These distinctive and important vehicles are now available. MARK CHIVERS puts Rapido’s new ‘OO’ gauge model under the microscope.
Rapido Trains UK’s range of ‘OO’ gauge wagons expands with the release of this South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) 20ton six-wheel brake van.
These distinctive six-wheel vehicles were a development of the original late 1890s South Eastern Railway (SER) design of van, although they featured verandas at both ends. The original Midland Railway inspired design featured a covered veranda at one end and an open platform at the other.
Above: Rapido Trains UK has released its all-new ‘OO’ gauge 20ton South Eastern and Chatham Railway six-wheel brake vans.
A small batch of original design brake vans was built initially by the SER, while the SECR built further examples between 1900 and 1909. In 1910, the design was modified (later becoming SR Diagram 1558) with 50 double veranda vehicles built, while 25 single-ended veranda brake vans were subsequently rebuilt with dual verandas.
Rapido Trains UK’s all-new ‘OO’ gauge SECR six-wheel brake vans are based on these post-1910 vehicles, with modified design and rebuilt variants incorporated within the tooling…
