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Revolution Trains RT-OO-KSA-205A

KSA 'Cube' DRS / Malcolm Logistics Group Vans Twin Pack

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

Prototype Era
Era 10 (2005 to 2015) Rebuilding of the Railways

Manufacturer description

The twin pack will contain wagons numbered: 33 70 4739 052-7 and 078-2

The Revolution models will feature our usual refinements including numerous separately fitted detail parts, and have been designed with 26mm axles to allow simple conversion to P4/EM standards.  The models are fitted with couplers in kinematic NEM sockets and also feature soft-sprung buffers.

The Prototype

100 of these large vans were built for Rover Cars by Rautaruukki of Finland in 1995 to convey preformed car parts and completed sub-assemblies securely between plants. Coded KSA-A under TOPS, and nicknamed 'Cube' or 'Talgo' wagons , they incorporated full-length sliding covers as well as floors that could be raised and lowered to simplify unloading while optimising use of the restrictive British loading gauge. They travelled to Britain from Finland via the Channel Tunnel and were used between Swindon, Longbridge and other Rover plants. At first they were hauled by pairs of RfD Class 47s; after privatisation EWS class 66s, and occasionally 56s and 60s, were used. 

In 2001 WH Malcolm acquired several KSAs for secure transportation of Anglo-Scottish freight on the WCML and two were repainted into Malcolm's Logistics livery. Traction for these trains was provided by DRS (Class 66 or pairs of Class 37s) and the KSA wagons were marshalled together, often immediately behind the locomotive. The rest of the train usually comprised Megafret container wagons.

In 2012 several redundant KSA wagons were acquired by the wagon leasing company NACCO and converted to timber carriers.  The work involved removal of the sliding covers and the hydraulic floor mechanism, installation of 14 pairs of heavy duty stanchions and the removal of some end panels, and replacement with bars designed to stop logs sliding through.  The timber wagons are used with other van conversions including the IWA timber carrier wagons previously offered by Revolution Trains. They are used on trains to and from Chirk, most recently on a newly trialled traffic from Aberystwyth.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Revolution Trains KSA ‘Cube’ DRS / Malcolm Logistics Group Vans Twin Pack (manufacturer part number RT‑OO‑KSA‑205A) represents the rebuilding of the railways era. The pack contains two wagons marked 33 70 4739 052‑7 and 078‑2. The models incorporate the usual Revolution refinements with numerous separately fitted detail parts, 26 mm axles for straightforward conversion to P4/EM standards, kinematic NEM couplers and soft‑sprung buffers.

The prototype was one of a batch of one hundred large vans built for Rover Cars by Rautaruukki of Finland in 1995. Coded KSA‑A under TOPS and nicknamed ‘Cube’ or ‘Talgo’ wagons, they featured full‑length sliding covers and hydraulically adjustable floors to aid unloading while conforming to the restrictive British loading gauge. Initially hauled by pairs of RfD Class 47 locomotives, they later ran with EWS Class 66s and occasionally Class 56s and 60s between Swindon, Longbridge and other Rover sites.

In subsequent years the wagons were repurposed. In 2001 WH Malcolm acquired several KSAs for Anglo‑Scottish freight on the WCML, repainting two in Malcolm’s Logistics livery and using DRS Class 66 or paired Class 37 locomotives for traction. From 2012 redundant units were obtained by NACCO, stripped of sliding covers and hydraulic floors, fitted with heavy‑duty stanchions and anti‑log bars, and employed as timber carriers alongside other van conversions on routes such as Chirk and a new trial service from Aberystwyth.