Canadian RRP: $197.99   UK RRP: £139.95

Common features:

• Accurately scaled from original blueprints and data obtained from the preserved vehicle at the National Railway Museum
• Full external details including many free-standing and etched metal details
• Full internal details including separate seats, instruments and partitions
• Complete underbody detailing with many separate parts
• Accurate decoration both inside and out
• Full low-intensity interior lighting
• NEM coupler pockets
• 1:76 scale (OO gauge)

Rapido Trains UK is delighted to announce another run of the award-winning LNER Dynamometer Car. Previously exclusive to a UK retailer, Rapido has permission to produce a new batch of models under the Rapido Trains UK banner and Rapido will produce two liveries not previously offered.

Best known as the vehicle that recorded the 126mph run of LNER A4 #4468 'Mallard' on July 3rd, 1938. The North Eastern Railway's test car, built at Darlington Works in 1906, is now on display at the National Railway Museum, where it has been reunited with Mallard.

A Dymamometer Car scientifically measures the performance of locomotives in order to effect improvements. Inside, instruments measure speed, power and other statistics of locomotive performace, many of which were applied to a paper trace operated mechanically from the movement of the vehicle. The NER's vehicles was also equipped with a drop-down bed hanging in the ceiling for operators to sleep in. It was also fitted with equipment to allow operates to speak to the driver.

No. 23591 passed into LNER ownership after Grouping in 1923 where Chief Mechanical Engineer Sir Nigel Gresley used it extensively to test his new designs and modifications against established locomotives. It was even used behind the UK's only steam-diesel hybrid locomotive! The Dynamometer car and its paper trace recorded Mallard's top speed of 126mph on Stoke Bank in 1938. The vehicle eventually passed into British Railway ownership and continued to be used for scientific testing including the famous 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials. The Dynamometer Car is now preserved as part of the National Collection at the NRM in York.

Based on detailed research of the prototype, archive photographs and official drawings, this model featured exceptional interior and underframe detail, including depictions of the recording equipment and the additional speed recording wheel between the bogies. No wonder it was voted by readers of Model Rail magazine as 'Coach of the Decade' in its Model of the Decade awards!

Rapido is producing three new versions, two of which have never been produced before:

• Item 935001 - LNER #23591, LNER teak finish with lining. This covers the glory days of LNER high speed running from 1928 to 1938. Optional duckets will be supplied to allow for modifications made prior to Mallard's record breaking run.
• Item 935002 - LNER #905202, post-1946 LNER teak with lining carrying its later number - No.905202 - as seen during famous 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials.
• Item 935003 - BR #E905202, in British Railways faux teak finish with BR Gill Sans lettering. This livery was applied in 1949 and can be seen when the Dynamometer Car was used on trials with Bulleid's famous 'Leader' locomotve.

Whilst the original model may have been award-winning Rapido are always striving to improve their models and this batch will feature imporved decoration including amended lining, amended roof colours, improved lettering and a whole new livery where appropriate.

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