Welcome to Britannia ModelsYour Online British Model Train Destination! Britannia Models sells British model trains in OO, OO9 and O gauge. We carry diecast vehicles, track, buildings, kits, scenery items, and other model railway accessories. All prices are in Canadian currency. Orders and Pre-Orders can be placed by going to the 'Order Form' page in the Quick Links section Big Summer Blow Out Sale For the month of August, many items are on sale including coach bundles, locomotives, coaches and more! See the 'Specials' page for individual items and below list for other sales.
Latest News It doesn't seem that long since Rapido Trains UK's last new announcement but they have returned with three new models.
First up is a true classic of Scotland, the Highland Railway Jones Goods 4-6-0. Introduced in 1894, these were the first 4-6-0 steam locomotives built for operation in Britain. Officially classed as the 'Big Goods' and later the 'I' Class. Despite the nickname 'Jones Goods' that was commonly applied to the class, it was Chief Engineer David Jones' Chief Draughtsman, David Anderson Hendrie, who suggested that the 4-6-0 arrangement, common in other countries, could work for the HR.
Withdrawals started in 1929 and were completed in 1940 but the story doesn't end there. The LMS saw fit to preserve one of thess historic machines and cosmetically restored pioneer LMS No.17916 (HR No.103). Tucked away inside St Rollox works along with Caledonian Railway 4-2-2 No.123 until 1958 when BR Scottish Region General Manager James Ness ordered it to be restored to service. From 1958 to 1965, 103 would operate for British Railways on railtours alongside other classic Scottish locomotives. The odd turn on a regularly scheduled passenger train was occasionally seen!
The HR Jones Goods 4-6-0 model tooling suite enables Rapido to produce all possible versions including three types of smokeboxes, four different chimneys, tenders and myriad smaller details. Six versions will make the first run of these locomotives.
DC/DCC Ready versions have a UK RRP of £219.95 with the current estimated Canadian RRP at $329.99 CAD. DCC Sound versions have a UK RRP of £319.99 with the current estimated Canadian RRP of $479.99 CAD. While these Canadian prices are estimates and could change, Rapido pre-orders will received 10% discount off of the CAD RRP. The Canadian RRP estimates takes into account the removal of the UK VAT from the price.
The next new announcement is one Rapido said they would be producing to complete the Titfield Thunderbolt but can now announcement models that will be available outside the train packs.
The 'AA20', which was introduced in 1934. The requirement for brake vans ended in 1968 but that didn't mean the end of the 'Toads'. Many lasted into Departmental and even industrial use and a large number of 'Toads', including several AA20's have been preserved.
Rapido AA20 brake van has been designed using works drawings and includes a number of different optional parts to allow for variations within the design including different roof rain strips, different height footboards and different wheelsets. The model includes a full interior alongside a removable roof.
The UK RRP is £39.95 with the estimated CAD RRP being $59.99. Again, Rapido pre-orders receive a 10% discount off of the final CAD RRP.
The third and final new announcement is the BR Dia.1/277 VIX Ferry Van. Pressed Steel built two batches of Dia.1/227s, totalling 400 vehicles. It was nearly 42ft long (over headstocks) and had a massive 26ft 3in wheelbase. The sliding door (one on each side) was 13ft long and it could carry 20 tons.
The introduction of bogie vehicles fro cross-Channel traffic in the 1970s meant that the ferry vans, which had been coded VIX on BR's TOPS computer system, days were numbered. However, they found further use complementing the new, long wheelbase vans (such as the VBAs and VDAs) on domestic goods traffic or, increasingly, as barrier vehicles or on Departmental duties. This led to these ferry vans being re-coded on TOPS. 12 versions will form the first run of this new wagon.
The UK RRP is £45.95 with the estimated CAD RRP being $68.99. Just in case you may have forgotten, Rapido pre-orders receive a 10% discount off of the final CAD RRP.
Pre Orders are open on all these products so don't miss out! .........................................................................................................................................................
Accurascale have announced their next OO gauge project, the The British Railways Brush Type 2, later known as the Class 30 and Class 31.
Ordered as a result of the British Transport Commission's modernisation plan of 1955, the first locomotive - numbered D5500 - was outshopped in September 1957. Eventually totalling 263 locomotives, the final example, D5862, being handed over to British Railways in October 1962. The discovery of metal fatigue issues with the original Mirrlees power unit in the early 1960s led to the decision to re-engine the entire fleet, BR choosing the familiar English Electric 12SVT instead, almost identical to that used in the Class 37 albeit downrated to 1,450hp.
The fleet was split under the 1973 TOPS scheme as 31001-31019 (Class 31/0) and 31101-31328 (Class 31/1). Class 30 was reserved for the existing Mirrlees engined locomotives, although all were re-engined before TOPS renumbering. The early 1970s saw 24 locomotives upgraded with new alternators and were given the new TOPS sub class 31/4, numbers 31401-31424. A further 44 Class 31/4s were modified between 1983-1985, becoming 31425-31468.
