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:
Today Bachmann Europe Plc. having brought forward the timing from their traditional March slot, and hot on the heals of Hornby last week, announced their plans for the next 18 months, or so (as we have seen in the past 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 items of Southern / Southern Region interest.
Following the last few years that have had to be a case of consolidation, to catch up with previously announced models due to resource and manufacturing capacity issues, the addition of new resources put into the areas of CAD and tooling has started to see an improvement in bringing existing projects to fruition, overall 12 new tooling products have been delivered to the market in 2016, such as the excellent USA tank on behalf of Model Rail magazine and also the progress now seen in the Engineering prototypes of the ex SECR Birdcage coaching stock and the ex LBSC 4-4-2 H2 Class ‘Atlantics’.
The overall theme for both brands this year is the 30th Anniversary of the launch of the RailFreight sector in 1987, the Railfreight brand was relaunched with a bold new colour scheme combining three-tone grey paintwork with colourful sector symbols and imaginative depot plaques.
Also included in both brands is a unique Vulcan collectors pack featuring Class 37 ‘Vulcan XH558’ locomotives in each respective scale and newly tooled 1:144 scale models of the Vulcan aircraft.
Despite post Brexit exchange rates falls (up to 20%) Bachmann held pricing during 2016 and although rises will be seen during 2017 they tried to mitigate this and keep such rises to a minimum as much as possible. Just 28% of the 00 range (36% in N) will see an increase with an average rise of approximately 6% (4% in N).
Bachmann 00 gauge
The headline new tooling is the Class 410 4BEP EMU.
The Class 410 4-BEP EMU Picture copyright and courtesy of Bachmann.The Class 410 (or 4BEP) electrical multiple units (7003 to 7012) were delivered from Eastleigh works in 1958/59. The 4BEP was conceived alongside the existing 4CEP to provide buffet accommodation and were often to be found as the centre 4 coaches in a 12 car formation between two 4CEP units, but could also be found running singularly or paired with a single 4CEP.
The Class 410 4-BEP EMU in Blue and Grey Picture copyright and courtesy of Bachmann.The models feature full underfloor equipment, dedicated coupling system, internal lighting and illuminated train head code boxes.
31-490 4 BEP 4 Car EMU No. 7003in BR Green livery with Small Yellow Panel
31-491 Class 410 4 Car EMU No. 7010 in BR Blue & Grey livery
Other items of SR / BR(s) interest being released as new items for 2017 are as follows:
32-860 BR Standard Class 9F Numbr 92211 BR(s) Large Tender with late crest as allocated to Eastleigh 1961, then to Feltham 6/1963 before being transferred to ER 9/1963. Used on Fawley Oil traffic.
31-236A Class 205 No. 1121 BR Green livery with Small Yellow Panel (Weathered)
31-238 Class 205 No. 1122 in BR Blue livery with Full Yellow Ends – No Headlight (Weathered)
38-526 Mk1 Horse Box in BR Green(S) livery
New tooling for 00 also includes: Midland Class 1532 (1P), Class 20/3, MK1 Carflats (to a different diagram to the Oxford Rail planned release), VEA Vanwide ventilated vans and BR ‘Prestwin’ Twin Silos wagons.
Not specifically SR / BR(s) related (although she visited Salisbury only last week) I also feel it is worth mentioning their release of Class 37 ‘Merl Evans’
To honour their colleague:, who unfortunately passed away last year following his retirement from being head of Research and Development, Bachmann are producing a OO scale model of the Class 37 locomotive number 37099 in Colas Rail livery that was recently named ‘Merl Evans’.
The ‘Merl Evans’ Colas Class 37 No. 37099 Picture copyright and courtesy of Bachmann.I had the pleasure of dealing with Merl during his time at Bachmann and this is a fine tribute to the work he put in to moving the hobby fowards as a whole. The locomotive has just been extensively overhauled and modified for the latest chapter in its working life with Colas working on the Main Line. As part of these works, a change had to be made to the headlight position on the nose (something that we will replicate on our tooling) and it was out-shopped in the latest Colas livery proudly carrying its unique tribute to Merl. A donation will be made from the sale of each model towards LOROS, the chosen charity of Merl’s family. LOROS provides hospice care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and further details can be found here.
