Back to product list

Hornby R40023

BR, Mk1 Brake Composite Corridor, W 21178 - Era 7

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

Prototype Eras
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The first standardised railway carriage design built by British Railways, the Mark 1 coach introduced in 1951 could be found across Britain's railway network and continued to be produced until 1963, and even later in the form of multiple units and non-passenger stock. Along with being widely deployed, Mk1 coaches were built in various places including Derby, Doncaster, Eastleigh, Swindon, Wolverton and York.

Most Mk1 coaches had 63ft 5in long underframes with 64ft 6in long bodies, although some were built shorter to be used on tighter curves where large overhangs would otherwise have prohibited running. In 1977 a reduction in the number of fatalities on British railways since 1955 was attributed to the introduction of the Mk1 coaches due to their steel build, strong underframe, and buckeye couplings making them far safer in the event of an accident.

Mk1 coaches started to be withdrawn from widescale service in the 1990s, although in some regions, particularly in the south, Mk1 base multiple units continued to be used well into the 2000s. Network rail continue to use modified Mk1 coaches for various departmental duties and rail tour operators continue to use Mk1 coaches on specially organised services.

The Mk1 BCK is a Mk1 Brake Composite Corridor coach meaning seating is split into compartments connected by a corridor on one side. The coach provided both first- and second-class compartments. Along with passenger seating this coach also houses a compartment containing equipment used to help brake the train.

Catalogue listing

Brand
Hornby
Product Code
R40023
GTIN
5055286691379
RRP
£42.49
Catalogue
2021 range
Release date
August 2021

Model details

Gauge
OO
Colour
Blue
Minimum radius curve
2nd Radius (438mm)
Livery
BR Corporate Blue
Coupling
NEM / Tension lock
Tooling date
2013
Scale
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
Coupling mount
NEM pockets
Chassis construction
Plastic & metal
Minimum radius
Radius 2
Finish
Painted
Coupling type
Tension lock
DCC status
DCC Not compatible
Running number
W21178

Prototype information

Operated by
British Railways
Network Rail
Royal Mail
Regional Railways
First Great Western
West Coast Railway Co
Various heritage & mainline charter operators
Passenger capacity
Varies by coach type
Total built
1000s
Type of vehicle
Coach
Wheel configuration
Bogies
(BR1, BR2, Commonwealth or B4 types used)
Builder
BR Workshops
Cravens
Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company
Build dates
1951 to 1963
Main duties
Passenger services
Mail & Parcels
Departmental
In service until
Present
(Charter trains & departmental only)
Locomotive class*
Brake Composite Corridor
Coach type
British Railways Mark 1
Operator
BR
TOPS classification
(BCK) Brake Composite Corridor
Wheel arrangement
Bogies (BR1, BR2, Commonwealth or B4 types used)
Designer
BR
Built
1951 to 1963
Built by
BR Workshops Cravens Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company

* 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.

Supplier Links


Hornby website


Search on Amazon


Search on eBay

Supplier links are provided for your convenience and do not guarantee that the product is currently available. RailwayModels.uk is not a representative of these suppliers, but may receive a commission when purchases are made through links on this page.

Related products

RailwayModels.uk is a Good Stuff website.

Page generated in 4.74 seconds
216.73.217.80
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:27:40 +0100
Jurassic Aardvark