KR Models KRM-TOR-OO-DCC

Pair of Torpedo Molten Iron Ore Wagons - DCC Rotating

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

Prototype Eras
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation
Era 10 (2005 to 2015) Rebuilding of the Railways
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Scunthorpe Steelworks Torpedo Wagons

In the 1960s British Steel needed to improve and increase its Iron and Steelmaking facilities in Scunthorpe, the result of this was the anchor project. Work began on the project in the 1970s and part of this was new Torpedo wagons to carry the molten Iron from the Blast Furnaces to the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking plant.

 The Torpedo wagons built by Distington Engineering Company in Workington were built in 2 batches; the 1st arriving in 1973.

20 torpedoes were built for the Appleby Frodingham and Redburn works. A further 10 were built for Normandy Park works, these were fitted with airbrakes to enable the transport of Iron between Normandy Park and Appleby Frodingham works by crossing the Lindsey Light Railway.

Originally built to carry 250t of molten Iron at a temperature of 1480ﾟC. The torpedoes were later rebuilt in 1980 and the 1990s to raise this amount to 300t.

Still in use to this day, these wagons can often be seen from the Scunthorpe Steelworks rail tours with the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society.

Andrew Plumtree and Glenn Britcliffe – Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society

DCC Fitted Version  will allow the barrel to rotate 180ﾟto simulate emptying.  This feature will not work in DC mode.

Catalogue listing

Model details

KR Models Pair of Torpedo Molten Iron Ore Wagons – DCC Rotating

The model is a DCC‑fitted representation of the torpedo wagons used at Scunthorpe Steelworks during the British Rail sectorisation era. It is supplied under the manufacturer part number KRM‑TOR‑OO‑DCC.

These wagons were originally built by Distington Engineering Company in Workington, with the first batch arriving in 1973. Twenty units served the Appleby Frodingham and Redburn works, and a further ten were supplied to Normandy Park works, the latter fitted with air‑brakes for operation on the Lindsey Light Railway.

The wagons were designed to carry 250 t of molten iron at a temperature of 1480 °C; later rebuilds in 1980 and the 1990s increased capacity to 300 t. The DCC version allows the barrel to rotate 180° to simulate emptying, a function that operates only in DCC mode.

The prototypes remain in service and can frequently be observed on rail tours of Scunthorpe Steelworks, often accompanied by the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society.