The newly tooled ranges of OO Gauge & N Gauge WIA Arbel Articulated Car Carrier Wagons from Revolution Trains are now available to pre-order here at Rails!
These unmistakable 5-car articulated sets were built for the opening of the Channel Tunnel and could be seen in use across the UK. Revolution are modelling their entire lifespan in various liveries - available in BOTH OO & N Gauge! Decorated samples of the OO Gauge versions have been revealed, as well as engineering samples for the N Gauge models.We expect these to arrive in stock sometime this year - stay tunes for further updates!
N Gauge Engineering sample images courtesy of ngaugenews.com
OO Gauge Models - Pre-Order Now
N Gauge Models - Pre-Order Now
OO Gauge Product Features
Pack of 5 articulated wagons (each individually numbered and with prototypical livery variations) in pale blue livery with a variety of brandings
NEM kinematic close couplers
RP25 wheel sets designed for straightforward conversion to EM or P4 (26mm pinpoints on 2mm diameter axles)
Optional cosmetic air pipes and optional control box (clips into NEM pocket)
High levels of detailing with numerous separately fitted plastic and photo-etched parts
Choice of set numbers – each 5-car set will feature different numbers
Each 5-car set measures 871 mm over buffers
N Gauge Product Features
Pack of 5 articulated wagons (each individually numbered and with prototypical livery variations) in pale blue livery with a variety of brandings
NEM kinematic close couplers
Optional cosmetic air pipes and optional control box (clips into NEM pocket)
High levels of detailing with numerous separately fitted plastic and photo-etched parts
Choice of set numbers – each 5-car set will feature different numbers
Each 5-car set measures 449 mm over buffers
Prototype Information
60 five-unit sets were ordered by BR’s Railfreight Distribution sector ahead of the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994.
They were designed to offer complete protection and, being fully enclosed, meant that new cars could be shipped between the UK and continental Europe without needing to be waxed, saving time and money.
Initially they were operated by Auto Care Europe, a partnership comprising RfD, SNCB and Cobelfret. Some outer wagons were adorned with the ACE logo and car maker markings too. On privatisation ownership passed to EWS and from around 2007 the DB Schenker (now DB) logo was added to the intermediate cars of some sets.
Though it is not immediately apparent from the outside, the wagons are double-decked and the entire roof canopy can be raised or lowered as one unit to aid loading and unloading.
In railfreight terms cars are light, but high volume, so the wagons are designed to maximise the use of space and completely fill the loading gauge, hence the angled contours of the roofs. Articulation is chosen as it both reduces costs, but cutting the number of bogies required, but also simplifies loading and unloading as cars can easily be driven the full length of the train.
Flows Diagram