The Accurascale model has modular tooling that can be adapted to represent nearly all variations of this long-lived class from their as-built appearance right through to the present day. For the discerningly detailed minded, this includes three different styles of exhaust port (Mirrless 'pilot scheme', Mirrlees production and English Electric rebuilds), with or without roof fan grille, original/plated boiler port and water filler, additional roof panel for the 17 locos modified in their early days with uprated 1,600hp engines, different NRN roof antenna for both main cab styles, as-built 'Toffee Apple', production and refurbished bodysides, with water filler steps, plated steps and reskinned steps and standard or vertical 'one piece' radiator grilles.
For the first run of this new model, Accurascale will produce 10 versions covering different time periods of the Class 30/31 long lifespan.
DC/DCC Ready versions have a UK RRP of £169.99 with the current estimated Canadian RRP at $254.99 CAD. DCC Sound versions have a UK RRP of £269.99 with the current estimated Canadian RRP of $404.99 CAD. The Canadian RRP estimates takes into account the removal of the UK VAT from the price.
Some details of the new model include the following:
Pre Orders are open now. Check then OO Scale: Accurascale section of the website for full details!
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Pre-order deadline for the Rapido Trains UK OO gauge Hunslet 16" 0-6-0ST in both DC/DCC Ready & DCC Sound is March 1, 2022.
DC/DCC Ready versions have a UK RRP of £129.95 while the DCC Sound version has a UK RRP of £229.95. Canadian (CAD) RRP are estimated to be $194.99 for DC/DCC Ready and $344.99 for DCC Sound. While these Canadian prices are estimates and could change, Rapido pre-orders will received 10% discount off of the CAD RRP.
Pre-orders are also open for the Rapido Trains UK OO gauge model of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway 0-4-2 'Lion' and Titfield Thunderbolt train packs. While the pre-order deadline hasn't been announced, why not get your orders in early!
Remember, although CAD RRP prices are estimates and could change, Rapido pre-orders receive 10% off of the CAD RRP price.
The Locomotion Models/Rapido Trains UK, OO gauge model of the experimental British Rail APT-E is making a return and this time, it'll be available to other retailers. We are currently sold out on the DC version with only DCC Sound versions left available.
The APT-E is currently on it's way to Rapido's UK office and should arrive sometime during Q1/Q2 2022.
The OO gauge GWR 15xx Hawksworth 0-6-0PT is also on pre-order from Rapido Trains UK. Six versions are planned covering the entire life of this small class from early British Railways days, throught the National Coal Board and the single perserved example of what is one of the most unique tank engines to operate on the Great Western / BR Western Region track.
The DC/DCC Ready versions presently have a UK RRP of £149.95 (estimated CAD RRP $224.99) while the DCC Sound versions are £249.95 (estimated CAD RRP $374.99).
Rapido Trains UK also have two new OO gauge wagons on order. The SECR D1426 10-Ton Covered Van and SECR D1744 2 Plank Ballast Wagon. Both have a pre-order deadline of April 1, 2022.
The UK RRP is £32.95 (estimated CAD RRP is $49.99). Again, Rapido pre-orders receive a 10% discount off of the CAD RRP.
For something that isn't Southern, the GWR Loriot Y Machinery Truck Dia.G39 is also to be produced. Only two of these specific diagram wagons ever existed but one became famous as it was used in the 1953 Titfield Thunderbolt film while the other one is now preserved on the Severn Valley Railway. Pre-order are now open for this wagon. UK RRP is £39.95 (estimated CAD RRP is $59.99).
Now then, back to the Southern! We can't forget that the other SECR wagons that are currently enroute to the UK right now. While the pre-order deadline has passed, we have remaining stock of most item numbers. First up is the SECR D1347 5-Plank Open Wagon.
The next one is the very similar SECR D1349 5-Plank Open Wagons.
And finally the SECR D1355 7-Plank Open Wagons.
All D1347, D1349 & D1355 open wagons have a UK RRP of £32.95 (estimated CAD RRP is $49.99). Don't forget, Rapido pre-orders receive a 10% discount off of the CAD RRP.
It's been a long time since this last wagon first was mentioned but they are now enroute to the UK! The Gunpowder Van!
The UK RRP is £32.95 (estimated CAD RRP is $49.99). Don't miss out as some have already sold out!
Lastly and not officially announced, yet... Rapido Trains UK have said that they will in the future produce a OO gauge model of the LBSCR E1 0-6-0T. This project was originally announced a few years back as a Model Rail exclusive but the project has now been handed over to Rapido Trains UK for a full release. No specific details about the individual models have been announced except that the first batch will mostly include British Railways & Isle of Wight versions first. These cute little tank engines were designed by William Stroudley for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway and were built between 1874 and 1891. While withdrawals started as early as 1911, the last of this class of locomotive lasted in British Railways service until 1961. Some made their way to the Isle of Wight, some were sold off to work in collieries (including the lone preserved one) and some worked in Southampton Docks. .........................................................................................................................................................
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