PRA 38 Tonne glw 2 Axle Covered Box Wagon

The Models

Click here to read the prototype information

Eight models were originally produced by KMRC, four finished in the as-converted livery and four with the later black underframes, these sold out in November 2021.

In May 2023 we produced six new versions licensed to Bachmann via the EFE Rail brand, see here>>> 

Each of the running numbers are finished to match the prototype markings.

The model features very fine detail with many separate parts, including etched walkways.



We wish to thank Simon Bendall at Rail Express for his assistance with this project.  We also wish to thank Roger Geach, Ivan Stewart, David Rostance, Craig Munday and finally Steve Davies from British Railway Photographs for permission to use their images.  Clicking on their images will take you to their relevant websites.

EFE Rail Models

E87062 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6312 (Early) £45.99 
E87063 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6311 (Early) £45.99 
E87064 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6304 (Early) £45.99 
E87065 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6303 (Late) £45.99 
E87066 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6307 (Late) £45.99 
E87067 EFE Rail PRA China Clay Wagon RLS 6310 (Late) £45.99

Models from the original KMRC batch: - 

 SB007A PRA China Clay Wagon (late) RLS6313 SOLD OUT

 SB007B PRA China Clay Wagon (late) RLS6314 SOLD OUT

 SB007C PRA China Clay Wagon (late) RLS6315 SOLD OUT

 SB007D PRA China Clay Wagon (late) RLS6316 SOLD OUT

 SB007ZA PRA China Clay Wagon (late) Pack of 4 SOLD OUT
 SB007E PRA China Clay Wagon (early) RLS6305 SOLD OUT

 SB007F PRA China Clay Wagon (early) RLS6309 SOLD OUT

 SB007G PRA China Clay Wagon (early) RLS6306 SOLD OUT

 SB007H PRA China Clay Wagon (early) RLS6308 SOLD OUT

 SB007ZB PRA China Clay Wagon (early) Pack of 4 SOLD OUT

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Prototype History

Fourteen PRAs were introduced in 1983 by Standard Wagon at Heywood. They had underframes recovered from APCM PVV vans that had had an open box body built on them at Reddish in mid 1982 with TOPS owner code SRW.  They were numbered RLS6303 – 6316.  The PRAs went out of use during the early 1990s. They worked from Pontsmill in Cornwall to Scotland for Wiggins Teape.

Class 20 Diesel number 20 138 shunts a PRA wagon at Fort William Yard on 3rd May 1988.  These small wagons were grab loaded with china clay in Cornwall (usually at Pontsmill or Burngullow) and travelled via the speedlink network to Fort William for use in the paper industry.  Copyright Graham Roose from the Ivan Stewart Collection

When first converted the livery was all-over grey, including underframes and buffer shanks.  The underframes and buffer shanks were later painted black, although the entire livery was usually buried under layers of grime!



Class 25 Diesel number 25 095 at Winnick Quay with some PRAs destined for Pontsmill via St Blazey on 21st June 1983.  Copyright Roger Geach

As can be seen from our selection of images, the wagons could be seen between Cornwall and Scotland!  They can be run in short formations or as part of a larger consist.


Michael Rhodes very kindly sent us the above image showing 8 PRAs behind a pair of Class 87s. He says "Just ordered 4 x PRAs and wanted to send you an image of them in action. I seem to have about a dozen images of the wagons en-route from Cornwall to Scotland, mostly on the Severn Tunnel-Mossend Speedlinks in the 1980s - I found one image with 8 of them at the front of the consist and thought it might be of interest - as far as I recall it hasn't been published anywhere before in the various books so it would be the images 1st outing since 1985!."



Class 47 Diesel number 47 091 "THOR" heads the 09:34 St. Blazey - Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink working through Wellington on 11th July 1985.  An amazing image showing three PRAs immediately behind the Clay Tiger! Copyright David Rostance.

Peter Foot was the Area Freight Manager at St Blazey and he said (in conversation with Chris Trerise) "I remember that we were quite excited that ECLP had won a new order from Wiggins Teape in Scotland for paper-grade clay and that new wagons had been ordered. We were a bit shocked when the 'new' wagons turned out to be 4-wheelers but hey-ho it was another flow to protect our precious Speedlink trains. As far as I can remember the PRAs ONLY worked into Pontsmill because the required grade of clay was only produced at Pontsmill - it is not generally realised how many different grades of clay there are, but I'm not an expert in that field! Why only 14 wagons? Don't know for sure but I guess someone had calculated that 14 was sufficient for the quantities involved. As far as I know they were only ever used on the Pontsmill to Wiggins Teape flow - certainly we always referred to them as the wigginsteapes, as in ''2 wigginsteapes due in on this mornings air-brake''. (The Speedlink trains were always known as 'the air-brakes' because air-brakes were such a novelty!!)"

Ponts Mill Interlude

The following images were all taken at Ponts Mill by John Vaughan and are Copyright and courtesy of www.britishrailwayphotographs.com


 

 

The Class 08 featured is 08 945 and the images were taken on 16th May 1984.  

Also at Ponts Mill is this image from Craig Munday which is just oozing atmosphere!  08 801 at the ground frame waits to rejoin the main Newquay branch with a loaded PRA and a brake van from Ponts Mill in 1986.



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Project development

update - 5th December 2018 - Production has commenced.
We have taken a bit of time to get the roof colour correct having had many samples rejected until we reached the shade we were happy with.  The approved colour was received just before Warley and production has now commenced.  We hope that production will be completed before Chinese New Year.  As soon as it has been confirmed that the models are being shipped the pre-order price offer will finish.  Images below show some of the parts prior to assembly

 

Production update - 15th May 2019
Unfortunately production was not completed by Chinese New Year and it has taken some time to re-establish the production line.  The bodies have now been painted and tampo-printed; work will now progress to fitting the details.  The models should be complete by June with a further six to eight weeks for shipping.

 

Project update - 3rd September 2019 - Models arrive in the UK

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