Heljan have today announced that are to produce the SR 4 wheel Passenger Luggage Vans and Utility Vans in 0 Gauge.
PMV S1874S (picture copyright and courtesy Heljan / Ben Jones)
The Passenger Luggage Vans, ‘PLV’ (Parcels / Miscellaneous Van, PMV) were initially developed by the SECR in 1919, the design formed the base for numerous luggage produced subsequently by the Southern. The original SECR built versions did not have the side vents and number of the ex SECR PLVs were through piped in the 1930s for Pull Push work. From the 1939 built batch the PLVs were built with mixed 6½” / 3½” planking on the body side.
Utility Vans, ‘Van U’ (Covered Carriage Truck, CCT) were first introduced in 1925 the Utility vans were similar to the PLV but with end loading doors also like the PLVs up until 1938 even thickness body side planking was employed and those from 1938 were built with mixed 6½” / 3½” planking. Those built by BR ins 1955 had plywood sides.
The Heljan models will depict a range of variations and liveries across the PLV/PMV – Van U/CCT as follows:
Defiance and Hercules at Eastleigh 20th March 2020 (Picture copyright and courtesy C Trerise)
50 007 “Hercules” and 50 049 “Defiance” were unveiled on 20th March 2019 at Eastleigh following their repainting into GBRf colours. 50 007 was revealed to have 50 014 “Warspite” on one side, much to the delight of Tim Shoveller and Darren Ward who unveiled the change of identity! The Kernow Model Rail Centre model will reflect this dual-identity, as well as faithfully re-creating the small but important differences between the livery of the two locomotives.
GBRf worked closely with the Class 50 Alliance, the owners of 50 007 and 50 049, in enabling a return to the mainline for their locomotives in 2017 and subsequently through a programme of railtours during 2018 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Class 50s.
The decision to repaint the locomotives into the striking new livery was a recognition of the developing relationship between the two organisations and marked a new chapter in the story of the Class 50s. Over the past couple of years, GBRf has invested in a programme of driver training to enable Class 50 operation over most of the UK rail network.
The repaints were carried out by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh. The first outing for the GBRf-liveried Class 50s was on Saturday 23rd March when they worked Pathfinder Tours’ Teminator-Phoenixed railtour from London Paddington to Penzance and return to Waterloo. This marked 25th years since the final BR operated Class 50 railtour over the same route, The Terminator, which was also promoted by Pathfinder.
Following the repaints, the locomotives have been available to operate selected GBRf trains on a ‘spot-hire’ basis. This work includes movement of locomotives between heritage railway gala events, and future railtours. The locomotives will continue to be based at the Severn Valley Railway, but will have easy access to the national network, thanks to the 24-hour connection at Kidderminster,
In addition to the above Dapol have this week also announced three new Class 50 liveries as part of its main range, due mid 2021. Like the Kernow Model Rail Centre versions these will be their Next Generation Diesel models, with entirely re-designed chassis and electronics and incorporate a new iron core 5 pole motor.
Liveries announced, including DCC fitted versions, are as follows:
Class 50 Defiance 50149 Railfreight Grey Refurbished
Class 50 Ajax 50046 Large Logo Refurbished
Class 50 Resolution 50018 Late NSE Refurbished
Also announced this week is a new batch of their ex SR Van U / BR Covered Carriage Truck (CCT), that is being released at the end of this year in: SR Olive, BR(S) Green and BR crimson and BR Blue.
Today Bachmann Europe Plc. announced their plans for the next 18 months, or so (which I know some will find amusing as progress on some of the previously announced models have certainly taken, or are taking longer longer than their intended 18 month timescales for a number of reasons), for both the Bachmann Branchlines (00) and Graham Farish (N) brands. They also provided updates on the current work in progress. I outline below the couple of items of Southern / Southern Region interest, much centered around the 30th anniversary of Network SouthEast including a Class 47, Class 166 Networker, and Class 08 in NSE liveries.
The Launch of Network South East took place on 10th June 1986 at Waterloo Station. Picture courtesy and copyright Brian Morrison
Bachmann also advised that 2016, like the last couple of years will also have to be a year of consolidation to catch up with previously announced models with addition of new resources being put into the areas of CAD and tooling, which is generally where the currently bottlenecks are occurring, as opposed to production . Overall in addition to the two new tooled EMUs over 300 new items (liveries) have been added to the two ranges.
