Rapido Trains UK announce South Eastern & Chatham Railway wagons, the Diagram 1426 van and the Dia. 1744 ballast wagon and that the LBSC E1 0-6-0t is go!

Contributed by: Graham Muspratt

28 Jan 2022 00:00am

Rapido Trains UK have announced today that they are producing two new ‘OO’ gauge South Eastern & Chatham Railway wagons, the Diagram 1426 van and the Dia. 1744 ballast wagon. These vans were introduced in 1918 and they lasted well into BR days, setting the standard for future Southern Railway vans. They shared the same 9ft 6in wheelbase with the five and seven plank open wagons that have already been announced.

The Diagram 1426 covered van sports the following features: Two types of rain strip: curved and straight, separately-fitted end ventilators, split-spoked wheels running in metal bearings and highly detailed body and under frame.

There are eleven Diagram 1426 covered vans being produced:
927001: No. 15782 SECR grey
927002: No. 16737 SECR grey
927003: No. 45784 SR brown (Pre 1936)
927004: No. 47162 SR brown (Pre 1936)
927005: No. 45779 SR brown (Post 1936)
927006: No. 47159 SR brown (Post 1936)
927007: No. S45819 BR grey
927008: No. S47144 BR grey
927009: No. DS47182 Departmental black
927010: No. DS776 Departmental brown
927011: No. 15750 SECR grey (preserved)


The SECR used the same underframe for the two-plank ballast wagon. It introduced the first in 1919 and 120 were built over the next four years. Incredibly, BR didn't withdraw the last until 1971. The Diagram 1744 two plank ballast wagons feature: Two floor versions: curve-ended planks and straight-ended planks, split-spoked wheels running in metal bearings and highly detailed bodies and underframes.

There are eleven Diagram 1744 vans being produced:
928001: No. 567 SECR grey (preserved)
928002: No. 11835 SECR grey
928003: No. 1789 SECR grey
928004: No. 62454 SR red oxide (Pre 1936)
928005: No. 62398 SR red oxide (Pre 1936)
928006: No. 62371 SR red oxide (Post 1936)
928007: No. 62466 SR red oxide (Post 1936)
928008: No. 62444 BR Departmental
928009: No. DS62402 BR Departmental black
928010: No. S62433 SR red oxide with BR(S) number
928011: No. S62388 BR Departmental black


Rapido Trains UK have also confirmed that they are going to produce the ‘OO’ gauge LBSCR ‘E1’ 0-6-0T, that was first mooted by Model Rail magazine. They have not yet confirmed what running numbers or liveries they are going to produce but we will advise as soon as further progress is advised and pre-orders become available.

To see the entire Rapido UK range click here>>>

Subject to alteration.

Return to Page Top