Kernow Model Rail Centre (KMRC) has today announced its new 00 Gauge model wagons: the LBSC ‘Open A’, SR Diagram 1369 and 1364 five-plank open wagon range.

This follows its announcement last month of the exclusive release of an 00 gauge 12-ton seven-plank open wagon in the livery of coal merchant Moger & Co Ltd.

These models are exclusive to KMRC, with the tooling designed, developed and owned by the Model Rail Centre.

The Open A wagon

Over three-and-a-half thousand five-plank ‘Open A’ – later SR Diagram 1369 – wagons were built between 1905 and 1926, making them the most numerous LBSC wagon.

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The ten-ton wagons were built on a wooden underframe, and had distinctive curved ends which allowed a tarpaulin sheet rail to be fitted.

The first version had ‘J’ / ‘hockey stick’ diagonal framing and brake gear on one side only. However, a new version was soon created, with ‘Freighter’ style brakes fitted on each side with a single vee Hanger. From 1912, the diagonal strapping was changed, so that it was straight at the bottom end.

After around 1914, double vee hangers were fitted to the wagon, mounted either in front and immediately behind the solebar, or with the rear pair hung from the middle longitudinal timbers and with a short connecting rod between the two.

Those built from 1924 onwards had square ends and no sheet rail, and were given diagram 1364. Many of those built with round ends were cut down to square ends, and most – but not all – were re-diagrammed in the registers to diagram 1364.

The diagram 1369 and diagram 1364 open wagons were withdrawn between 1944 and 1947. Only a few remained in service and received the livery of the newly-formed British Railways.

Isle of Wight

Four hundred and fifty of the wagons were shipped to the Isle of Wight between 1924 and 1931. One more followed in 1934 and a further six in 1947.

The first twenty were diagram 1369, and were later altered to become diagram 1364. The rest of the wagons on the Isle of Wight were diagram 1364, with square ends.

The wagons on the island continued in service under British Railways ownership, and gained BR unfitted grey livery with lettering on black patches. By 1955, three hundred and twenty were still in service, although by 1962, this had fallen to one hundred and fifty.

Preservation

Several of the wagons are preserved, including at the Bluebell Railway, Isle of Wight Steam Railway and Telford Steam Railway.

KMRC Models

KMRC’s tooling suite has enabled it to create models of the diagram 1369 wagon with post-1912 diagonal strapping, rounded ends and a sheet rail that is fully posable in any position between vertical or side positions; plus the diagram 1364 square ended as converted from D1369; and the wagons built new between 1924-6.

All are on a wooden chassis, with either eight open spoke or LBSC four-hole disc wheels, and either LB&SCR, SR lettered or plain axle box covers. Brake options allow for single inside or outside and double and middle Vee Hangers, along with plain tapered or ribbed taper shank buffers.

The model’s specification includes detailed body and chassis, prototypical brake gear and safety loops fitted, fully posable sheet rail (diagram 1369) sprung metal buffers, etched brake handles that can be posed in the ‘on’ position complete with locking peg chains, coupling hooks and metal three-link couplings.

The models are in production, and will sell at a recommended retail price of £32.99.

KMRC is offering an ‘early bird’ discount, so that advance orders will be available at £29.99 each.

The first batch will see eight diagram 1369 and eleven diagram 1364 (including eight Isle of Wight) versions available, allowing for multiple running numbers per livery:

Diagram 1369

• SB009A LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery No. 4342
• SB009B LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery No. 4206
• SB009C LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 22530
• SB009D LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 Brown livery No. 23042
• SB009E LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 livery No. 23062
• SB009F LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 livery No. 22512
• SB009R LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery (As Preserved on Bluebell Railway) No. 3346
• SB009S LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 23221

Diagram 1364

• SB009G SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 22615
• SB009H SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 28422
• SB009J SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 27842
• SB009K SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Brown livery Isle of Wight No. S28404
• SB009L SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. S27875
• SB009M SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. 28391
• SB009N SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. S19072
• SB009P SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 28345
• SB009Q SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 27834
• SB009T SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 27724
• SB009U SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 27730

“The numerous LBSC 5 plank ‘Open A’ wagons of both Diagrams 1369 and 1364 could be seen all over the LBSC/SR network and lasted even longer into British Railways days on the Isle of Wight. We hope these will be popular amongst LBSC / SR mainland and Isle of Wight modellers alike. Our tooling suite covers many detail permutations to be able to offer a number of variations across the range.”

Graham Muspratt, Development Manager, KMRC