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Rapido 935004

Dynamometer Car in BR Maroon livery No. E902502

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

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

Rails of Sheffield Exclusive

We are pleased to offer the forthcoming Rapido Trains Dynamometer Car in the much requested BR MAROON livery! 

Best known as the vehicle that recorded the 126mph run of LNER ‘A4’ No. 4468 Mallard on July 3 1938, the North Eastern Railway’s test car, built at Darlington Works in 1906, is now on display at the National Railway Museum.

No. 23591 passed into LNER ownership after the Grouping of 1923 where Chief Mechanical Engineer Sir Nigel Gresley used it extensively to test his new designs and modifications against established locomotives. It was even used behind the UK’s only steam-diesel hybrid locomotive! 

Based on detailed research of the prototype, archive photographs and official drawings, this model featured exceptional interior and underframe detail, including depictions of the recording equipment and the additional speed recording wheel between the bogies. No wonder it was voted by the readers of Model Rail magazine as ‘Coach of the Decade’ in its Model of the Decade awards!

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Rapido Dynamometer Car in BR Maroon livery, catalogue number E902502, issued as a limited‑edition “Rails of Sheffield” model. It carries the manufacturer part number 935004 and represents the British Railways Early Crest period.

The prototype vehicle was constructed at Darlington Works in 1906 and is best known for recording the 126 mph run of LNER A4 No. 4468 Mallard on 3 July 1938. After the 1923 Grouping it entered LNER ownership as No. 23591, where Chief Mechanical Engineer Sir Nigel Gresley employed it extensively to test new designs and modifications, including use behind the United Kingdom’s sole steam‑diesel hybrid locomotive.

The model is based on detailed research of archive photographs and official drawings. It includes interior and underframe detail, the recording equipment and the additional speed‑recording wheel situated between the bogies. Model Rail magazine readers later voted the vehicle “Coach of the Decade” in the Model of the Decade awards.