The HOA aggregate hopper is the next modern wagon to be proposed by Revolution Trains.
The model will be produced for us by Rapido – who produced our very well received TEA tankers – and will feature similar levels of details and attention to accuracy,
Nearly 200 of these wagons are in service with three operators in five different liveries, and they are used for stone trains from quarries in central England, the Mendips and have also seen service on Anglo-Scottish sand trains for glassmaking.
We are working with all three of the wagon owners – DB, Ermewa and VTG as well as the operators Tarmac and Mendip Rail – and have permissions to produce all the liveries these vehicles have carried.
The first 68 wagons were delivered in 2006 in EWS Construction colours.
Almost immediately a large number were repainted into the blue/grey colours of Cemex, one of the largest customers, and these hoppers, in mixed Trains with those in grey, ran from quarries in the Derbyshire hills to locations across the country.
Once EWS became DB Schenker a small number of HOAs were repainted into the new house colour of red. Observations show that the positioning of the DB logo and lettering varies from wagon to wagon; in our triple pack we will replicate this.
In recent times demand for aggregate traffic has grown, and after identifying a need for more hopper wagons both wagon hire companies Ermewa and VTG decided to place more orders with Astra Rail.
The Ermewa wagons are a pale grey and also include Tarmac branding.
Those supppplied to VTG are silver and are used for traffic from the Mendip quarries in Somerset, bearing the VTG logo and that of Mendip Rail. Mendip Rail operate in a pool, and these wagons are often hauled by Class 59 locos in Mendip, Yeoman and Hanson liveries.
At this time we are not seeking any money, just expressions of interest, however we have already prepared 2-D drawings and these will be rapidly turned into 3D CADs if uptake is encouraging.
Guide price for this wagon is £30 each, or £90 for a triple pack. As ever, ordering direct from us by the order deadline guarantees you the best price.