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Hornby R40498

LNER - Mk4 TSOE - 12223 - B coach

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

Prototype Era
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Following on from the Mk3 coach, the Mk4s were built between 1989 and 1992 at Metro-Cammell’s Washwood Heath facility for the newly-electrified InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line.

A total of 282 carriages were built, to maintain a fleet of 30 fixed formations. Each one comprised of nine vehicles, operating with a Class 91 locomotive and a Driving Van Trailer on the other end to allow trains to operate in both directions without needing to turn the locomotive.

The Mk4 is an all-steel design which incorporates a number of improvements over the previous Mk3s. Most-notably, the inclusion of automatic push-button operated plug-type doors in place of the manually-operated slam doors. The body shells, which were built by BREL and Breda in Milan, also have fully sealed gangways and controlled emission toilets (CETs).

The coaches were used by successive ECML train operators that followed on from BR InterCity, including GNER, East Coast, and LNER, though they were largely replaced with the arrival of the first Class 801 ‘Azumas’ from 2019/20, with large numbers going to scrap. Following refurbishment, 12 Mk4s were acquired by Transport for Wales for its Holyhead-Cardiff ‘premier’ service, and these were joined by further examples that had been refurbished for a planned London Euston-Blackpool service by Grand Central that never materialised, bringing the TFW fleet up to 37 vehicles.

This highly detailed OO gauge model coach is based on ‘TSE’, a Tourist Standard End coach, designed to be positioned next to the locomotive with just one corridor connector.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby LNER Mk4 TSOE 12223 – B coach is a highly detailed OO gauge model of a Tourist Standard Open End coach from the Mk4 series. The model carries the manufacturer part number R40498 and represents the current era of British railway rolling stock.

The full‑size Mk4 coaches were constructed between 1989 and 1992 at Metro‑Cammell’s Washwood Heath plant for the newly electrified InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line. A total of 282 carriages were built, forming nine‑vehicle fixed‑formation sets that operate with a Class 91 locomotive and a Driving Van Trailer at the opposite end, allowing bi‑directional running without turning the locomotive.

Key design improvements over the preceding Mk3s include an all‑steel body, automatic push‑button plug‑type doors instead of manual slam doors, fully sealed gangways, and controlled emission toilets. The body shells were supplied by BREL and Breda in Milan.

Mk4 coaches served successive ECML operators – BR InterCity, GNER, East Coast and LNER – until they began to be withdrawn with the introduction of Class 801 “Azuma” units from 2019‑2020, many of which were scrapped. After refurbishment, twelve Mk4s were taken by Transport for Wales for its Holyhead‑Cardiff premier service, and a further twenty‑five, originally intended for a Grand Central London Euston‑Blackpool service that did not materialise, were added to the Welsh fleet, bringing its total to thirty‑seven vehicles.

The Hornby model is based on the TSE (Tourist Standard End) coach configuration and is intended to be coupled directly behind the locomotive with a single corridor connector.