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Dapol 4P-020-111

GWR Toplight Mainline City Lined Choc/Cm All 3rd 3903 S2

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

The first order for these coaches was placed in 1915 but, due to the First World War, they were not built until 1920. The second batch was completed in 1921. Six sets of coaches were produced with each set comprising six coaches. The coaches were close coupled and constructed with a steel body rather than the traditional wooden panelling. Due to the restrictive loading gauge of the London Underground tunnels, the carriages are 7 inches lower than other contemporary carriages of the time. This enabled them to travel directly to Aldgate and Liverpool Street, on the Metropolitan Underground system.

The coaches were originally used for commuter traffic from the likes of Reading and Windsor into the City of London. At the start of the Second World War this service was curtailed. However, after the war and into BR days the coaches could be found on services much further afield.

The coaches started to be removed from revenue-earning service in December 1956 and all gone by December 1957. There was only one significant change made to the design during the lifetime of the coaches, which was the removal of one roof ventilator from each compartment.

1n 1958, two brake third coaches and one all third coach were converted into workmen's coaches for the miners service between Glyncorrwg and North Rhondda Halt, which was a former branch line of the South Wales Mineral Railway. The main changes were the addition of an extra window in the end of the guards luggage area and a fitting of a gong to the same end of the coach. This makes coaches 3755, 3756, and 3910 the last three coaches in service. 3755 is fully preserved at Didcot Railway Centre with 3756 being partially restored.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

The Dapol GWR Toplight Mainline City Lined Chocolate & Cream All Third 3903 Set 2 is a model of a GWR carriage built in the 1920s. The coaches were originally constructed at Swindon Works between 1920 and 1921, with a total of six sets of six coaches being produced. The coaches were designed with a steel body and a lower loading gauge to allow them to travel through London Underground tunnels.

The coaches were primarily used for commuter services from Reading and Windsor into the City of London but were taken out of revenue-earning service by December 1957. However, some coaches were converted for use on a miners' service in South Wales until 1958. Two of these converted coaches, numbers 3755 and 3756, are still preserved, with 3755 being fully preserved at Didcot Railway Centre.

The model features highly accurate injection moulded bodies with bolection window mouldings and frosted Toplight windows. Other details include separate metal door and commode handles, wire end handrails, and separately applied end communication details. The coaches also feature a highly detailed chassis with vacuum tanks, battery boxes, and brake linkages. The model has a 9ft bogie bolster with diecast side frames and split axles for electrical pick up, and the interior features period-specific decorations.

The technical specification of the model includes kinematic couplings with NEM pockets, allowing for close coupling, and the ability to negotiate R2 radius curves. The coaches also feature sprung metal buffers, internal lighting, and a directional tail lamp. The model can be optionally fitted with a DCC decoder for digital control.