EFE Rail E40301

Cravens RT1406 London Transport Green & Cream, Route 345 Kingswood

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

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

Cravens RT1406 (JXC169) in London Transport Country Area green & cream with cream upper deck window surrounds, working from Watford High Street garage on route 345 to Kingswood, c.1950.

In the early post-war years when coachbuilders Park Royal Vehicles and Weymann were at full capacity and unable to fully meet London Transport’s enormous requirements for new RT buses, tenders to supply were sent to other manufacturers. Saunders Engineering of Anglesey and Cravens Railway Carriage & Wagon Co of Sheffield built 300 and 120 RTs respectively. Saunders RTs were similar to standard RTs in many respects, and were interchangeable with the Park Royal and Weymann bodies on overhaul at Aldenham Works. But Cravens RTs were quite different. The 5-bay window design could not be mixed with standard bodies at overhaul, and although well built, all except one were sold when only seven years old. Cravens RTs were quickly bought by independent bus operators, glad to acquire youthful London-spec vehicles in excellent condition which gave long reliable service to their new owners in many parts of the UK.

• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)

Catalogue listing

EFE Rail Cravens RT1406 model, London Transport green and cream livery, representing a bus on route 345 to Kingswood. Manufacturer part number: E40301. The model depicts a Cravens RT1406 (JXC169) in the London Transport Country Area colour scheme, with cream upper‑deck window surrounds, operating from the Watford High Street garage in the early post‑war period, circa 1950.

The original RT1406 was one of 120 buses built by Cravens Railway Carriage & Wagon Co of Sheffield after World War II, when the usual coachbuilders Park Royal Vehicles and Weymann were at full capacity. Unlike the standard RTs, the Cravens version featured a five‑bay window design that could not be mixed with standard bodies during overhaul. Most of these buses were sold to independent operators after only seven years, where they continued in service across the United Kingdom.

The die‑cast model is manufactured by EFE Road and is intended for use with OO gauge model railways (1:76 scale). It offers authentic detailing and is suitable for collectors and railway modellers seeking a period‑accurate British Railways Early Crest vehicle.