Ellis Clark Trains C3041A

OO Gauge BR Bauxite Prestwin Wagons (3-Pcs), B873405, B873409 & B873763

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

Prototype Eras
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

Our reference: C3041A

Introduction

Our Prestwins depict the 12ft-wheelbase variant that comprised the majority of the fleet. Prestwins often ran as rakes, and to reflect this our Prestwins will be available in handy packs of three so that you can quickly build a prototypical train. There’ll be six sets of individually numbered wagons in total, covering pre- and post-TOPS identities.

Our Prestwins are in production now, and we hope to have them available for purchase in September/October of this year, priced at £120 per set of three wagons. You can pre-order yours – at no upfront cost – via our website (clarkrailworks.com) or by calling us on 01756 701451.

History, Info & Updates: We've made a handy blog post for this project which will give you a little bite-size history & info. To view the Prestwin Project page, click the 'Prestwin' tab in the project section of the top menu bar.

RRP - £120.00

Release date - November 2025

SPECIFICATIONS

If you’re familiar with our other wagons, you’ll know we never skimp on specs, and our Prestwins will be no exception. Our trademark die-cast chassis underpins a feast of fine details, from metal steps and grab handles to the spiders’ web of valves and pipework to be found at the summit of a Prestwin silo. We’re catering for variations in axle-box design, and our Prestwins will glide smoothly along on brass bearings. As with our other wagons, we’ve made EM/P4 conversion straightforward, with 26mm axles.

• Die-cast chassis
• 'Ultraflex' vacuum pipes
• Brass bearings
• Easy conversion to EM/P4, with 26mm axle
• Axle box variations
• Fine metal steps and handles
• Subtle variations in printed detail across each set of three wagons

**The images provided are of current decorated samples and these may be subject to change.**

Catalogue listing

Model details

The Ellis Clark Trains Set of 3 Prestwin Silo Wagons is a OO gauge model representing British Railways' Late Crest period. The set consists of three vehicles, numbered B873405, B873409, and B873763, in Pre-TOPS BR Bauxite livery.

Prestwin wagons were introduced by British Railways in the early 1960s to address a problem with the Presflo design, which suffered from fine powders collecting in its square corners during unloading. The Prestwin design used twin silos with curved sides to facilitate the flow of materials such as lime, sand, and soda ash. The wagons were built by Metro-Cammell and Gloucester RCW, with the first 31 vehicles having a 10ft 6in wheelbase and the final 100 having a 12ft wheelbase and larger capacity.

Prestwin wagons were used to transport a variety of materials, including alumina, sand, and sodium tripolyphosphate, across the UK network, with notable flows including between Burntisland and Welwyn Garden City, and between Staffordshire and Port Sunlight. Some wagons were also used to transport china clay, slate powder, and salt. The wagons were initially painted in BR's bauxite livery, which remained vibrant for longer than other vehicles, and some were later repainted in dark grey or black.

The model features a die-cast chassis, 'Ultraflex' vacuum pipes, brass bearings, and easy conversion to EM/P4 with 26mm axle. The set also includes axle-box variations, fine metal steps and handles, and subtle variations in printed detail across each of the three wagons.