New ICI Hoppers set to arrive early

Covering the life of these wagons from their various guises from the 1950s to 1997, there are 15 different packs available to order and cover three body styles; Small ICI lettering, Large ICI lettering, and No ICI lettering, and three bogie styles; original 'Diamond frame', 'Plate' bogies with oil axle box and 'Plate' bogies with roller bearings.

Featuring a detailed interior with rivets, framing, strapping and supports, the model also has separate vacuum brake gear, vacuum hoses, hopper door controls, handbrake wheels and brake gear, metal buffers and removable NEM coupler pockets with mini tension lock couplers.

Twin packs of these in-demand wagons are priced at £74.95 each, with 10% off when you buy two-four packs and 15% off when you buy five or more packs! They are available to pre-order direct from Accurascale’s website only, with limited stock remaining. 

About the prototype

Introduced in 1936, ICI required these wagons to transport limestone from quarries in the Peak District to Northwich for the production of various chemicals. This was the first 'block freight' train running multiple times a day with a purpose-built wagon to maximise the flow of the goods. Originally worked by LMS locomotives, in BR days most medium to large steam classes based in the North West were to be used on the flow including everything from the 4F to 9F.  Most diesel classes have been recorded hauling them as well with classes 20, 24, 25, 28, 31, 37, 40, 45 & 47 all being used at some point. The wagons lasted just into the 2000s with the last being scrapped in 2001, being replaced by a mix of new build and re-purposed wagons on flows around the country.