An exciting month of new announcements continues with news from Oxford Rail, who have revealed their OO Gauge Development plans for 2025 - including some new toolings, new batches and updates on existing models!
GWR 'Totem A' Bogie Flat - NEW TOOLING
The first main announcement for the Oxford Rail range is this newly tooled model of the GWR 'Totem A' bogie flat wagon in OO Gauge! A range of nine models are to be produced depicting these unusual wagons (which were designed for carrying large cast iron industrial parts) in a whole host of GWR and BR era colour schemes.
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
Built in 1899, the Totem A (Diagram B2) was a short 25ft 1in armour plate bogie wagon with a load capacity of 45T (later uprated to 50T). The wagons primary purpose was to carry large cast iron parts for industrial use. A documented example was a large anvil loaded at Cardiff docks for B.S.A Birmingham.
Under load this wagon was limited to 25mph and could not exceed a travel distance of 25 miles without stopping. Because of this, the wagon was most commonly found in stopping goods trains next to the brake van.
The wagon was originally fitted with a Thomas handbrake but was later replaced with a Dean-Churchward style handbrake.
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Fordson Tractor Shunter - NEW TOOLING
Another new tooling from Oxford Rail is this OO Gauge Fordson Tractor Shunter! These static models replicate the modified standard tractors that were used for shunting wagons at yards, docks and factories by operators who wanted a more affordable option than a standard steam or diesel locomotive. Three variations are expected covering various livery options.
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BR Pilchard Ballast Wagons - NEW BATCH
Oxford Rail have also announced that the incredibly popular BR 'Pilchard' ballast open wagons are set to return, with a total of nine new versions expected - covering many new livery options not produced in the range before. This includes some weathered options too, including a unique 'BR Condemned condition' wagon with particularly heavy weathering.
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
A single batch of Pilchard wagons were produced by British Rail for the transport of ballast and spoil mostly in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of the UK. The origin of the design appears similar to LNER and their predecessors but there is no similar early wagon for comparison. These wagons were unfitted and fell out of use in the early 1980s.
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Great Eastern 10T Banana Vans - NEW BATCH
The popular OO Gauge Great Eastern Railway 10 ton Banana Vans are also set to return! This new batch will include new running numbers for previously released vans as well as some new livery options that have not been available in the range before - including some 'Patched' Southern Railway versions!
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
The Great Eastern Railway did not possess any vans of their own for banana trade and usually hired vans to transport the fruit from other companies. The GER would often run complete trains of between 20 to 25 vans in total. It was not until after the Great War that imports of bananas recommenced and an order was placed in 1923 to build 100 covered vans with hand and vacuum brakes plus steam-heating to help ripen the fruit. By the end of 1923, the building of the vans was completed and they became the last GER design vans to be built. These vans lasted well and survived into the 1960s.
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LNER Class J26 0-6-0 - Due Soon
Oxford Rail have advised that their highly anticipated LNER Class J26 0-6-0 steam locomotives are due to arrive in stock during Q2 2025! The models have undergone some refinements during production including an upgraded DCC sound setup courtesy of ESU.
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
The NER Class P2 (later the LNER Class J26) was a class of locomotive produced by the North Eastern Railway for freight duties. 50 were produced, which survived well into BR usage in the 1960s. The design formed the basis for the later produced Class J27.
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15T Cowans Sheldon Cranes - Update
An update has also been given for the highly anticipated OO Gauge Cowans Sheldon 15 ton cranes! The models will now include a match truck based on a Midland Railway design. Oxford have also advised that the design is near completion but the crane has required a lot of reworking to accommodate its intricate mechanism. With the J26 now near completion, we hope to hear more on the Cranes in due course.
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
During the 1890s, Cowans Sheldon sold a highly successful standard design of crane with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement that was capable of lifting 15 tons to a radius of 20 or 22 feet when propped. A number of pre-grouping railways took advantage of the design, including many of the smaller companies operating at the time. The cranes saw a long lifespan with many operating well into Big Four and BR usage, with some still working in the late 1960s. Two types were produced, one with a curved jib and one with a swan necked jib.
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12T Tank Wagons - Due Soon
Oxford Rail's new batch of OO Gauge 12 ton tank wagons are also on the way, with three new variations expected to arrive within the next couple of months! These new models are available in Naval Store Department, Pratt's Perfection Spirit and Royal Daylight liveries.
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7-Plank Open Wagons - Due Soon
A selection of new OO Gauge 7-plank open wagons are also due to arrive in the next few months from Oxford - including GWR, LMS, SR and LNER liveries!