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Hornby R40499B

LNER - Mk4 TSO - 12432 - E Coach

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI 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 ‘TS’, a Tourist Standard open coach for standard class passengers, with one retention toilet.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby model LNER Mk4 TSO (product number 12432, manufacturer part number R40499B) is a highly detailed OO gauge replica of the Tourist Standard Open carriage used on InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line. The model represents the current era of operation.

The real Mk4 coaches were built between 1989 and 1992 at Metro‑Cammell’s Washwood Heath works. A total of 282 carriages were produced to form nine‑vehicle fixed formations, each set comprising a Class 91 locomotive, a Driving Van Trailer and a mixture of standard and first‑class coaches. Notable features of the Mk4 design include all‑steel construction, automatic plug‑type doors, fully sealed gangways and controlled‑emission toilets.

In service the Mk4s were operated by BR InterCity and later by GNER, East Coast and LNER, before being superseded from 2019/20 by the Class 801 “Azuma” units. After refurbishment, twelve examples were taken by Transport for Wales for the Holyhead‑Cardiff premier service and further units were prepared for a proposed Grand Central London‑Euston to Blackpool service that did not proceed, raising the Transport for Wales fleet to 37 coaches. The Hornby model reproduces the Tourist Standard Open layout with a single retention toilet.