Back in February we had the opportunity to photograph the Cavalex Models N Gauge PGA hopper wagons scheduled for release exclusively via Rails of Sheffield. The latest information is that these wagons are now expected to be released during Q1 2023.
Designed and built by Standard Wagon of Heywood in the late 1970s early 1980s, the 51-tonne glw, 2 axle hopper replaced the ageing fleet of HTV wagons. With Design code PG012 and with a 38 tonne payload, the fleet of new wagons helped Redland not only to increase tonnages to their distribution terminals in London and the South East of England but also the company’s operational efficiency. The new wagons operated out of Redland’s Mountsorrel quarry moving large quantities of aggregate products to their terminals at Radlett near St Albans, Trowse near Norwich, Kennet near Newmarket, Elstow in Bedfordshire, Barham near Ipswich, Bat and Ball near Sevenoaks Kent, Woking and Aylesbury. Painted in Redland’s light green livery with red, text these wagons could be seen on BR metals behind a variety of traction from the early ‘80s up until and post privatisation .
In 1997 Redland was acquired by the French industrial company Lafarge which saw the PGA wagons gain a new livery, white body with Lafarge’s company logo.
Following the purchase of the PGA wagons by DB Schenker, the wagons began to lose the Lafarge logo with the majority of the fleet remaining in all white livery or gaining a black patch on the body side. Up until August 2016 these wagons could still be seen on the network plying their trade delivering aggregates to terminals around the country. Whilst a few remain in service in 2019, these are in the process of being replaced by newer bogie aggregate hopper wagons.
The EP samples shown here highlight the wealth of detail Cavalex have incorporated into these models, and the full list of specifications is as follows:
Accurately dimensioned prototypical design
Etched walkway, handrails and ladders
Highly detailed underframe
Close coupling mechanism
The wagons are available to pre-order now from Rails of Sheffield in packs of 3 in the following liveries:
CM PG012 N (OR) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14835 / 14815 / 14820
Original Redland
CM PG012 N (R) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14804 / 14829 / 14771
Redland
CM PG012 N (R) TP (B)
Running Numbers: 14825 / 14757 / 14753
Redland
CM PG012 N (R) TP (C)
Running Numbers: 14816 / 14807 / 14827
Redland
CM PG012 N (R) TP (D)
Running Numbers: 14818 / 14822 / 14832
Redland
CM PG012 N (RL) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14772 / 14761 / 14766
Redland Large Logo
CM PG012 N (L) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14834 / 14838 / 14776
Lafarge Aggregates
CM PG012 N (WP) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14771 / 14820 / 14774
Plain white with patch
CM PG012 N (PW) TP (A)
Running Numbers: 14777 / 14806 / 14763
Plain white with patch
CM PG012 N (PW) TP (B)
Running Numbers: 14800 / 14809 / 14807
Plain white with patch
