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
Dapol Black Label & Railway Icons
The coach forms part of Dapol's Black Label brand, so the model is a premium coach full of the latest features and specification. This particular Q13 Inspection Saloon also joins the Railway Icons range.
Exclusive to Rails of Sheffield & the NRM / Locomotion Models-
Warm White Interior light bar
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18 pin DCC socket
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Directional red/warm white lamp fitted at 1 end
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Stay-alive capacitor
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Plug-less light bar connection
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Light switches for DC use
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Several different body and end variations
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Removable roof to allow further detailing
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Separately fitted cables, wipers, lamp irons, horns & gong
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Open windows with separate moulded curtains
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Gloss metal-like paint finish
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Diecast chassis
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Cosmetic pipes and coupling fitted on 1 end
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Sprung buffers
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NEM sockets
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Highly detailed bogies with separately fitted details
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Blackened DOGA spec. wheels
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EM & P4 compatible
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Separately fitted detailed chairs, tables and luggage racks
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Accurate blue interior base and white ceiling
History
Whereas most Inspection Saloons were converted from older vehicles, the Q13 were purpose-built examples. They were shorter than most other coaches built around the time, standing at 52ft long.
Although designed by the Great Western Railway under the tenure of then CME, F.W. Hawksworth, the Diagram Q13 saloons didn’t enter traffic until shortly after the Nationalisation Act of 1948.
7 of the type were built at Swindon works in 1948 with many characteristics of the later GWR coaches.
Inspection saloons, otherwise known as Engineer’s Saloons, were used as a means of assessing the track and infrastructure over a large area in a relatively short amount of time. This necessitated large windows on both ends of the coach. They weren’t fitted with any controls other than a vacuum brake and speedometer. But they were even fitted out with kitchens.
All 7 examples have been preserved and restored to working order. They are very popular being used as observation saloons for a small supplementary fare. At the time of writing, they can be seen at the following railways:
80943 – Dean Forest Railway
80969 – Severn Valley Railway
80970 – Great Central Railway
80972 – Severn Valley Railway
80974 – North Yorkshire Moors Railway
80975 – Llangollen Railway
80976 – Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway (on loan from the West Somerset Railway)
Catalogue listing
Model details
Supplier Links
Special commissions are usually only available new from the commissioning organisation, and may well have sold out on pre-order before they even end up listed here! But you may be able to find used items on marketplace or auction websites.
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