32-789 Class 37/0 No. 37099 “Merl Evans” in Colas livery with Split Headcode
Graham Farish N gauge
New tooling in N Gauge is the ex SECR C Class 0-6-0
The 00 ex SECR C Class is getting reduced to N gauge. Picture copyright and courtesy of Bachmann.C Class (which is sound enabled) Designed primarily for goods duties, Harry Wainwright’s ‘C’ Class 0-6-0 also proved useful for local passenger and excursion trains. Built by Neilson, Reid & Co., Sharp Stewart and the South Eastern & Chatham Railway’s works at Longhedge and Ashford, they proved to be a successful and long-lived class with the last trio surviving in use until 1966. No. 592 is preserved at the Bluebell Railway.
This will be a perfect companion for the SECR ‘Birdcage’ coaches, also due to be released this year, as well as the many Southern Railway goods wagons in the range.
The model will feature a NEXT 18 DCC decoder socket, coreless motor, loco drive, fine cab detail and NEM couplers
372-775 C Class 0-6-0 No. 271 in SECR plain green livery
372-776 C Class 0-6-0 No. 1256 Southern Railway Black livery
372-777 C Class 0-6-0 No. 31227 in BR Black livery with early emblem
Other items of SR / BR(s) interest being released as new items for 2017 are as follows:
374-432 Bulleid 63ft Semi Open Brake Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery, number S4019 of Set 84
374-432A Bulleid 63ft Semi Open Brake Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery number S4020 of Set 84
374-442 Bulleid 63ft Corridor Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery, number S34 of Set 84
374-462 Bulleid 63ft Corridor Composite in BR(s) Malachite Green livery, number S5831 of Set 84
374-951 BR Mk2A FK Corridor First in BR(s) Green livery
374-631A SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van in BR(s) Green livery
374-683 BR Mk2 BSO in Network Rail livery
374-633 SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van in BR Departmental livery
377-850A SR 25 Ton ‘Pill Box’Brake Van in SR Brown livery with white Roof
377-854A SR 25 Ton ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van in BR Bauxite early livery
Graham Farish 474-432 Bulleid Semi Open Brake Third number S4109 of Set 84Note that the four versions of Bulleid coaches, although being sold separately, will be numbered and branded to make a correct 4 coach Set Number 84, as introduced in May 1949 for the South Eastern Section, with set numbers on the ends of the two Semi Open Brake Thirds. Set 84 remained in this livery until gaining the darker BR(s) green in August 1956.
New tooling for N also includes: Stanier 8F 2-8-0, Refurbished Class 31, Thompson coaches and retooled 100 T TEA tanker wagons.
Work in Progress
From a work in progress perspective, in 00: the ex SECR Birdcage coaches and ex LBSC 4-4-2 H2 Class ‘Atlantics’ are as already seen at last year at the Engineering Prototype stage and are now at the artwork / livery samples stage. The 450 Desiro EMU should be available in June this year and the warflat wagons should also be in production this year. The Class 414 2HAP and the 45 ton Ransomes and Rapier steam crane are both still at the R & D stage.
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.
Last weekend saw the annual Warley National Model railway Exhibition at the NEC, this post rounds up the news from a Southern / BR(s) perspective. As duplication seems to be the order of the day I have also duplicated part of the post title from one I have used before. It is usual for some manufacturers to use the event to make announcements of new items or showcase updates to new products under development. This year was no exception although Hornby make the unusual step of announcing part of their intended plans for 2015 at the show.
Many thanks to those of you who read this blog for popping by the Shortley Bridge and Felton Cement Works layout on the Hornby Magazine stand, where I was playing trains all weekend, and saying hello it was good to see you.
Hornby
In making the unusual step of a pre-announcement announcement of their 2015 range Hornby are going head to head with two previously announced SR / BR(s) models from other manufacturers. This is likely to be due to the fact that they have been working on the development of these models for some time now, Simon Kohler discusses such duplication in his interesting blog on the Hornby website here (posted just before the Warley show). Some people may ask why manufacturers can not simply talk to each other to avoid such duplication but this of course would fall foul of anti competition laws.
Image copyright and courtesy A York
First up is the ex LSWR Adams Radial 4-4-2T, that was announced earlier this moth by Oxford Rail. Hornby had an Engineering Prototype on display they also had on display extracts from CAD drawings that show their intent to produce variations of Chimney and Boilers (Adams vrs Drummond) and also frame lengths, images of these can be found on the Hornby website here along with details of other non SR related items. Hornby advise that this model should be available late 2015. This particular prototype has finished high in recent wish list polls, hence the interest. I was also assisting another potential manufacturer of this model but this has now been sensibly replaced with another model instead, albeit non SR related, once the intent of the other parties was discovered.
