Fabulous Freightliners

IF THERE are two wagon designs that define the modernisation of Britain’s railways in the 1960s, it would be the merry-go-round coal hoppers and the container carrying flats introduced under the Freightliner brand. Both revolutionised their particular traffics, going on to put in decades of service, and are fully deserving of being immortalised in miniature.

Hornby recognised this many years ago by producing models of both in ‘OO’ gauge but as the hobby developed, they became inadequate for the purpose. While the manufacturer responded with a new HAA early this century, the Freightliner flats have been a major gap ever since.

For those with the patience and skill, the etched brass kits produced by Colin Craig offered a high quality solution but as is so often the case, it was left to Bachmann to step up and deliver a mass-produced solution.

While it has taken just over four years from announcement