Product Launch: Welshpool and Llanfair Open Wagon

We've just launched our Welshpool and Llanfair Open Wagon!

Designed from the ground up using the very latest in multicolour 3D printing technology. Not only is this kit beautifully detailed, but you don't need to spend hours and hours sanding the kit to get a smooth finish - only minimal sanding is required. Best of all - no painting is needed! All the parts come in black/grey/white, and transfers are included.

We wanted to make the best 16mm narrow gauge wagon kit available, and we have big plans with many more ideas for other wagons and locos coming in the future too. If you've purchased a kit Contact us with a photo of it on your layout - we'd love to see it.

Wagon History

Built by R.Y. Pickering & Co in 1902, the Welshpool and Llanfair Open Wagon was primarily used to carry coal. 40 open wagons were built. Originally built wihout sprung axleboxes, in 1904, the wagons were converted at Oswestry with six leaf springs. The Great Western Railway further modified the wagons with different style plank sides/ends, new ironwork, and door bangers. This "finalised" design is what we have based our kit on.

For coupling, these wagons were originally designed to used dumb couplings, but were almost immediately changed to automatic "chopper" couplings. Our kit includes both styles so you can choose the most suitable one for your layout.

Our wagon comes with white-rimmed wheels as standard, and the axleboxes are stamped "1904" - which matches original photographs of the 1904 leaf-spring overhaul - and not the 1902 stamped "unsprung" axleboxes sometimes used by other kits.

On the original 1902 axleboxes, the stamped text reads:

W. &. L. R Y

PATENT AXLE BOX

Co. LD.

WOOD'S PATENT

1902

This image from the sale of an original (1904) cast axlebox cover shows the detail - although we were not able to fit all of this text onto our model - it's barely legible in this scale! Image from Easy Live Auction.

 

To increase the safety of using the rolling stock, safety chains and hooks were fitted to all wagons. We've included these too - but they are only for decorative purposes and if used to couple wagons, you may find they no longer go round tight radius bends.

Each wagon built by Pickering included a cast makers plate which reads:

R. Y. PICKERING & CO., LTD.

RLY CARRIAGE AND WAGON BUILDINGS

WHEEL MAKERS

WISHAW AIRDRIE & THORNTON

Although the exact wording sometimes varies between wagons and years of manufacture. Once again, this text is too tiny to be legible with out manufacturing processes, so we have compromised.

If you'd like more information on this wagon, the book titled "The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway" by Glyn Williams is an excellent place to start.