KMRC announces LBSC five plank open wagon range

The KMRC tooling suite allows for the diagram 1369 with post 1912 diagonal strapping, rounded ends and fully posable sheet rail in any position between vertical or side positions; and the diagram 1364 square ended (as converted from D1369) and those built new between 1924-6; all on a wooden chassis, with either 8 open spoke or LBSC 4-hole disc wheels and either LB&SCR, SR lettered or plain axle box covers. Brake options allow for single inside or outside and double and middle Vee Hangers along with plain tapered or ribbed taper shank buffers.

The specification of the model includes prototypical brake gear and safety loops fitted, fully posable sheet rail (diagram 1369) sprung metal buffers, etched brake handles that can also be posed in the ‘on’ position complete with locking peg chains, coupling hooks and metal three link couplings. 

The models are currently in production, the RRP is £32.99 but KMRC is offering an early bird order payment in advance price of £29.99 each.

Initially eight diagram 1369 and eleven diagram 1364 (including eight Isle of Wight) versions are available, allowing for multiple running numbers per livery:

Diagram 1369 

• SB009A LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery No. 4342
• SB009B LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery No. 4206
• SB009C LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 22530
• SB009D LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 Brown livery No. 23042
• SB009E LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 livery No. 23062
• SB009F LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 livery No. 22512
• SB009R LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in LBSC Grey livery (As Preserved on Bluebell Railway) No. 3346
• SB009S LBSC Diagram 1369 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 23221

Diagram 1364

• SB009G SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery No. 22615
• SB009H SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 28422
• SB009J SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 27842
• SB009K SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Brown livery Isle of Wight No. S28404
• SB009L SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. S27875
• SB009M SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. 28391
• SB009N SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in BR Grey livery Isle of Wight No. S19072
• SB009P SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 28345
• SB009Q SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Post 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 27834
• SB009T SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight No. 27724
• SB009U SR Diagram 1364 5 plank open wagon in SR Pre 1936 brown livery Isle of Wight (As Preserved on Isle of Wight Steam Railway) No. 27730

About the prototype

The 10-ton five plank ‘Open A’ wagon later  SR Diagram 1369 on a wooden underframe became the most numerous LBSC wagon comprising of over 3,500 wagons built between 1905 and 1926. The distinctive curved ends allowed the fitting of a tarpaulin sheet rail.

The first versions built from 1905 had brake gear on one side only and ‘J’ / ‘hockey stick’ diagonal framing. They were soon fitted with ‘Freighter’ style brakes on each side with a single vee Hanger. From 1912 the diagonal strapping changed to be straight at the bottom end. 

After approximately 1914 double vee hangers were fitted and these could either be mounted in front and immediately behind the solebar, or the rear pair hung from the middle longitudinal timbers with a short connecting rod between the two.

Those built from 1924-6 had square ends and no sheet rail and were given diagram 1364, many of those built with round ends were also cut down to square ends and most but not all were re-diagrammed in the registers to diagram 1364.

General withdrawal on the mainland of the diagram 1369 and diagram 1364 open wagons took place between the years 1944-7, and relatively few survived to receive British Railways livery.

450 of these wagons were shipped to the Isle of Wight between 1924 and 1931 with one in 1934 and a final six in 1947. 

All the Isle of Wight wagons had square ends (diagram 1364); except the first 20 (diagram 1369), these were later altered becoming diagram 1364.

Unlike those on the mainland these wagons survived well into British Railways ownership and gained BR unfitted grey livery with lettering on black patches. By 1955 320 remined in service, and this was reduced to 150 by 1962.

A number of these wagons are preserved with examples at the Bluebell Railway, Isle of Wight Steam Railway, and the Telford Steam Railway.

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