Hornby expands TT:120 range with GWR Mk. 3 coaches

Hornby’s intention to expand the TT:120 range is evident judging by the amount of new models making their way to UK shores. And the exciting part for modellers is that, because of the sheer size of the range, there is loads of potential for creating accurate and complete trains on layouts of manageable size.

Although all moulded, the bogie detail on power cars and coaches is excellent, with brake discs to all the wheelsets. The encased underframe area of the Mk.3 coaches is a distinctive feature well captured, and the livery application is excellent. The standard TT couplings work well in their kinematic pockets, bringing the gangway ends close together and opening up on the inevitable trainset curves most of these models will have to handle.

Price: £37.99 each

About the prototype

In order to allow running at 125 mph on Britain's Victorian-era railways, new rolling stock was needed by British Railways. Significant improvements over the Mk2 included new secondary air suspension between the bogies and the coach body as well as aerodynamic skirting on the underframe.

Mk3 coaches are 75ft (23m) long, enabling far greater capacity than older coaches. Mk3 coaches also incorporate disk brakes and wheel slip protection enabling faster deceleration. The first Mk3 coaches to be delivered were used as part of the HST prototype along with the two Class 41 diesel power cars in 1972. Mk3 coaches entered service in 1975 along with the Class 43 forming the iconic InterCity 125 trainset. After the HST Mk3 coach variant was introduced, further Mk3 coaches were introduced to the West Coast Mainline for use as part of locomotive-hauled trains. Whilst Mk3 stock is standard for HST units, the standard locomotive hauled stock is Mk3a. Mk3a stock differs from Mk3 stock due to the inclusion of buffers as well as a different electrical system that uses motor generator units in each coach to power air conditioning and other ancillaries Mk3a stock was built until 1984, before 3B stock with improved seating and lighting was built from 1985 to 1988.

Some 40 years after introduction, the Mark 3 coaches and Class 43 units are still in service. One of the most prominent users of the train is the GWR, with their Class 255 Castle sets made up of two 43 units and four coaches. These units were refurbished between 2018 and 2020 to make 12 trains, with the first being introduced in March 2019.

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