Product Highlight: OO9 Scale Ffestiniog Railway Brake Coaches
The Ffestiniog Railway’s Curly Roof Brake Van will soon be joining the Brake Third Coaches that are already available as part of the Bachmann Narrow Gauge range of OO9 Scale models. These brake vehicles have a shared history that has enabled us to produce highly detailed models of both types, so this is a great opportunity to take a look at the models in more detail to see all of the features that are common between them whilst also exploring the many characteristics that are unique to each type of van!
The injection-moulded bodyshells of each vehicle accurately depict the panelling and recesses that characterise the prototypes, with the Curly Roof Van having large, smooth panels around the the outside of the various compartments such as those intended for passenger luggage and dogs, whilst the Brake Third exhibits smaller luggage and passenger compartments with ‘tongue and groove’ panelling on all sides.
Door hinges and handles are present along the sides of both vehicles, along with dog box access latches on the Curly Roof Van. The duckets for both types of van are separately fitted, and the windows are all flush glazed. These windows allow the detail of the interiors to be viewed, with the Brake Third’s passenger compartments having decorated seating and partitions, and the Guard’s compartments in both types of vehicle are equipped with brake handwheels.
Both models feature a diecast metal chassis, with the Guard’s platforms featuring engraved planking and either curved or straight handrails as appropriate. There are rivets along the solebars and at either end, there are vacuum pipes and their support brackets. The chassis are supported by detailed bogies that have curved spoke wheels and NEM coupling pockets.
Brown, Marshall & Co. constructed the bodies for three luggage vans for the Ffestiniog Railway during the 1870s which were fitted with bogies and brake gear at the railway’s own Boston Lodge Works. Initially known as ‘Turtle Roof Vans’ because of the distinctly curved roofs, they later became more commonly referred to as the ‘Curly Roof Vans’, again owing to the shape of the roof. Van No. 1 was scrapped in 1921, around which time No. 2 had it’s curved roof replaced with one of a more traditional shape, along with having the dog compartment and part of the luggage compartment converted into third-class passenger accommodation, creating the Brake Third van which was later renumbered from the original No. 2 to the No. 10 that it carries today. The third original van was scrapped in 1955, which meant that there were no vans with the original ‘Curly Roof’ design until a replica was constructed in 2004, allowing both designs to be seen currently at the Ffestiniog Railway.
Ffestiniog Railway Brake Third No. 2 FR Yellow & Crimson
Our first model is a Brake Third in the Ffestiniog Railway’s Yellow and Crimson livery that was used in the early 1930s. This model depicts this vehicle after it was rebuilt from a Curly Roof van in 1921, when it was still No. 2.
| Era | Running No. | Product Code |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 394-081 |
Ffestiniog Railway Brake Third No. 10 FR Green with Red Ends
Our next model depicts a Brake Third coach in the Green livery with Red Ends that is currently used by the Ffestiniog Railway. Whilst the coach depicted is actually the same prototype as the previous model, it has been renumbered from No. 2 to No. 10.
| Era | Running No. | Product Code |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 10 | 394-080 |
Ffestiniog Railway Brake Third No. 8 Crimson & Cream
Our third model depicts a Ffestiniog Railway Brake Third Coach No. 8 in Crimson and Cream livery. Whilst the Brake Third has not carried this livery in reality, this model is ideally suited to those whose Narrow Gauge modelling interests lie away from the Ffestiniog, and the livery of this vehicle makes it the perfect accompaniment for our Crimson and Cream ‘Tin Car’ Coaches.
| Era | Running No. | Product Code |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 394-085 |
Ffestiniog Railway Curly Roof Van No.1 FR Lined Plum
Our final model depicts Curly Roof Van No. 1 in the Ffestiniog Railway’s Lined Plum livery. Despite depicting the earliest form of this van, our model can be used to portray both the original vehicle or the replica of it that was built in 2004.
| Era | Running No. | Product Code |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | 394-076 |
The Brake Third Coaches are already available from Bachmann Retailers, whilst the Curly Roof Brake Van is due to arrive in a few short weeks, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information. Once you’ve selected your models, get in touch with your nearest retailer to pre-order yours!
Your nearest retailer can be found by using the Retailers page on our website, which can be accessed either from the menu at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below.
