We are all familiar with the modern use of containers to move large volumes of freight, but the concept is not a new one as the railway companies of Great Britain began moving goods by the container load before the Second World War. The Great Western Railway (GWR) was an early adopter and the flat bed wagons that it built to carry containers were given the telegraphic code Conflats – a name that stuck following the creation of British Railways in 1948. Various containers were built which could be loaded onto the Conflats, each of which could carry two type A containers, or one of the larger type Bs. Containers had the advantage that they, along with their entire contents, could be moved as one between road and rail transport, allowing them to reach their destination with minimal handling.
This Bachmann Branchline model comprises a Conflat Wagon and a separate BA Container, allowing the wagon to run loaded or empty while the container also makes an excellent scenic accessory, ideal for a busy goods facility when not employed as a load for the Conflat.
Our models are timeless replicas of the prototypes, with precision moulding techniques employed to capture a wealth of detail like the planked wagon deck, lashing points and chain pocket lids. The container meanwhile boasts an array of moulded details from the door hinges and locking mechanisms to the accurate, and extensive, rivet patterns. The Conflat’s chassis is similarly detailed, being fitted with separate brake gear, brake handles and vacuum cylinders, complete with the linkage between the two ‘V’ hangers. Metal wheels and axles are employed, along with turned metal buffers; meanwhile the couplings are fitted via NEM coupling pockets allowing full interchangeability for those wishing to use an alternative coupling system.
MODEL FEATURES:
- Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
- Era 5
- 1 x Conflat Wagons in Pristine BR Bauxite (Early) livery
- 1 x Unventilated BA Container in ‘Speedfreight’ (London Midland Region) Silver & Yellow livery
- Conflat Running No. B737728
- Container No. BA4325B
- NEM Coupling Pockets
- Length 88mm (over couplings)
No extended details available.
