Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs
Prototype Eras
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
The iconic 4-car articulated Cartic-4 car carriers were built between 1966 and 1972 and lasted until the mid-2000s. The Cartic-4 car carriers were developed jointly by BR and Ford and adopted a radical design at the time for freight stock – comprising a permanently coupled four-part vehicle in which the inner cars were linked via shared bogies on articulated joints. The majority were built for private vehicle transporters MAT, Silcock & Collings and Tolemans, however some were also built by BR and used to launch its Motorail brand in 1966. This offered motorists the opportunity to take their car on holiday with them, with an extensive network of services between cities including London, Birmingham and Sheffield and Scotland, the South West and North Wales. Once Motorail stopped the Cartic-4s were used to transport cars around the country both in block flows from factories to delivery points and in Speedlink flows to dealers.
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Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-437A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - STVA light grey with mesh screens (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-436B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - MAT blue with mesh screens (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-436A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - MAT blue with mesh screens (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-425B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock Express livery with roof + side screens (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-425A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock Express livery with roof + side screens (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-414B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock Express livery with side screens (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-414A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock Express livery with side screens (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-403B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock and Collings orange (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-403A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - Silcock and Collings orange (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-402B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - MAT-Transauto blue (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-402A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - MAT-Transauto blue (set A)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-401B
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - BR Motorail blue (set B)
Revolution Trains
RT-OO-CAR4-401A
Quad set Cartic-4 car carrier - BR Motorail blue (set A)
Revolution Trains Quad set Cartic‑4 car carrier – STVA light grey with mesh screens (set B)
Manufacturer Part Number: RT‑OO‑CAR4‑437B
Period represented: British Rail blue (pre‑TOPS)
The Cartic‑4 car carriers were built between 1966 and 1972 and remained in service until the mid‑2000s. Developed jointly by British Rail and Ford, the design comprised a permanently coupled four‑part vehicle in which the inner cars shared bogies on articulated joints. Most units were supplied to private vehicle transporters such as MAT, Silcock & Collings and Tolemans, while a number were operated by British Rail to launch its Motorail service in 1966, offering motorists the option of travelling with their cars on routes including London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Scotland, the South West and North Wales. After the Motorail service ended, the Cartic‑4s were used for block flows from factories to delivery points and for Speedlink deliveries to dealers.
The model comes as a quad pack of Cartic‑4 wagons, each individually numbered and finished in as‑built British Rail blue livery without side mesh screens or roof, suitable for Era 6/7. It includes NEM kinematic close couplers and is offered in set A or set B, each quad featuring different numbers. The set measures 840 mm over buffers.