Railway Models UK

Rapido Trains UK has unveiled a new OO gauge line of highly detailed Rectank wagons, offering a variety of authentic liveries and removable load options to represent over four decades of service.

The range is still in the tooling stage, but orders are currently open through Rapido Trains UK and its authorised retailers.

The collection covers a wide selection of historically accurate liveries, including:

War Department grey (with tank loads)
LNWR grey
GWR grey, featuring 1940s examples
LNER grey (including post-1936 variants)
LMS grey
British Railways grey
Longmoor Military Railway green
Army green
Industrial black (GKN)

Each livery comes paired with an appropriate load configuration, such as moulds, girders on bolsters, pipes or wheels. The announced line consists of 19 different models.

Key features and multiple tooling variations that reflect prototype differences include:

Jack mounts
End and centre jacks
Chain boxes
Bolsters
Additional tiedowns

Other parts that are produced separately for accurate detailing are:

Covered First World War tank
Steel girders
Ingot moulds
Wagon wheels
Flanged pipes
Additional detailing parts such as tiedowns and chocks (where applicable)
8‑spoked wheels
Brass/metal bearings for improved running
NEM 363 coupling pockets
High-quality livery application

The WD 35T Rectank bogie wagon was first introduced in 1916 to enable the transport of early British tanks, which were initially kept secret and referred to as “water carriers”. The wagons moved these vehicles from factories to ports for shipment to the front line.

A total of 200 Rectanks were ordered by the War Department. Most were believed to have been built by the Midland Railway at Derby, with others constructed by the Great Western Railway at Swindon and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Exact production allocations remain unknown.

The wagons were approximately 34 feet long over headstocks and were fitted with diamond‑frame bogies designed by Midland. They featured reinforced beds, screw jacks for stabilisation during loading and underframe chain storage boxes. Tanks were driven onto the wagons from the side and secured with chains.

After the First World War, Rectanks were absorbed into the fleets of pre‑grouping railway companies and later passed to the Big Four after 1923. Their use expanded to carry a variety of heavy and oversized loads. During the Second World War they were re‑deployed for military duties, with some being shipped to mainland Europe.

Following nationalisation, surviving examples entered British Railways stock, and additional wagons were built between 1959 and 1960 featuring updated bogie and truss designs. Withdrawals took place between 1959 and 1962, although some departmental locomotives remained in use until the late 1960s. A number of wagons have also been preserved.

The Rapido Trains UK OO gauge WD 35T Rectank bogie wagon will have recommended retail price of £54.95

Rapido announces War Department 35T Rectank wagons

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