A further development will be the addition of passengers to coaches and loads to wagons. Selected coaches in the Mk1 and Mk2 range and some of the EMUs will soon be available with factory fitted passengers.
Bachmann 00 gauge
The headline new tooling is the Class 414 (2 HAP) EMU that will be produced in Blue and Grey with NSE branding, BR Green, Blue and Grey and Network SouthEast livery.
2 HAP No. 6061 in BR Green. Picture courtesy and copyright Rodney Lissenden
The 2 HAP was introduced between 1957 and 1963, for outer suburban services, totaling 209 units the majority were of Mk1 design, numbered 6001-6173, whilst a batch of 36, numbers 5601-5636, were SR Style slam door bodies built on the underframes of older withdrawn units. The last of the class were withdrawn in 1995.
The N Class 2-6-0 will once again be available in BR lined black livery with early emblem as 31874, 1406 in SR black livery and as Number 1854 (again) in ‘The Thanet Flyer’ train set pack with two Bulleid coaches (BTK & CK from exisiting tooling) in SR Malachite Green (albeit incorrectly SR branded as the coaches are based on the later post 1950 built versions).
The E4 0-6-2T will be released as 2517 in SR Green and 32494 in BR Lined Black with early emblem.
There will be further releases of the SR PLV in SR Livery, PMV in BR Green livery with black ends and the CCT in BR Blue (weathered) and in Departmental Green liveries.
31-380 Class 416 2 EPB EMU No. 6262 in blue & grey livery with NSE branding with Passenger figures
31-390 Class 414 2 HAP No. 6061 in BR green livery
31-391 Class 414 2 HAP No. 6062 in BR blue & grey livery
31-392 Class 414 2 HAP No. 4322 in Network SouthEast livery
31-654 Class 47 No. 47576 ‘Kings Lynn’ in Network SouthEast livery
32-109 Class 08 No. 08631 ‘Eagle’ in Network SouthEast livery
32-165 N Class No. 31874 in BR lined black livery with early emblem
32-166 N Class No. 1406 in SR black livery
32-290DS Class 101 2 car DMU in Network SouthEast livery with with Passenger figures and DCC SOUND
35-076A E4 No. 2517 in Southern green livery
35-079 E4 No. 32494 in BR lined black livery with early emblem
30-430 Capital Commuter Train Set Pack Class 416 in NSE with Art Deco low releif station building and track.
30-165 The Thanet Flyer Train Set Pack as desribed above.
39-525A SR PLV in Southern Railway green livery
39-528A SR CCT in BR blue livery (weathered)
39-529 SR CCT in Departmental green livery
39-530 SR PMV in BR green livery with black ends
39-003 BR Mark 1 coach pack (1 x SK and 1 x BSK) in BR blue & grey livery with NSE branding with Passenger figures
39-188 BR Mark 1 BG Full Brake in Network SouthEast livery
39-265 BR Mk1 RMB Restaurant Miniature Buffet in Network SouthEast livery
39-273 BR Mark 1 GUV General Utility Van in BR (S) green livery
33-831 Queen Mary Brake Van in SatLink livery (weathered)
33-832 Queen Mary Brake Van in EWS livery
38-075B 12T Southern ventilated van in Southern Railway brown livery (large letters)
38-076C 12T Southern ventilated van in BR bauxite livery
38-990 20T Brake Van and SR Pill Box Brake Van twin pack in Network SouthEast livery
Work in progress includes the SECR Birdcage Coaches and the LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2 Atlantics which are now in the drawing office. The USA tank for (Model Rail Magazine) is now about to move into production.
Graham Farish N gauge
New tooling in N Gauge is the Class 319 EMU in Network South East, Thameslink and ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Northern Rail liveries.
372-875 Class 319 No. 319004 in Network SouthEast (original dark grey) livery Picture courtesy and copyright of Dennis Lovett.
72 of these four car dual voltage units were built by BREL in York during 1987/8 for the launch of the Thameslink services between Bedford and Brighton.
