Announced as part of the Bachmann Summer 2024 announcements (see pages 10-14), EFE Rail’s all-new ‘OO’ gauge Great Western Railway (GWR) ‘Bloater’ fish vans have arrived, filling a gap in GWR ready-to-run freight wagons.
‘Bloater’ was the GWR’s telegraphic code for fish vans, with construction of these vehicles starting from 1916. They were piped through with steam heating and were able to run with express passenger trains. Minor detail differences exist between different diagrams, with some having vacuum brakes and some with shell roof ventilators. Some examples of this wagon exist today, with one preserved at the Didcot Railway Centre.
This all-new ‘OO’ gauge wagon has been developed by Kernow Model Rail Centre for the EFE Rail brand. Five models have been produced initially covering three diagrams, Diagram (Dia.) S8 2168 (Cat No: E87057) and 2123 (E87058) in GWR brown with GW lettering, Dia. S9 2603 (E87059) in GWR brown with shirtbutton logo, Dia. S9 W2240W (E87060) in BR crimson and Dia. S10 W2661W (E87061) in BR crimson.
Above: EFE Rail’s newly-tooled ‘OO’ gauge GWR ‘Bloater’ and ‘Bloater A’ fish vans are now available.
For review, we received Dia. S9 W2240W in BR crimson. At first glance the prototype appears to have b…
