled by anything from 9Fs, 8Fs or Black 5s to pairs of BRCW Type 3s, Sulzer Type 4s or EE Type 3s.
The model
Our model will represent the Class B type, with a shorter barrel, and the tooling will be designed to allow both the original and revised suspension types to be offered. It will feature NEM close-couplers, RP25 wheels and etched catwalk details.
Our model is being designed by former Graham Farish/Bachmann engineer Colin Allbright, who has considerable experience in model production and also created the Ultima range. As with our TEA tank wagons we will offer single and triple packs – the triple packs will feature different numbers to the triple packs.
Esso black with original suspension (single pack: 3921, triple pack: 3976, 4211, 4249):
Mobil Charrington red with original suspension (single pack: 221, triple pack: 226, 228, 229):
Unbranded black with original suspension (single pack: 44222, triple pack: 44235, 44238, 44247):
Regent black with revised suspension (single pack: 329, triple pack: 365, 404, 448):
Texaco black with revised suspension (single pack: 47791, triple pack: 47837, 47888, 47900):
United Molasses brown with revised suspension (single pack: 48052/UM251, triple pack: 48031/UM230,, 48053/UM252, 48056/UM255) – NB – one (UM230) of the triple pack is United Molasses all over brown (i.e. no blue ends) on original suspension:
If successful, we will also produce the Class A type.
As with all our products, we will only produce enough to satisfy pre-orders. The order deadline closed on 31 October 2017.