Also announced are a couple of train packs: ‘The Capital Connection’ comprising of a Class 47/4 and 3 off Mk1 coaches in NSE livery and ‘A Day at the Races’ featuring a Class 3MT 2-6-2T number 82001 in BR Lined Breen livery with 3 off BR Mk1 Horseboxes in BR Green.
371-427A Class 170 No. 170308 3 car DMU in South West Trains livery
371-023 Class 08 No. 08600 ‘Ivor’ in Network SouthEast livery
372-875 Class 319 No. 319004 in Network SouthEast livery
372-876 Class 319 No. 319382 in Thameslink livery
372-877 Class 319 No. 319362 ‘Northern Powerhouse’ in Northern Rail livery
370-185 A day at the Races Train Pack
370-430 Capital Connection Train Pack
374-016 BR Mark 1 SO in Network SouthEast livery
374108A BR Mark 1 RMB in BR (S) green livery
374-131A BR Mark 1 GUV in BR green livery
374-166 BR Mark 1 FK in Network SouthEast livery
374-193 BR Mark 1 BSK in Network SouthEast livery
From a work in progress perspective The SECR Birdcage coaches are still at the development stage whilst the SR 4 wheel utility vans have now been approved for production along with the BR standard 4MT (80xxx) 2-6-4Ts. The Queen Mary brake vans are in the process of being shipped.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bachmann for their kind hospitality at their media event today.
Today’s post is an update / catch up on the status of a few Southern Railway / Region related models that are in progress with a number of the Ready to Run manufacturers / commissioners from N to 0 gauge.
Kernow Model Centre
Regular readers of my blog will know that I have been assisting the Kernow Model Centre with their Southern related commissions and I pleased to be able to report progress on a number of fronts.
Latest livery sample of the Kernow Models Centre O2 K2105 in SR post war black livery as No. 225
Firstly: livery samples of the mainland version of the Adams O2 have now been received, a number of corrections made and already second livery samples returned in the last week or so. Once all the variations are finally signed off then production can start, along with the Isle of Wight versions that were fully signed off a while ago now. Further information on the Kernow model Centre O2’s can be found here.
ex LSWR Gate Stock parts hot off of the injection moulding machines, can you guess what each part is?
Secondly: It had been kept reasonably quiet, that the although the CADs for the ex LSWR Gate Stock Pull Push sets were previously signed off, tooling has actually commenced and The Kernow Model Centre have now received photographs of the first off components from the tooling. These now require assembly and shipping to the UK for inspection. Further information on the Kernow Model Centre ex LSWR Gate Stock can be found here.
The first livery samples for the Bachmann four wheel luggage vans PLV/PMV and CCT’s first announced in March 2012 have now been received and all can be seen here on the Bachmann website. They are producing the following:
39-525 Southern PLV Passenger Luggage Van Southern Railway Green
39-526 Ex-Southern PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Crimson
39-527 Ex-Southern PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Green
39-528 Ex-Southern CCT Covered Carriage Truck BR Blue – Weathered
Graham Farish
The first of the original Merchant Navy Pacific models that I reviewed in my post here have now actually started to appear with the retailers.
Graham Farish N Class No. 31844
The N Class Mogul 2-6-0 first announced in March 2013 is now on its way, with the review samples having been received by the model media so they should start to appear with retailers during July and August. Just like the Merchant Navy, I can vouch for the fact that it is an impressive looking model, especially for its size, and continues the increase in levels of detail for N Gauge Ready to Run models. A video of these models, but sadly not actually running, can be viewed on their website here.
The following four initial variations are being produced:
372-930 No. 868 in SR Olive Green
372-931 No. 31844 in BR Black Early Emblem
372-932 No. 31811 in BR Black Late Crest
372-933 No. 810 in SECR Grey
The livery samples for the Bogie Van B model have been signed off and the expected delivery of the of these models is currently due the end of August / September.
Dapol
Dapol cad of the 4mm ex LSWR style lattice post working signal
At the start of last month they also announced a delay to the O Gauge Terrier due to the the level of electromagnetic emissions. A slight modification is now required to the production which will result in delay in the shipment of the initial SR green and LBSC versions towards the end of July, however the BR and Bodiam variants are now due to be delivered three to four weeks later.
