New LMS 20T iron ore hoppers in OO

It will be Rapido’s first hopper wagon and features a wealth of detail, tooling variants to cover a selection of the diagrams, a hatched peak roof, and greedy board version, plus metal bearings that will help with the smooth running of the inevitably heavily laden train.

Engineering prototypes have already been received and the new wagons are available to pre-order now, either directly from Rapido or from any of its official retailers.

Priced at £34.95, the following liveries will be available;

• SKU 963001: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (pre-36) No.690313
• SKU 963002: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (pre-36) No.690720
• SKU 963003: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (pre-36) No.690000
• SKU 963004: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (post-36) No.691804
• SKU 963005: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (post-36) No.691702
• SKU 963006: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - LMS (post-36) No.691268
• SKU 963007: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Iron Ore) No.M691079
• SKU 963008: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Iron Ore) No.M690863
• SKU 963009: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Iron Ore) No.M691797
• SKU 963010: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Limestone) No.M690335
• SKU 963011: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Lime) No.M690670
• SKU 963012: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Lime) No.M690386
• SKU 963013: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BR (Lime) No.M691141
• SKU 963014: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - BSC Yellow No.51
• SKU 963015: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - Longmoor Military Railway No.82691
• SKU 963016: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - Longmoor Military Railway No.82692
• SKU 963017: LMS Iron Ore Hopper - NCB No.47391746

World of Railways has also announced two new Limited Edition Rapido wagons: Ex-LMS 20t Hopper NCB Internal User Triple Packs in both black and red. Click here to find out more and pre-order for just £25.

About the prototype

Constructed between the early-1920s and mid-1930s, the LMS produced numerous Iron Ore Hoppers using a variety of diagram numbers, however, for the most part, they looked identical. Built by several contractors, the diagram 1893, 1894, 1941, and 1942s only differed with the steel that was used to construct them and a handful of buffer varieties.

With a carrying capacity of 20 tons, the Iron Ore wagons were used for carrying a plethora of raw materials throughout their lifetime, and received numerous extensions, additions and alternations in their later life to accommodate their new owners.

Several were converted to carry lime, as such they required a covered roof with a loading hatch. These were issued a new diagram number as Dia. 2194.

The original design clearly proved its worth, as they found several industrial homes once BR had finished with them. The NationalCoal Board acquired large numbers, to increase their overall carrying capacity many wagons were further fitted with wooden planked tops that they dubbed ‘greedy boards’.

Other more specialised railways also inherited a handful of these multipurpose hoppers, with versions being spotted alongside the eclectic rolling stock of the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire, and even some going into service for the British Sugar Corporation.

World of Railways has also teamed-up with Rapido to offer two Limited Edition NCB 20T Hopper wagons in triple packs in both red and black. For more information and to pre-order, click here.

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