The Class 121 and 122 `Bubble cars’ form part of the first generation of DMUs produced by British Rail to operate on branch lines and secondary routes. The Class 121 was built by Pressed Steel in 1960, 15 single power cars numbered W55020 to W55035 and 10 trailer cars numbered W56280 to W56289 were manufactured.
Until recently there were still two 121’s in service and eight are preserved. The Class 122’s was built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single powered cars numbered W55000 to W55019 and nine trailer cars numbered W56280 to W56289 were manufactured. All of the 122 fleet was removed from revenue earning service, however several remained in departmental use. Eight Class 122’s survive into preservation including W55001 at the East Lancashire Railway which was laser scanned to help produce the model.
MODEL
These great little models feature lots of details including etched grills, directional lighting, and finely printed external logos and numbering.
FEATURES
- 3 buffer types
- 3 exhaust types
- Separate grab handles on passenger doors
- Separate etched grills for guards windows
- Exquisite passenger compartment detailing
- Two roof types (large box and small box types)
- Dual motorised power bogies with all wheel pickup
- Multi speaker factory fitted sound system on board
- Interior detail inside guards area with separate lighting
- Heavy Diecast chassis for added weight and superior tractive effort
- High level of detailing on the bogies and underframe of the locomotive
- Two sides with high passenger grab handles and low passenger grab handles
- Switches accessible either by easily removable roof or from underneath the model
- Lowered flooring to minimise the intrusion of the DCC speaker etc inside the model
- Headcode and destination boxes with removable glazing permitting number to be mounted behind glazing
- Provision for 3 chassis types (additional side steps and varying underframe detail and flat, single driver ended design)
- Independently controllable cab, passenger compartment, guard compartment and directional lighting—easy access switches for controlling lights in DC model