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)
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.
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Dapol
4P-020-421
GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown Composite 7909 S5
Dapol
4P-020-412
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR All Brown All Third 3910 Set 5
Dapol
4P-020-101
GWR Toplight Mainline City Lined Choc/Cm 3rd Brake 3749 S2
Dapol
4P-020-521
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Composite 7911 Set 6
Dapol
4P-020-321
GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR Shirtbtn Composite 7907 S4
Dapol
4P-020-302
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR Shtbutton Third Brke 3754 Set 4
Dapol
4P-020-502
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Second Brake 3758 Set 6
Dapol
4P-020-512
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Second 3912 Set 6
Dapol
4P-020-222
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm Composite 7906 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-402
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR All Brown Third Brke 3756 Set 5
Dapol
4P-020-011
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lined Crimson All Third 3901 Set 1
Dapol
4P-020-221
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm Composite 7905 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-511
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Second 3911 Set 6
Dapol
4P-020-122
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lned Choc & Crm Composite 7904 Set 2
Dapol
4P-020-022
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lined Crimson Composite 7902 Set 1
Dapol
4P-020-201
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm 3rd Brake 3751 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-311
GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR Shirtbtn All 3rd 3907 S4
Dapol
4P-020-322
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR Shtbutton Composite 7908 Set 4
Dapol
4P-020-002
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lined Crimson Third Brake 3448 Set 1 (Copy)
Dapol
4P-020-111
GWR Toplight Mainline City Lined Choc/Cm All 3rd 3903 S2
Dapol
4P-020-012
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lined Crimson All Third 3902 Set 1
Dapol
4P-020-411
GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown All 3rd 3909 S5
Dapol
4P-020-312
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR Shtbutton All Third 3908 Set 4
Dapol
4P-020-211
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm All 3rd 3905 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-121
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lned Choc & Crm Composit 7903 Set 2
Dapol
4P-020-501
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Second Brake 3757 Set 6
Dapol
4P-020-021
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lined Crimson Composite 7901 Set 1
Dapol
4P-020-112
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lned Choc & Crm All Thrd 3904 Set 2
Dapol
4P-020-202
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm 3rd Brake 3752 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-001
GWR Toplight Mainline City Lined Crimson 3rd Brake 3747 S1
Dapol
4P-020-422
GWR Toplight M/Line City GWR All Brown Composite 7910 Set 5
Dapol
4P-020-102
GWR Toplight M/Line City Lned Choc & Crm 3rd Brke 3750 Set 2
Dapol
4P-020-212
GWR Toplight M/Line City Cty Tw Cty Choc & Crm All 3rd 3906 Set 3
Dapol
4P-020-301
GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR Shirtbtn 3rd Brake 3753 S4
Dapol
4P-020-522
GWR Toplight M/Line City BR Maroon Composite 7912 Set 6
£44.95 at eBay (New)
Dapol 4P-020-401 GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown 3rd Brake 3755 S5
£56.65 at eBay (New)
Dapol 4P-020-401 GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown Third Brake 3755 Set 5
£54.89 at eBay (New)
Dapol 4P-020-401 OO Gauge GWR Toplight M/L GWR All Brown 3rd Brake Coach 3755 S5
£59.95 at eBay (New)
Dapol 4P-020-401 GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown 3rd Brake 3755 S5 OO
£64.95 at eBay (New)
Dapol 4P-020-401 GWR Toplight Mainline City GWR All Brown 3rd Brake 3755
Online offers are generated automatically based on brand name and product code, and may not necessarily be this precise item.
Dapol is set to release a new OO gauge model of the GWR Toplight Mainline City coaches, specifically the All Brown Third Brake 3755 set 5 in GWR brown livery. These coaches were built at Swindon Works between 1920 and 1921 for the Great Western Railway.
The original coaches were ordered in 1915 but due to the First World War, production was delayed until 1920. A total of six sets of coaches were produced, each consisting of six coaches. The coaches were notable for being 7 inches lower than other contemporary coaches, allowing them to run through the London Underground tunnels.
The coaches were primarily used for commuter services from Reading and Windsor into the City of London, but their usage was curtailed at the start of the Second World War. After the war, they continued in service until being withdrawn from revenue-earning service in December 1956, with all coaches retired by December 1957.
One of the coaches, number 3755, was converted into a workmen's coach in 1958 and is now preserved at the Didcot Railway Centre. Another, number 3756, is partially restored. The Dapol model will be available as an all third, composite and brake third coach, suitable for pairing with the Dapol 61xx Prairie 2-6-2 locomotive.
The model features a highly accurate injection moulded body, metal door and commode handles, and a highly detailed chassis with vacuum tanks, battery boxes and brake linkages. The coaches will also have kinematic couplings, sprung metal buffers, internal lighting and directional tail lamp. The model will be capable of negotiating R2 radius curves and will be available with an optional DCC fitting.