Accurascale have announced a newly tooled range of 21 ton HTO & HTV hopper wagons in OO gauge! This comprehensive new range covers the BR Diagram 1/146, 1/147 & 1/149 vehicles in a selection of BR bauxite and BR grey liveries.
The tooling allows for a number of detail variations including differences between the diagrams as well as different axleboxes and roller bearings etc.
Engineering samples and livery artwork have been shown, with further updates expected in due course!Â
All models are supplied as triple packs and are available to pre-order now, with final release expected in Q3 2025.
Due Q3 2025
Product Features
Highly detailed models with separately fitted parts including handrails, handbrake levers, brake gear, hopper operating mechanism and more
Accurate tooling variations for Diag 1/146, 1/147 and 1/149 vehicles including unfitted/ vacuum braked examples as well as differing axlebox and roller bearing types
Diecast chassis and hopper ends
Pin point brass bearings
NEM tension lock couplingsÂ
Prototype Information
The Diag 1/146 hoppers became the “standard” British Railways 21 ton hopper wagon with 16,800 built by both BR workshops and contractors. Later 1/147 and 1/149 diagrams iterated on this design, which originally could trace its lineage back to the LNER days, with their 20 ton 1935 hopper.
As the wagons were built, they naturally centred around the north east of England as their predecessors did but rapidly spread nationwide. They could be seen in trainloads from coalfields in south Wales, the northeast and everywhere in between right down to individual wagonloads being taken to local coal merchants for house coal supplies.Â
Standard liveries were present with BR freight grey being used for the unfitted wagons and predominantly BR Bauxite for the fitted variants although there is plenty of evidence showing fitted wagons carrying the grey livery. One of the more striking liveries they carried in service was the 2 differing styles orange and grey the Charringtons coal concentration depots. Many of these wagons were fitted with vacuum operated disc brakes and ran a dedicated service between Mansfield and Palace Gates delivering house coal to the capital. Another livery variation was the bauxite “fitted” wagons bearing the “House Coal Concentration” lettering on their sides.
As BR shifted away from vacuum braked wagons and moved towards the HEA hopper for domestic coal supply, the HTO/HTV wagons were withdrawn, sold or repurposed. Of those that were sold, many went to the NCB for internal use or private companies such as ICI.
