Rapido Trains UK announce a brand-new range of OO Gauge Midland wagons: the D299 5-Plank Open and D301 6-Plank Open. For those wondering why I am posting about these, firstly they were built in the tens of thousands and would be seen in any goods yard and goods train across the UK, secondly via those built for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR) a number were inherited in London South Western Railway (LSWR) and subsequently entered Southern Railway stock.
The Rapido Trains UK models will have the usual wealth of full external, internal and underframe detail. In addition, the range features numerous tooling variants including axle boxes, hand brake levers, door stops and bottom doors. All models feature 8-spoked wheels, NEM coupling pockets, brass bearings.
Midland D299 6-Plank Open Wagon (SR D1305)
The Midland Railway D299 8-ton high-sided 5-plank open wagon was built to Derby Carriage and Wagon drawing No. 550 of 1882. They were far from the biggest all-purpose wagon. It is estimated that the approximate total built over a twenty-year period is an incredible 72,000 vehicles.
Although plenty of the older D299 opens were scrapped, 7000 wagons were sold second-hand between 1905 and 1916; these ended up in the hands of industrial users and light railways. The South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SE&CR) also hired some during the Great War, and 180 were sold in 1920 to the Port of London Authority.
Over 500 5-plank wagons were built for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway by contractors and at Highbridge Works; however, bottom doors were omitted, and subtle changes were made, such as a longer brake lever.
The total quantity built for the S&DJR is unknown however, when the S&DJR’s goods stock was divided between the parent companies in 1914, the LSWR received about 224 of these 8-ton wagons.
Around half of these LSWR wagons were then passed to the Southern Railway upon the grouping becoming SR Diagram 1305, a small number of these SR wagons made it into British Railways ownership but unlikely to have gained BR grey livery.
Those being produced relevant to S&DJR / SECR / LSWR / Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway (PD&SWJR) and SR modellers are as follows:
- 845007: MR D299 5-Plank Open – S&DJR Grey No.174
- 845008: MR D299 5-Plank Open – S&DJR Grey No.846
- 845009: MR D299 5-Plank Open – S&DJR Grey No.961
- 845010: MR D299 5-Plank Open – LSWR Grey No.14846
- 845011: MR D299 5-Plank Open – LSWR Grey No.14965
- 845012: MR D299 5-Plank Open – SR Brown No.284
- 845013: MR D299 5-Plank Open – SR Brown No.180
- 845016: MR D299 5-Plank Open – SECR Red Oxide No.C13
- 845017: MR D299 5-Plank Open – SECR Red Oxide No.C105
- 845018: MR D299 5-Plank Open – PD&SW Red No.35
Midland D301 6-Plank Open Wagon (SR D1306)
The one thousand higher 10 ton capacity 6 plank Diagram 301 wagons were introduced by the Midland Railway in 1907. A further 80 were then made for the S&DJR, which the Midland shared responsibility and ownership of, with the London & South Western Railway gaining six.
These wagons survived into the grouping, and Southern Railway ownership, downgraded to 8 ton capacity becoming SR Diagram 1306 and the last one number 290 being withdrawn in 1934.
- 845207: MR D301 6-Plank Open – SDJR Grey No.1179
- 845208: MR D301 6-Plank Open – SDJR Grey No.1124
- 845209: MR D301 6-Plank Open – SDJR Grey No.1200
- 845210: MR D301 6-Plank Open – LSWR Grey No.14956
- 845211: MR D301 6-Plank Open – LSWR Grey No.14959
- 845212: MR D301 6-Plank Open – SR Brown No.290
- 845213: MR D301 6-Plank Open – SR Brown No.288
Midland Railway Class M 0-6-0 goods loco
Also announced is the Midland Railway, Samuel Waite Johnson, Class M 0-6-0 steam locomotive. Primarily used as a freight locomotive, they were equipped to work vacuum-braked trains, so it was not uncommon for them to haul passenger services. A total of 345 examples were built for the Midland Railway, mainly by outside contractors, bar 10, between 1892 and 1903. Five were built for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, hence giving them a mention on here.
The three S&DJR versions being produced in both DCC ready and DCC Sound Fitted are as follows:
- 837005: MR Class M 0-6-0 – No.72 S&DJR Blue
- 837006: MR Class M 0-6-0 – No.74 Simplified S&DJR Blue
- 837007: MR Class M 0-6-0 – No.75 S &DJR Black
All the above models are are likely to go into production during 2027 and to view the full range available to pre-order through Kernow Model Rail Centre here.