GR561 Peco OO-9 FR Bug Box Coach, Zoo Car

GR561 Peco OO-9 FR Bug Box Coach, Zoo Car Early Preservation Livery

These exquisite models capture the character and quaintness of these vehicles very well, and will please a lot of keen OO-9 modellers looking to operate their own recreation of the Ffestiniog Railway. More FR models are in preparation, and with the forthcoming “Small England” locomotive being produced by KATO, in collaboration with PECO, it won’t be very long before a fully-authentic train will be possible.

The curiously-named “Bug Boxes” 4-wheel coaches were the first passenger-carrying coaches built for the Ffestiniog Railway. Dating from 1864 to 1867 they were built by Brown, Marshall & Company. The term “Bug Box” is a more recent term given to them, possibly in the 1950s, and originally they were referred to as “Small Birmingham's”. Ten were built, including two replicas, and 7 survive, still doing what they were originally designed to do, moving passengers over the delightful and splendidly-scenic narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales.

There are three types of vehicle: First Class, Third Class, and Open third, sometimes referred to as “Zoo” cars. We have reproduced all three and intend to introduce different liveries over a period of time, starting with the early preservation era colours of red and green. A little later we will offer the attractive Victorian-era plum livery. Others may follow later in the year. We have paid a lot of attention to the detail of these coaches, including the half depth grill of the open-sided “zoo” car (perhaps not so comfortable during typical North Wales weather!), and the fine company emblem on the bodysides.