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Dapol 4P-020-321

GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR Shirtbtn Composite 7907 S4

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 GWR Shirtbutton Composite 7907 Set 4 is a model railway coach set designed for OO gauge. The coaches are painted in Great Western Railway's distinctive chocolate and cream livery. The model features a highly accurate injection-moulded body with intricate details such as bolection window mouldings and frosted Toplight windows.

The coaches are built with a steel body and have a unique feature of being 7 inches lower than other contemporary coaches, allowing them to travel on the London Underground tunnels. The model is designed to represent the coaches from the 1920s, during the Big Four period. The coaches were originally used for commuter traffic from Reading and Windsor into the City of London, but were later used on services further afield after the Second World War.

The model features a highly detailed interior with period-specific decorations and a highly detailed chassis with vacuum tanks, battery boxes, and brake linkages. The coaches have a 9ft bogie bolster with diecast side frames and split axles for electrical pick-up. The model also features a kinematic coupling system with NEM pockets and special coupling bars for close coupling.

The technical specification of the model includes sprung metal buffers, internal lighting, and a directional tail lamp. The model can be optionally DCC fitted with a six-pin decoder, such as the Dapol Imperium Four. The coaches are capable of negotiating R2 radius curves and have a heavy diecast chassis.