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Hornby R40494

Virgin Intercity - Mk3 TS - 42175 - Coach

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

Prototype Era
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation

Manufacturer description

British Rail introduced the production version of the Mk3 coach in 1975 with improved standards of comfort in response to competition from airlines and increased use of private motor cars.

Designed and built by BREL, they were initially intended as locomotive-hauled stock, but with the development of the High Speed Train (HST), were soon adapted for use at speeds of up to 125mph (220km/h). The first version of the Mk3 coach had actually been built in 1972, with ten coaches produced for the prototype HST.

Mk3 coaches continued to be built until 1988, but multiple units based on the Mk3 body shell were built until the early 1990s. The standard length of a Mk3 coach is 75ft (23m), which is ten feet longer than its predecessor, the Mk2, and is of monocoque construction with an all-welded mild steel stressed skin.

Virgin operated several sets of these coaches for use with its HST power cars. Following introduction of its Pendolinos, most of Virgin’s Mk3 coaches moved on to other operators, though it did retain one set for peak time cover and had them refurbished at Doncaster and painted into the same livery as its Pendolino and Voyager trains. However, these too were stood-down in November 2014 when they were transferred to Abellio Greater Anglia.

This highly detailed OO gauge model coach is based on the ‘TS’, a Trailer Second coach with an open plan seating area for second class passengers.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby Virgin Intercity – Mk3 TS – 42175 – Coach is an OO gauge model of a British Rail Mk3 Trailer Second coach. It carries the manufacturer part number R40494 and represents the period of the initial privatisation of the railway network.

The Mk3 coach was introduced by British Rail in 1975 as a production version of a design that first appeared in 1972 for the prototype High Speed Train. Built by BREL, the 75 ft (23 m) monocoque coaches were intended for locomotive‑hauled service but were quickly adapted for operation at up to 125 mph (220 km/h) with the HST. Production continued until 1988, and the Mk3 body shell was used for multiple‑unit building into the early 1990s.

Virgin operated several Mk3 coach sets with its HST power cars and retained a small number for peak‑time cover after the introduction of its Pendolino fleet. These were refurbished at Doncaster and repainted in the same livery as Virgin’s Pendolino and Voyager services before being stood down in November 2014 when they were transferred to Abellio Greater Anglia. The Hornby model replicates the ‘TS’ configuration – a Trailer Second coach with an open‑plan seating area for second‑class passengers.