The Great Western Railway (GWR) had a long tradition of using Auto-Trailers (also known as Autocoaches) for passenger services on its many branch lines and on suburban services. Operated as an ‘Autotrain’, with one or more auto-trailers coupled to an ‘auto-fitted’ steam locomotive, this formation prevented the need for the locomotive to be turned or run around its train when it reached the end of the line. When the auto-trailer was leading, the locomotive driver would control the engine from the cab of the auto-trailer, with controls that were connected to the locomotive via special linkages, thus effectively providing the driver with ‘remote control’ of the engine.
The Auto-Trailers designed by Frederick W. Hawksworth, as depicted by this Graham Farish model, were the last GWR-style auto-trailers to be built and whilst designed by the GWR, with GWR diagram numbers and using GWR control equipment, the entire fleet of 25 vehicles was built by British Railways, with construction taking place between 1951 and 1953. Deployment spread the vehicles across the Western Region until the end of steam in the mid-1960s when, thankfully, several examples were saved for preservation. The locomotives that were auto-fitted to work in auto-trains were mainly 0-4-2Ts and Pannier Tanks, in particular the Class 64XX Pannier Tank as modelled by Graham Farish, making this a perfect partner to the Hawksworth Auto-Trailer.
This Graham Farish N scale model employs a high precision, injection moulded bodyshell which is adorned with such details as handrails, grab handles and roof vents, whilst separate handrails are fitted aside the main saloon doors and the bell at the cab end is added individually. Below the solebar the underframe features the truss rod frames of the prototype, along with brake equipment, battery boxes and the dynamo. The buffers, which are most prominent on this non-gangway vehicle, are highly detailed and added separately, along with the small steps at each of the four corners of the coach. Bogies are again highly detailed, and these are fitted with metal wheelsets, whilst the standard N scale coupling is attached via a NEM coupling pocket to the close coupling mechanism that is fitted to the carriage floor, which operates in tandem with the bogie. Inside each model is an interior featuring the prototypical layout of seating along with the driver’s controls in the cab, whilst the icing on the cake is the livery application, using authentic colours, logos and fonts making every model a masterpiece in miniature.
MODEL FEATURES:
- Graham Farish N Scale
- Era 4
- Pristine BR Crimson & Cream livery
- Running No. W220W
- Named ‘Thrush’
- Accessory Pack
- NEM Coupling Pockets
- Close Coupling Mechanism
- Length 138mm
