Silver Sidelines

February 2025 February 2025 and Rapido UK have released their new models of the ex GWR ‘B’ Set carriages. Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Lined Maroon livery.  Spot the red flashes for the communication cord apparatus on the new coaches, Rapido front, Mainline rear The new models are everything that you might expect from Rapido, well finished and very well detailed.  They are also delicate, expensive and finding space to store the empty packaging will be challenging. I have purchased three sets, in BR plain maroon, crimson and lined maroon liveries.  The new coaches will replace earlier models.   Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Crimson livery, Hornby front, Rapido rear Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Maroon livery, Airfix front, Rapido rear Some history   Over the years I acquired three variants of ‘B’ Set carriages from Airfix, Mainline (Palitoy) and Hornby.   The old order BR Maroon (Airfix) left, BR Crimson (Hornby) right I fitted metal wheels to these old carriages and Bachmann Mini...

It has just been announced that the Rails Rapido Dynamometer Car has won the 2018 first ever Hornby Best OO Scale Wagon or Carriage Awards. Deservedly I would say. My model was purchased long before the awards were announced. The model is highly detailed and very well made. I think more a scale model than an item of model railway rolling stock. Ex LNER Dynamometer Car - complete with magic wand (to turn on the lighting) Over the course of a year I buy the odd item from Rails of Sheffield. This year Rails have been putting in their parcels, an advertising flyer for the ex LNER Dynamometer Car. It was made for Rails by Rapido, a Canadian business. The advertising flyer did not pass unnoticed by my wife who eyes, with a certain degree of suspicion, the various brown boxes delivered by our Postie. “Are you going to buy one?” she asked, followed by “I think you should get one”. Well – how could I resist! Ex LNER Dynamometer Car My layout is ‘60...