Rapido Trains UK announce a brand-new range of OO Gauge Midland wagons: the D299 5-Plank Open and D301 6-Plank Open.
OO Gauge Midland D299 5-Plank Open Wagon.
The Midland Railway D299 8-ton high-sided (5-plank) open wagon was built to Derby Carriage and Wagon drawing No. 550 of 1882. They were far from the biggest all-purpose wagon. It is estimated that the approximate total built over a twenty-year period is an incredible 72,000 vehicles.
Although plenty of the older D299 opens were scrapped, 7000 wagons were sold second-hand between 1905 and 1916; these ended up in the hands of industrial users and light railways. The SE&CR also hired some during the Great War, and 180 were sold in 1920 to the Port of London Authority.
Over 500 5-plank wagons were built for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway by contractors and at Highbridge Works; however, bottom doors were omitted, and subtle changes were made, such as a longer brake lever. The total quantity built for the S&DJR remains a mystery; however, when the S&DJR’s goods stock was divided between the parent companies in 1914, the LSWR received about 224 of these 8-ton wagons. Around half of these LSWR wagons were then passed to the Southern Railway upon the grouping. The LMS inherited between 43,000 and 44,000 surviving D299 opens from the Midland Railway. Numbers steadily declined as they were replaced by LMS 12-ton open wagons.
OO Gauge Midland D301 6-Plank Open Wagon.
The Midland appointed a new General Manager in 1901, and he wanted higher-capacity, longer 10-ton wagons. A 6-plank version of the previous 5-plank open was conceived. This new type of open wagon would also feature a hinged lifting section on the wagon doors' 6th plank. One thousand vehicles were built to this design by the Midland Railway and were constructed between 1901 and 1902. They were assigned as Diagram 301 (D301) when the wagon diagrams were introduced by the Midland Railway in 1907. Although plenty of the older D299 opens were scrapped, 7000 wagons were sold second-hand between 1905 and 1916; these ended up in the hands of industrial users and light railways. The South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SE&CR) also hired some during the Great War, and 180 were sold in 1920 to the Port of London.
A further 80 were then made for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, which the Midland shared responsibility and ownership of with the London & South Western Railway. Examples of D301 6-Plank open wagons survived into the grouping, and both the London Midland and Scottish Railway and Southern Railway acquired them. Sadly, there is no evidence of them making it into nationalisation.
The models
The new range of Rapido Trains UK OO Gauge Midland D299 5-Plank and D301 6-Plank Open Wagons will have the usual wealth of full external, internal and underframe detail. In addition, the range features numerous tooling variants including axle boxes, hand brake levers, door stops and bottom doors. All models feature 8-spoked wheels, NEM coupling pockets, brass bearings.
There is a choice of several pre-grouping liveries, including Midland, S&DJR, and LSWR in both 5- and 6-plank ranges. Further SECR, H&BR, PD&SW, WC&PR, PLA, MSC, and NSFF Chilwell liveries are also available in the 5-Plank wagon range. For the grouping era modeller, there are also several versions in LMS and SR liveries to choose from.
To view the range of Midland Railway 5 and 6 plank wagons in OO gauge click here.
Subject to alteration.
