Description
Rapido Trains UK has a great new announcement, with a brake van prototype synonymous with Eastern region freight.
New OO Gauge GCR 15T Brake Van – 16 different versions are available.
The first Great Central Railway-designed prototype to be added to our range.
Many separately fitted parts including highly detailed brake gear, running boards, vacuum pipes, lamp irons and a chimney.
Interior detail including guard’s desk, stove, sandboxes and lockers.
Liveries covering GCR, CLC, LNER, BR, Departmental and NCB liveries.
Fitted with metal bearings for free running.
Available to order now!
Rapido Trains UK are proud to announce our first OO Gauge Great Central Railway-designed prototype. The GCR 15T 6-Wheeled Brake Van.
OO Gauge GCR 15T Brake Van
Sometimes designers absolutely nail their brief, and it would be fair to say the design for the Great Central Railway 15t 6-wheeled brake van goes into that category. Built over a 20-year period by a combination of the Great Central Railways Dukinfield Works and outside contractors, a significant number of these sturdy 6-wheeled vans could be seen across the GCR network from as early as 1903.
The 15T brake vans featured a built-in stove and desk, covered verandas that offered a good line of sight in both directions and a delightful 2-plank hatch-type door on either end. These were fitted so that the guard could easily change tail lamps without leaving his van.
Many of the vans were fitted with automatic vacuum gear, meaning they could be used on fitted freights such as the express fish traffic from the East Coast.
In 1915 the Great Central Railway provided the Cheshire Lines Committee with 10 of these 15t Brake Vans, furthering the designs reach to the North West of England and Wales.
Upon the grouping of the railways in 1923 the LNER inherited hundreds of Great Central brake vans, including a significant quantity of this 15T variant. Many would replace the smaller GNR brake vans on East Coast mainline services. This design clearly struck a chord with the LNER as production continued throughout 1923, further bolstering their stock with another 24 vans.
With its accessibility, functionality and comfort, it is no wonder the prototype was built in such numbers and ran for such a prolonged period of time.
The LNER trackage was vast, and it wasn’t long before this brake van was used up and down the network, from Glasgow to Kings Cross. They got everywhere and quickly became a regular feature on long-distance cross-country freight and local trains too.
Many GCR 6-wheelers survived until nationalisation, with BR examples being spotted everywhere from Wick to the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Variants even made it into the hands of the National Coal Board and were used by BR as ballast brakes and engineering vehicles.
One example of the prototype was saved in 1975 by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust and currently resides at Kirkby Stephen East. This example was owned by the NCB and is noticeably different to the majority of the other GCR 6-wheelers, as it features vertical planking that is believed to have been installed by the NCB.
This model will be the first Great Central Railway brake van diagram ever to be produced in OO gauge ready-to-run, and Rapidos model will feature the usual wealth of detail seen on our previously released pre-grouping era brake vans.
You can look forward to many separately fitted parts including highly detailed brake gear, running boards, vacuum pipes, rails, lamp irons and a chimney.
The vans interior contains a guard’s desk, stove, sandboxes and lockers, you will also find side lamps in the polybag adding to the realism and detail of this model. The model is also fitted with metal bearings, facilitating smooth running, which is perfect if you want to recreate those Eastern region cross-country freight trains.
These models are currently in the tooling stage. The order book is open, and you can order yours directly from here today.
975001
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 35706
GCR grey
Unfitted
GCR style axleboxes
Round base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975002
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 9365
GCR grey
Vacuum fitted
GCR style axleboxes
Round base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975003
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 9515
GCR grey
Vacuum fitted
GCR style axleboxes
Round base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975004
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 2166
CLC grey (early)
Unfitted
GCR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975005
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 4481
CLC grey (late)
Unfitted
GCR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975006
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 136988
LNER oxide (large letters)
Vacuum fitted
GCR style axleboxes
Round base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975007
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 509494
LNER oxide (large letters)
Vacuum fitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975008
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 531772
LNER oxide (small letters)
Unfitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975009
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 509424
LNER oxide (small letters)
Vacuum fitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975010
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. 531725
BR bauxite
Vacuum fitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975011
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. E531771
LNER freight oxide (BR lettering)
Unfitted
BR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Disc wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975012
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. E531727
BR bauxite
Vacuum fitted
BR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975013
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. E535650
BR grey
Unfitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975014
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. E531773
BR grey
Unfitted
BR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Disc wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975015
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. DE634310
BR departmental black
Vacuum fitted
BR style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
975016
GCR 15T Brake Van
No. A11
NCB red
Unfitted
LNER style axleboxes
Square base buffers
Disc wheels running in metal bearings
High level of detail above and below the floor line
High quality livery application
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)
UK designed
These models are currently in the tooling stage. The order book is open, and you can order yours directly from here today.
Enwins Price £39.95 (R.R.P. £46.95)
