Rapido Trains UK announce SR Diagram 1379/1400 8 plank open wagons in 00 and SECR wagons in N gauge, and an exclusive brake van livery from Train Times.

Rapido trains UK have announced they are producing a range of  SR Diagram 1379 and Diagram 1400 eight  plank open wagons in 00. They have also announced that their SECR wagons and Diagram 1558 6 wheel brake van are to be produced in N gauge as wagon packs.

There were ten standard open wagon designs produced for the SR under Maunsell, although these could actually be grouped into just three main types: an 8 plank open that came in eight versions, a 5 plank open and an 8 plank ferry train wagon.
The first and numerically the largest SR design is the Diagram 1379 eight  plank open on a standard 17’6″ RCH underframe with 9’0″ wheelbase with a total of 7,950 built. The first 3000 built from 1926 were fitted with Morton brakes  with the remainder with SR ‘Freighter Brakes. Production continued until 1933.
88 Diagram 1379 8 plank wagons were transferred to the Isle of Wight in 1948/9 receiving 278xx / 279xx numbers.
In 1935 the wheel base of the standard 17’6″ underframe was increased to 10’0″ and from August 1936 an unfitted version (similar to the Diagram 1379) was introduced and given Diagram 1400.  Construction continued until November 1937 and conveniently 1,400 of this diagram were produced.

Rapido trains UK are incredibly offering 31, yes 31, versions across the two Diagrams 1379 and 1400, as they have tooled Morton and SR ‘Freighter’ brakes and split spoke and disc wheels, RRP is £32.95 per wagon (although they can be pre-ordered at a discounted price from retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre) :

• 940001: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.29306, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940002: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.30601, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940003: D1379 Morton Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.31458, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940004: D1379 Morton Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.31372, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940005: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.32565, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940006: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.33333, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940007: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.36485, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940008: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.36759, SR brown (pre-1936)
• 940009: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.30004, SR brown (pre-1936) (As preserved on the Bluebell Railway)
• 940010: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.29898, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940011: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.29427, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940012: D1379 Morton Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.31364, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940013: D1379 Morton Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.31421, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940014: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.33255, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940015: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.33730, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940016: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.36359, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940017: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.36871, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940018: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.10939, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940019: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.11783, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940020: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.27363, SR brown (post-1936)
• 940021: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S30215, BR grey
• 940022: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S27915, BR grey (Isle of Wight)
• 940023: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S27930, BR grey (Isle of Wight)
• 940024: D1379 Morton Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.S31472, BR grey
• 940025: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S34301, BR grey
• 940026: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S36194, SR brown with BR lettering
• 940027: D1379 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S34745, BR grey
• 940028: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S10953, SR brown with BR lettering
• 940029: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.S26782, BR grey
• 940030: D1400 Freighter Brakes, Disc Wheels, No.S11530, BR grey
• 940031: D1379 Morton Brakes, Split Spoke Wheels, No.DS719, Motive Power Department black

These wagons are currently at the Engineering prototype stage and should be available during mid 2023.

For N gauge modellers Rapido trains UK have reduced their SECR Diagram 1349 five-plank open, Diagram 1355 seven-plank open, Diagram 1426 covered van and but also the Diagram 1558 six-wheel dual-veranda brake van too. These N Gauge versions will only be available in multipacks. The ‘Freight Packs’ (RRP £99.95) comprise of 1 off of each D1349 five-plank, D1355 seven-plank, D1426 van and a D1558 dual veranda brake van. The ‘Wagon’ packs (RRP £69.95) are a triple packs of one wagon type with three different running numbers as follows:

• 942001: SECR livery Freight Train Pack
• 942005: Southern Railway Freight Train Pack (pre-1936 livery)
• 924009: Southern Railway Freight Train Pack (post-1936 livery)
• 942013: BR Freight Train Pack
• 942002: SECR Wagons Pack 2 – SECR Livery 5 Planks (Dia.1349)
• 942003: SECR Wagons Pack 3 – SECR Livery 7 Planks (Dia.1355)
• 942004: SECR Wagons Pack 4 – SECR Livery 10t Covered Vans (Dia.1426)
• 942002: SECR Wagons Pack 2 – SECR Livery 5 Planks (Dia.1349)
• 942003: SECR Wagons Pack 3 – SECR Livery 7 Planks (Dia.1355)
• 942004: SECR Wagons Pack 4 – SECR Livery 10t Covered Vans (Dia.1426)
• 942010: SECR Wagons Pack 2 – SR post-1936 Livery 5 Planks (Dia.1349)
• 942011: SECR Wagons Pack 2 – SR post-1936 Livery 7 Planks (Dia.1355)
• 942012: SECR Wagons Pack 4 – SR post-1936 Livery 12t Covered Vans
  (Dia.1426)
• 942014: SECR Wagons Pack 2 – BR Livery 5 Planks (Dia.1349)
• 942015: SECR Wagons Pack 3 – BR Livery 7 Planks (Dia.1355)
• 942016: SECR Wagons Pack 4 – BR Livery 10t Covered Vans (Dia.1426)

The N Gauge SECR wagons are at the CAD stage, with tooling due to start shortly and will be available during mid to late 2023. The packs can be pre-ordered at a discounted price from retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre. 

Additionally the Train Times Model Shop in Eastbourne has announced an excusive livery on the Rapido trains UK 00 gauge SE&CR 20t 6 wheel brake van, in Wainwrights’ goods livery of grey body and grey solebars, with the number 2010 as preserved on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. These can be ordered direct with Train Times Model Shop here  They should be available with the main production batch in early 2023.

The Rapido trains UK wagon range continues to grow at pace providing Southern / Southern Region modellers with plenty of further wagon choice, and the packs for N gauge modellers are also a welcome addition.