Rapido Trains UK is proud to announce that they are adding a third batch of liveries to their immensely popular OO Gauge 48’ ‘Evolution’ Bogie Coach range!

Expanding our range even further, we are covering more of Britain's companies and have chosen a nice selection of additional liveries from across the entire length of the British Isles, including the other grouping companies we haven’t covered yet, British Railways, and many more!

Much like the coaches from the first two batches, ‘Evolution’ Batch 3 models are a selection of generic 48’ bogie coaches, each detailed with an array of key features that modellers associate with their pre-grouping railway of choice.

Arc, elliptical, and clerestory roof designs are included in the range, and the roofs are easily removable so that you can fit figures into your coaches should you wish. There is also a multitude of separately fitted parts and interior details to bring the coaches to life, including luggage racks, picture frames on compartment dividers and passenger emergency alarm “butterflies” at one end.

All ‘Evolution’ coaches are fitted with internal working lighting controlled by our magnetic magic wand. We understand that the brightness of coach lighting is subjective. Some prefer them to be nice and bright so you can see all the lovely internal detail, whereas others want a more subtle effect to better reflect the lighting of the era. We have fitted a potentiometer to the lighting PCB, which allows you to dim the lights to a level of your choosing. All you’ll have to do is remove the roof and turn it with a small screwdriver until you reach the brightness you desire.

To complete the appearance of different gas and electric lighting fittings, the relevant models will feature separately fitted parts for battery and regulator boxes, a dynamo, roof-mounted gas lamps, plumbing, and gas tanks on the underframes. The coaches also feature Fox pattern bogies fitted with electrical pickups. Some versions will feature extra footboards on the bogies, and there are also additional central lower footboards on some designs too. Finally, each coach is fitted with NEM pockets and has option

Finally, as part of this announcement, Rapido have also revealed some initial imagery for their first batch of Evolution coaches, due this year, which you can see below.

The below models are all part of Rapido's third batch of these magnificent coaches - which means there are TWO other batches available to pre-order from as well containing many of livery options! We have limited quantities remaining to pre-order for many of these as the order book deadlines have now passed, so use the button below to explore the full range and pre-order yours today!

In the late 1800s, Britain's railways had grown geographically and were looking to increase the capacity of the system. The rolling stock of the time consisted mainly of 4 and 6 wheel coaches which were cramped and lacking in many facilities on the whole. With the introduction of bogie coaches, not only could more passengers be carried on a service, but it could be done, safer, more reliably and with a better level of comfort.

There was also an increasing level of standardisation within companies to enable them to build larger batches of coaches, the earlier stock being built in very small runs or sometimes as one-offs. The coaches were used in greater numbers and longer trains across the country, from single coach branches to commuter services and top-line expresses consisting of many carriages. While the introduction of gangway ends relegated these from the more prestigious or long distance services, many coaches soldiered on in secondary and local use for many decades, through the grouping of 1923 and some even lasting until British Railways in the 1950s.

Many coaches of this style were also bought by private railways such as the Longmoor Military Railway allowing them to carry on in use far longer than they would have lasted otherwise. This has also meant there are many preserved on Britain's heritage lines and can still be enjoyed today.