Darstaed Mk.1 suburban coaches

Darstaed Vintage Trains, the ‘O’ gauge coach-builder, has added to its growing range of Mk.1 stock with six new 57ft suburban coaches.

TWO-RAIL ‘O’ gauge (1:43.5 scale) 57ft Mk.1 suburban coaches have been added to the Darstaed range using the same construction techniques and with the same features as previously released gangwayed Mk.1 stock.

A mixture of materials have been used to create models that have a good level of detail and some useful features, such as interior lighting and working tail lamps on brake coaches. Six different models have been released, with BR rail blue, BR crimson together with lined and unlined BR maroon coaches planned for release.

Short frame BR Mk.1 suburban stock without gangways (non-gangwayed) formed the largest fleet of Mk.1 suburban stock and were used in large numbers on London suburban services, particularly on services on the Midland main line and the Great Northern. Some of the stock was allocated to the Great Western too. Be aware of the ‘Metrogauge’ type, which was designed to cope with tunnel clearances to Moorgate. Only the Southern Region did not receive an allocation of short frame Mk.1 suburban stock.

Traction varied depending on the region and Type 2 traction was common including Class 24s and Class 30/31 alongside anything else that could be used to operate a service, even if it did not have the capability to provide steam-heating.

Withdrawal of non-gangwayed Mk.1 stock from suburban services began with the introduction of DMUs on non-electrified routes, resulting in many coaches being cascaded to other parts of the UK where they could be found mixed with different types of coaching stock. On London suburban services, the stock survived on the Great Northern until the 1970s GN electrification scheme was completed.

The models