A new range of Great Western Railway (GWR) ‘Small Prairie’ 2-6-2Ts is to be produced by Rapido Trains to compliment its newly announced ‘B-Set’ coaches for ‘OO’ gauge. Three variants are set to be produced, with the ‘45XX’, ‘4575’ and, for the very first time as a ready-to-run model, the Churchward ‘44XX’.
The 2-6-2Ts were first built from 1904 for branch line and lightweight trains. The last were built in 1929. They worked all over the GWR network with the last withdrawn in 1964. They often hauled a pair of B-Set coaches - a pair of non-corridor Brake Composites.
Design work is under way and Rapido will include key changes that were made to the classes, as well as detail differences. The locomotives will feature a Next18 decoder socket, factory fitted speaker and firebox flicker. Liveries and prices have yet to be confirmed.
The new coaches, currently in the CAD stage, are being produced to Diagram E140 which was introduced in 1930. These vehicles sported a guard’s compartment, a single First Class compartment and five Third Class compartments.
The new B-Set models will feature etched luggage racks, differences in First and Third Class and Guard’s compartments and complete underframe detail. They will be released as 6977/6778 ‘Bodmin Branch No.2’ in GWR ‘shirtbutton’ colours, 6457/6459 in GWR post-war livery, 6365/6366 in BR crimson, 6534/6555 ‘Bristol Division No. 49’ in BR crimson, W6989W/W6990W in BR lined maroon and W6455W/W6456W in BR plain maroon. Coleford based retailer, Derails, has also commissioned a set in GWR 'shirtbutton' colours. Numbered 6381 and 6382, this pair won't carry regional allocation markings.
It is hoped the B-Sets will be released in late 2023/early 2024, while there is no release date for the ‘Small Prairies’ at this time.
Visit Rapido Trains UK for more information.
