Rapido Trains UK’s eagerly-awaited all-new ‘OO’ gauge Great Western Railway (GWR) ‘Iron Mink’ vans have arrived.
Built at the GWR’s Works at Swindon, the Diagram V6 ‘Iron Minks’ made extensive use of iron in their construction and bore a distinctive appearance due to their metal body and roof. They were used to transport materials that needed to be kept dry including foodstuffs, cement and even gunpowder.
Rapido Trains UK’s tooling suite for the all-new ‘OO’ gauge V6 ‘Iron Mink’ vans reflect the alterations carried by the prototypes through the years and there are 21 different models available initially.
Above: Rapido Trains UK’s newly-tooled ‘OO’ gauge Great Western Railway ‘Iron Mink’ vans are now available.
Of these, Rapido Trains has opted to produce eight models in fictitious colour schemes, inspired by liveries carried on other railway companies’ vans, including one of our review samples finished in British Portland Cement Manufacturers light grey (Cat No. 908017).
Above: Detail differences between vans have been incorporated such as wooden bodyside doors.
Also received for review were the altogether more authentic 59217 in GW grey with 16in lettering (908004) and 69627 in 1937 GW grey (908007). There are five other
