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Hornby R40556

RailRoad BR - Intercity - Mk4 - TSO coach - 12440

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

Prototype Era
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

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 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).

This OO gauge coach model is a replica of a Second Class (Trailer Second) open coach in BR InterCity livery.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby RailRoad BR Intercity Mk4 TSO coach – model number R40556 is an OO gauge replica of a Trailer Second Open (TSO) carriage in British Rail InterCity livery. The model represents the British Rail sectorisation era.

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 nine‑vehicle trains, each hauled by a Class 91 locomotive and a Driving Van Trailer at the opposite end.

The Mk4 design is all‑steel and incorporates automatic push‑button plug‑type doors, fully sealed gangways and controlled emission toilets. The body shells were produced by BREL and Breda in Milan. This model depicts the second‑class open carriage as it appeared in service.