Realtrack ‘N' PCA cement tank wagons

Realtrack Models has a reputation for some excellent ‘OO’ gauge models, including its ‘Pacer’ and Class 156. It steps into the world of ‘N’ gauge wagons with super-detailed modern cement tank wagons in three liveries.

REALTRACK MODELS commissioned an ‘N’ gauge model of the French-built PCA cement tank wagons from Accurascale which were produced and released around the same time as the ‘OO’ gauge model. Realtrack Models offers packs of wagons in three different liveries including the up-to-date Castle Cement scheme; Rugby Cement as applied to the fleet of 15 wagons operated in the south of England and STS grey as applied to wagons once available for lease.

It is a modern air-braked wagon designed to carry dry powders such as cement and was introduced in the UK by STS in 1982 following the construction of 12 similar wagons for Blue Circle Industries. Allocated to Diagram PC017B and PC017C, this type of PCA was built in several batches. The first batch of 52 vehicles is numbered STS10600-651, built-in two lots by CFMF during 1982 and 1983 and placed in spot hire by STS where they found use with Blue Circle and Rugby Cement.

A further 15 wagons were built by Fauvet Girel in 1985, numbered STS74030-044 and allocated to Diagram PC017C. All 15 wagons in this batch of dry powder hopper wagons were hired to Rugby Cement where they worked from the cement works at Halling on the Medway Valley line in Kent to Southampton and the London area, working alongside other designs of cement tank wagon. Class 33s and Class 73s were common traction on these trains until Rugby cement withdrew from rail distribution in the early 1990s.