Hornby’s TT:120 SR Third Class Four-Wheel Coach is a beautifully detailed representation of early Southern Railway travel. Finished in authentic SR green livery, this classic four-wheeler features spacious Third Class compartments and distinctive large roof vents, a nod to the gas or oil lamp illumination used in these historic coaches.

History

These four-wheel coaches are typical of the type that was operating at the end of the 19th century and into the early part of the 20th. Introduced by many of the pre-Grouping companies before the more comfortable bogie-coaches became common place. As new, more modern coaches were introduced, the four-wheelers were often cascaded down to rural branch lines and where passenger numbers were much lighter. 

Some survived into the 1950s and ‘60s, by virtue of their relative isolation from the major centres of operation, while others found further use as departmental vehicles. When these small vehicles were retired, often their bodies were bought-up by local people for use as summer homes, but especially by farmers who found they made good chicken coops or storage sheds. 

The chassis from the coaches often found further use as goods wagons. Because so many of these wooden bodies found their way into private hands, good number have survived to be saved by preservationists, who have refurbished them and mounted them onto suitable underframes for use on heritage trains.