In addition to the above announcements that also had livery samples of the ex LSWR Drummond 700 Class 0-6-0’s on display.
Hornby will be announcing the full details of their 2015 range on the 17th December and I will bring you a round up all the specific SR and BR(s) information to you at the same time, having been briefed along with the rest of the model railway media at Margate a week before.
Bachmann
Image copyright and courtesy A York
On the Bachmann stand were livery samples of their ex LBSC E4 on display in both Maunsell Pre 1931 lined olive green and also BR black versions.
The exhibition also saw for the first time the, only just arrived, Engineering Prototype of the Southern Passenger Luggage vans PLV/PMV’s.
An initial image, a better one will be uploaded in due course
I am now also able to confirm that only one tooling [*update 28/11/14 below] for these vans is being introduced to despite their catalogue and website that mixing the terms PLV/PMV and CCT they are not producing a Southern Van U (BR designation CCT) with the end opening doors. Further information about these vans and the various can be found on my Talking Stock #6 post SR Luggage Vans which is based on the kits that this RTR version will now also kind of duplicate.
Graham Farish
No new SR related news to be had as they were showing the same first off Engineering samples of the N class and original style third series Merchant Navy Bulleid pacific that we have seen before, this does not of course mean that no further progress has been made behind the scenes.
Model Rail Magazine
Model Rail Magazine announced a further two livery versions of their USTC/SR USA 0-6-0T model commissioned via Bachmann, in the form of: MR105 N0. 300 ‘Major-General Frank S. Ross’ in Longmoor Military Railway blue and MR106 No. DS233 in department black with post 1956 BR emblem, these and the previously announced models can be pre-ordered here although Model Rail advise that If you want a ‘USA tank’ you need to be quick placing your pre-order as one livery has already sold out and others are nearly all sold. Away from the show I have been privileged to have assisted in the reviewing of the CADs for these models and they are now very close to going for tooling.
Dapol
Dapol had on display various model samples for models first announced back in 2012 :
In N gauge, livery samples of their Maunsell coaches in SR Olive Green along with the Van C.
In 4mm scale they had the latest Engineering prototypes of both versions of the Class 73 Electro Diesel (73/0 – JA and 73/1 – JB). It appears that the 73/0 variant might be available first, even though to date they have only announced 73/1 versions!
For 0 Gauge modellers the first liveried sample of the Terrier was on display in Brighton livery.
Heljan
On their stand in addition to livery samples of the 05 Class diesel shunter (one of the prototypes of course was outposted on the Isle of Wight for quite some time) they had the kit of parts that will make up their 009 ready to run Lynton and Barnstaple 2-6-2 Exe, Tor and Yeo locomotives.
Comet Models
Following the untimely passing of proprietor and friend Geoff Brewin, in September, his family are pleased to announce that the entire extensive range of locomotive chassis, coach kits and detailing items has now been successfully sold to Andrew Hartshorne of Wizard Models (and Model Signal Engineering), welcome news indeed. The transfer is planned to take place over the weekend of the 5th – 7th December inclusive, and Andrew hopes to open for trade of Comet items on Monday December 8th.
So all in all a very busy Warley show, with many announcements made, including those of interest to modellers of other railways. I am sure some will have ongoing ramifications within the model railway world, including no doubt some conspiracy theories, interesting times ahead I feel…
[*update 28/11/14]
I have now received a further clarification from Bachmann with respect to the tooling being produced for the PLV/PMV and they have advised the following:
The first engineering samples of the forthcoming Bachmann Branchline Southern Utility Vans were displayed at the 2014 Warley Show. Two bodies have been tooled for these models which cover the Southern PMV which have one vent at each end (item Nos. 39-525, 39-526 & 39-527); whilst the second tooling portrays a CCT vehicle which has been converted to a PMV, this is evident from the sealed end doors with four vents at each end (item No. 39-528). An image of such a vehicle can be found at http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srcct/h1552e6d6#h1552e6d6. The image used in the 2014 Bachmann Branchline catalogue for item No. 39-528 incorrectly shows a standard PMV. I trust this clarifies the situation.
Thanks to Bachmann for the clarification over and above what I was informed by them at Warley.
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.
