Bachmann OO 38-601 BR 21-ton Covered Grain Hopper Wagon Grey TOPS

Bachmann Branchline OO 38-601 BR 21-ton Grain Hopper Grey TOPS Lettering
A new and detailed model of the BR design 'Grano' covered grain hopper wagon.
These steel bodied hopper wagons were first developed in the 1930s, providing an easy solution to bulk grain transport within a weatherproof, self-clearing hopper. The British Railways design incorporated  features from the most recent builds from the big 4 companies. A large fleet was constructed in the 1950s, with a substantial number still in service into the 1970s.

This model represents the most common version of the BR grain hopper wagons at the end of their service in the 1970s. Over 400 were built without train brakes and hence painted in the goods grey livery and some of these survived to receive TOPS lettering in the 1970s. BR had upgraded the surviving grain wagons with roller bearings, which have been modelled on this wagon and sometimes with newer buffers as well. However by the mid-70s BR was making every effort to rid itself of 'unfitted' wagons which could only run in slow goods trains. Replacement came in the form of the bogie Polybulk wagons.

This model is painted in the BR grey livery and carries TOPS lettering from the 1970s.

Era 7 1971-1982