Posted on

TEA tanker now being tooled

Tooling has commenced on the Revolution Trains TEA tanker now that all CAD drawings have been approved and signed off.

Working with Rapido Trains, we believe these models will bring a new level of sophistication and authenticity to the British market.

Although the TEA tankers look similar, there are subtle differences between batches and many of these are being reproduced, leading to five different configurations:

Type 1a:

This represents the first wagons built by Greenbrier in the number series VTG88115-42.  These are in VTG red livery.

1a - 1

On this type, as with most of the rest of the builds, there are two top hatches with a three part vent in the centre of the wagon:

1a - 3

It also has the shorter type of air tank and single discharge nozzles each side:

1a - 4

The second type (1b) represents the wagons in VTG blue (VTG 88143-56) and VTG grey (VTG 88157-74)

1b - 1

These  have the same air tank arrangement and discharge equipment as type 1a but only one central hatch, the triple vent at one end and a blanking plate at the other:

1b - 2

The next type represents the wagons originally built for EWS,  now DB Schenker,  (870200-344) and  Freightliner (871001-6).  151 of this type were built, making it so far the most numerous variant.

2 - 1

These had the original arrangement of twin top hatches and central triple vent but differed below the barrel with bifurcated discharge nozzles and a longer air tank:

2 - 3

The last wagons built (so far) for VTG incorporate the larger air tank, but the single discharge nozzles.  they also feature the twin hatches and central vent on the top of the barrel:

3a - 1

Some of this final batch were delivered in Greenergy livery and are dedicated to this company’s traffic between northern England, the Humber refineries, the midlands and south Wales.  These have an additional outflow relief (coloured blue on the CAD) adjacent to one of the discharge pipes at one end:

3b - 2

For all types the walkways will be photo etched, and the models feature NEM couplers in pivoting close-coupler sockets and separate wire brake pipes and actuator rods.

The tooling should take around 6-8 weeks and we are hoping to have first shots during November.