At the London Festival of Railway Modelling, Bachmann Europe Plc revealed that it has produced new tooling for its Graham Farish N Gauge range, allowing models of the 14 Ton and 20 Ton Class A and Class B Anchor-Mounted Tank Wagons to be produced in N Scale for the first time.
Anchor-Mounted Tank Wagons were conceived in the mid-1940s, the design being agreed between the private operators, the Petroleum Board and the railway companies. Rather than the timber saddle, cradle and wire hawsers employed on earlier wagons, the new design used a central anchor mechanism to secure the tank to its chassis. With many older wagons becoming available as surplus following World War Two, the Anchor-Mounted Tanks were not built in great numbers until the early-1950s when large orders were completed for Shell Mex & BP. Smaller orders were built for operators such as Esso, Fina, Mobil and Regent. With the introduction of larger, vacuum braked tank wagons during the late-1950s, the Anchor- Mount design became obsolete, and the final wagons of this type were built in 1963.
The new Graham Farish models depict both the Class A and Class B wagons, with options to include the bottom outlet pipe and associated handwheel mounted on top of the tank, with or without the steam heating inlet valve, and with a straight or cranked air vent. The top catwalks and filler can be depicted in their central position or offset, whilst these wagons can also be modelled with or without the ladders giving access to the catwalks – where fitted these are constructed from fine metal etches.
As standard, each model features separately fitted brake gear and brake levers, along with the filler cap which includes the distinctive securing clamps. On the prototype the underframe was constructed from metal section, and this is replicated on the model affording an unobstructed view through the frames when observed from above. Standard N scale couplings are fitted via NEM pockets and, as with all Graham Farish models, metal wheelsets – with either spoked or 3-hole disc wheels – complete the model.
The news signals a slight deviation from Bachmann’s quarterly British Railway Announcements which has been the mechanism used since the start of 2020 to unveil new products for its British railway ranges. Whilst British Railway Announcements will still be used to launch new products, new tooling projects may now be revealed outside of the quarterly cycle, as in this case where Engineering Prototypes can be displayed at an event which is sponsored and heavily supported by Bachmann Europe.
Decorated models will be shown as part of the next British Railway Announcements, in this case the Summer 2024 instalment at the start of May, along with details of livery variants, prices and availability.