I have also been informed that the CAD work on the first variants of the N Gauge Schools class first announced in July 2012 have been completed, I had already provided some corrections and information to Dapol for these a while back so it is good to hear that they are progressing, but no news as yet when tooling might actually commence.
[Edit:] I have also been reminded that BR green liveried versions of the N gauge Maunsell coaches are due out next month and that Dapol have also now committed to bringing out a brake composite and four compartment brake third by Quarter 4 2015 and these are currently at CAD/CAM stage. This will make possible several prototypical set formations.
Hornby
[Further Edit 12/06/15] Hornby have today released a video via their Engine Shed blog post here from their development team that shows the first running sample of the Adams Radial. Keen eyes should also check out the coaches that the sample is hauling as I think the cat might have been let out of the bag on some other appropriate items they have planned for release in 2016, that I was previously made aware of, but I wont say anymore until more formal information is released…so watch this space…
In light of Bachmann’s recent announcement to produce versions of these 10 ton 4 wheel luggage, Parcels and utility vans I thought it might be timely to provide a little more information about the differing types and describe those that I have already in my fleet and can be seen running on Fisherton Sarum. The designations in brackets relate to those given in BR days.
Passenger Luggage Van, ‘PLV’ (Parcels / Miscellaneous Van, PMV)
Available as Parkside Dundas Kit PC36 and now Ready to Run from Bachmann announced
A ex SECR PLV (BR PMV) No 1966 from a Parkside Kit the SECR versions differed from the SR built versions by not having bodyside ventilators and were through piped in the 1930.s for Pull Push work
Developed by the SECR in 1919 the design formed the base for numerous luggage produced subsequently by the Southern. The Parkside kit is based on the pre 1939 batches of vans with even planking on the body side. The original SECR built versions did not have the side vents (the Parkside kit can be built as either version, with or without side vents) and number of the ex SECR PLVs were through piped in the 1930s for Pull Push work.
Passenger Luggage Van, ‘PLV’ (Parcels / Miscellaneous Van, PMV)
From the 1939 built batch the PLVs were built with mixed 6½” / 3½” planking on the body side. I am not aware at the time of writing of a kit for this version.
Utility Van, ‘Van U’ (Covered Carriage Truck, CCT)
Available as Parkside Dundas Kit PC39 or Dapol ex Wrenn Ready-to-Run and now also Ready to Run from Bachmann announced.
SR Van U, Utility Van (BR CCT) No 1737 built from a Parkside kit, differs from the PLV/PMV by having end loading doors.
First introduced in 1925 the Utility vans were similar to the PLV but with end loading doors also like the PLVs up until 1938 even thickness body side planking was employed and those from 1938 were built with mixed 6½” / 3½” planking as modelled by both Dapol and Parkside.
SR Van U (CCT), a repainted Wrenn version
The Dapol ex Wrenn utility van considering the age of the original tooling it is not a bad model although a few minor dimensional compromises have been made, mainly around the doors which like the Tri-ang bogie luggage van have been made to open. Also the under frame detail is a little over scale. I have repainted mine and in amongst the Parkside kits can be difficult to spot.
Utility Van (CCT) Built in 1955 with Plywood sides.
Available as Parkside Dundas Kit PC47
As I model the period from 1946 to 1949 I have not added this version to my collection.
The announcement by Bachmannof their plans for Ready to Run versions of the PLV/PMV and Van U /CCT I am sure will be welcome by many modellers (unless you are a kit manufacturer) and assuming they match the standard set by Hornby for the Van C / BY of which I have no doubt they they will be a popular addition to many a layout.
At the now annual trade model and hobby show held today Bachmann / Farish announced their plan for new models to be produced over the next 18 months.
In 00 there are no new Southern related locomotives (although four new steam locomotives from other areas and a DMU will be produced), however they will be producing a range of the four wheel 10T luggage / parcels vans (PLV / PMV / CCT)
The N gauge Farish range will see new tooling for the Original style Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacifics (Initial 3 versions will be of Third series MN’s with 6000 gallon tenders, in BR Blue and Brunswick with both Early and Late crests) and a brand new range of Bulleid coaches (BR built 15″ Ventilator versions) and includes a BSK, SK, SO and CK. The four wheel luggage van CCT will also be produced in N gauge.
