00
GAUGE
4mm:1ft
1961-1987
ERA
FOURTEEN TCV car carriers were designed and built by Newton Chambers of Sheffield to replace older car carrying vehicles used on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
Introduced in 1961, they were fitted with some interesting innovations for the time, including a second car deck in a well between the bogies which was accessed through a hydraulic lift system, a feature whose use was discontinued after an accident.
The capacity per TCV was six cars, an increase over conventional car carrying vehicles. The lower well could accommodate two smaller cars and four on the upper deck to a maximum load of 12.5 tons.
The vehicle design was