IOW 4 Wheel 3rd Class Coach 10 is a charming model to add to your island-bound model train, featuring the Isle of Wight Central Railway lined Teak livery.

The distinctive 4-wheel coach returns with new guises, this time covering operations in the south of England during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Perfect for pairing with the delightful TT:120 A1/A1X Terriers, these diminutive coaches are based on designs typical of the early steam era and make for a fine addition to your model layout, be it a picturesque branchline, busy station scene or heritage railway!

Model Specification:

• Highly detailed model of generic 3rd Class Coach
• Bodyshell featuring panel detail, rain strips, door hinges and lamp brackets
• Separately fitted roof equipment, buffers, and brake detailing
• Moulded interior
• Kinematic NEM coupling mechanism
• Accessory Pack.

Livery:

• Isle of Wight Central Railway Lined Teak
• Gold lettering
• Painted red seating
• Satin finish
• Era 2

History:

These four-wheel coaches are typical of the type that was operating at the end of the 19th century and into the early part of the 20th. Introduced by many of the pre-Grouping companies before the more comfortable bogie-coaches became common place.

As newer coaches were introduced, the four-wheelers were often cascaded down to rural branch lines and where passenger numbers were much lighter. Some survived into the 1950s and ‘60s, by virtue of their relative isolation from the major centres of operation, while others found further use as departmental vehicles.

When these small vehicles were retired, often their bodies were bought up by local people for use as summer homes, but especially by farmers who found they made good chicken coops or storage sheds. The chassis from the coaches often found further use as goods wagons.

Because so many of these wooden bodies found their way into private hands, a good number have survived to be saved by preservationists, who have refurbished them and mounted them onto suitable underframes for use on heritage trains.