R40478 Hornby LNER West Riding Limited Double Open First Articul

Following the success of the LNER’s newly-introduced ‘Coronation’ trains in 1935, a new train was introduced to operate between London King’s Cross and Leeds and Bradford in 1937.

A new set of carriages was built that was identical to the ‘Coronation’ with four twin articulated coaches, though not the streamlined beavertail observation car, named the ‘West Riding Limited’. Carriages were in pairs, sharing a bogie between the two, thus reducing friction and improving ride quality.

The train first ran on 27th September 1937 and achieved an average speed of 63.3mph (101.9km/h) between King’s Cross and Bradford. It was hauled by Gresley ‘A4’ No. 4492 ‘Dominion of New Zealand’, which had emerged from Doncaster Works only three months earlier.

Services were suspended for the duration of the Second World War, but were reinstated in 1949. A modern version of the train is still operated by the present-day LNER with a 6.30am departure from Bradford Forster Square station.

The next vehicles in the rake are coaches ‘C’ and ‘D’ and these comprise of two identical first class open coaches which offered enhanced comfort and also had a lavatory at each end. Those coaches are the ones presented in this highly detailed OO gauge coach pack.