What’s in the Shops: Classic Freightliner wagons from Bachmann

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Nigel Burkin reviews Bachmann’s OO-gauge FFA and FGA container flats in pre-TOPS condition, complete with early BR Freightliner containers.

A revolution in railway wagon design took place during the 1960s, when inefficient standard wagons started to be replaced with modern long-wheelbase and bogie air-braked stock.

The wholesale containerisation of goods was also on the horizon with the establishment of  ISO standards for containers and handling systems. 

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To meet this shift in freight handling, BR constructed a large fleet of skeletal spine wagons from 1964 when it tested a prototype low-floor container wagon set consisting of outer and inner wagons.

Although fitted with a bespoke container clamp designed by BR, it led to the building of a large fleet of skeletal spine wagons with ISO container locks and several types of small-wheel bogies capable of carrying three 20ft containers, two 30ft containers or a combination of one 20ft and one 40ft container (or container flat, or container tank).

The two outer wagons in the twin set, representing the wagons in as-built condition, are loaded with 30ft and 20ft
BR containers.

Following the construction of the prototype, and initial batches of black-painted wagons fitted with clamps (which were replaced with ISO container locks), more than 2000 ‘production’ wagons were constructed, with several different but similar bogie types. 

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Most of these were built at Ashford in the 1970s and were painted rail blue, including a batch fitted with Ride Control BR 2M bogies as represented by the Bachmann models. 

For the full article and to view more images, see the March 2019 edition of Modelling – available now!

For a complete list of stockists and how to get your copy, visit: www.railwaymagazinemodelling.co.uk/distributors

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