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Hornby R40495

Virgin Intercity - Mk3 TGS - 44081 - 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 coach model is based on ‘TGS’, a second class open coach like the ‘TS’ but with a space for the guard’s compartment.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby Virgin Intercity Mk3 TGS coach, item 44081, is an OO gauge model supplied by Hornby. The model carries the manufacturer part number R40495 and represents a British Rail Mk3 second‑class open coach in the Virgin livery.

The model is intended to depict the period of the initial privatisation of British Rail, when Virgin operated Mk3 coaches with its High Speed Train power cars.

The real Mk3 coach was introduced by British Rail in 1975 as an improvement in comfort and speed, later capable of 125 mph. Built by BREL, the coaches are 75 ft long, of monocoque construction with an all‑welded mild‑steel stressed skin, and were produced until 1988. Virgin retained a small fleet for peak‑time cover before transferring them to Abellio Greater Anglia in November 2014.

This highly detailed OO gauge model is based on the TGS configuration – a second‑class open coach that includes a guard’s compartment – and is painted in the same livery as Virgin’s Pendolino and Voyager trains.