📢 Please take a minute to read this personal message from the creator of RailwayModels.uk

Hornby R40501

LNER - Mk4 Buffet - 10324 - H 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 a standard class buffet coach with table seating and buffet serving counter.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby LNER Mk4 Buffet – 10324 – H coach is a highly detailed OO gauge model of a standard class buffet carriage. The model carries the manufacturer part number R40501 and represents the current era of British railways.

The real Mk4 coaches were constructed between 1989 and 1992 at Metro‑Cammell’s Washwood Heath plant for the electrified InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line. A total of 282 carriages were built to form 30 fixed‑formation trains, each comprising nine vehicles coupled to a Class 91 locomotive and a Driving Van Trailer. The all‑steel design introduced automatic push‑button plug‑type doors, fully sealed gangways and controlled emission toilets, replacing the manual slam doors of the earlier Mk3 stock.

Mk4 coaches have been operated by successive ECML train operators, including GNER, East Coast and LNER, before many were withdrawn with the introduction of Class 801 ‘Azuma’ units from 2019/20. Following refurbishment, twelve units were taken by Transport for Wales for its Holyhead‑Cardiff premier service, and additional cars were prepared for a planned Grand Central London‑Euston to Blackpool service that never materialised, bringing the Welsh fleet to 37 vehicles. The Hornby model reproduces the buffet coach’s table seating and serving counter in OO gauge.