RAPIDO TRAINS UK (RTUK) has been busy developing an impressive array of rolling stock including these recently-released ‘OO’ gauge Southern Railway (SR) eight-plank open wagons.
The Southern Railway Diagram 1379 eight-plank open wagons first appeared in the mid 1920s and became widespread with almost 8,000 examples built. These useful wagons featured a lower drop-down door on each side, together with two smaller doors above. They were all unfitted and featured 17ft 6in chassis with a 9ft wheelbase. Early examples featured Morton brakes while later examples were revised with SR Freighter brakes. By the mid-1930s a similar new Diagram was introduced – 1400 – with a longer wheelbase (10ft) and vacuum brakes, although some later unfitted batches were built in 1936/37.
Rapido has commendably produced both diagrams of the eight-plank open wagons with 31 different 'OO’ gauge models released between the two types, which is phenomenal. Our review samples were finished as Diagram 1379 13ton eight-plank open S27930 in BR grey (Cat No. 940023) – an Isle of Wight-allocated wagon – and Diagram 1400 10ton eight-plank open S11530 in BR grey.
Above: Rapido Trains UK’s rolling stock roster is bolstered with the arrival of a series of new So…
