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Heljan 9620

Newton Chambers Car Carrier Set BR Maroon E96288/289/290E

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

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

Built in 1961 by Newton Chambers, these unusual looking coaches were designed to carry up to 6 cars per coach (4 on the upper deck and 2 in the well between the bogies) with a maximum weight of 12 tons.

The coaches were fitted with vacuum brakes and steam pipes for heating and were mostly used on the overnight runs to Scotland.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Heljan's latest additions to their OO gauge rolling stock range include six coach packs featuring Newton Chambers-built car transporters for the British Railways Eastern Region.

These unique double-deck vehicles were built between 1960 and 1961 and were originally designated as TCVs. They were later classified as NVV and NVX under the TOPS computer system. Notably, they featured a central well with a capacity for two or four cars, providing a 50% increase in capacity compared to conventional car carrying vehicles.

The car transporters were introduced on services between London, York, and Edinburgh, hauled by various locomotives including Pacifics and Deltics. They were later repainted in BR blue/grey and used on 'Motorail' services from London and northern England to the West of England.

Each pack includes three vehicles with separately fitted handbrake wheels, end door details, air pipes, and etched train ferry lashing eyes. The models feature steam heat, vacuum brake, and ETH equipment, and come with NEM couplers and sprung buffers. The packs will be released in BR Lined Maroon and BR 'Motorail' Blue/Grey liveries, with attention to detail including early and late rooflight arrangements and authentic livery differences between vehicles.

The car transporters were in service from the early 1960s to the late 1980s, with the Heljan models representing the vehicles in their late crest era.