Running Numbers:

PR 26543 
PR 26452 
PR 26476 
PR 26534 
PR 26555

History

These characterful wagons were built in three batches by the British Steel subsidiary Redpath Dorman Long from 1972 for transporting iron ore to Consett, Llanwern, and Ravenscraig.

The tough looking tipplers stood out further with attractive liveries and rode on distinctive BSC ‘Axle Motion’ bogies soon became a favourite of the enthusiast as they became synonymous with the heaviest trains on the British Rail network. The Port Talbot to Llanwern trains saw 27 British Steel PTA tippers triple headed by Class 37s, before the introduction of pairs of the then new Class 56 on 30 wagon trains.

Following the closure of Consett in 1980, a batch of PTAs became temporarily redundant before being snapped up by Procor. These soon found work on Mendip stone trains, going both to Foster Yeoman and ARC. Their use was in block formations from quarries at Merehead, Whatley and Tytherington to depots in London and the home counties.

Once again, the PTAs found fame as wagons in the heaviest regular freight trains in the UK, with 43 wagons being hauled by a pair of class-56 locomotives from Merehead to Acton for Foster Yeoman.

The wagons would be painted in distinctive house liveries of Yeoman grey and ARC mustard, and see service behind the then new Class 59, as well as a wide range of BR locos, much like their British Steel counterparts which were enjoying electric traction haulage on the WCML with pairs of Class 86 and Class 87 locomotives.

The PTAs continued to provide sterling service for British Steel across Britain as well as Yeoman, ARC and its successor Mendip Rail into the 2000s when age began to catch up on them.

Wagon leasing company VTG took on rakes of JTA/JUAs in the mid-2000s and they were used on spoil trains as well as sand and sea dredged aggregates until withdrawal.
 
The Model

These wonderful tipplers are among Accurascale’s most popular wagons that they have ever produced. They were last in stock in the early lockdown days, and while they were very nice, Accurascale decided to take what they have learned since about model manufacture and upgrade the wagons with some suitable enhancements.

Improvements have been around the bogie area, with improved features and now featuring better detail around the bogie centres. Also included in this new run is etched brake discs and instead of a battery powered tail light, Accurascale has now installed track pick up for the tail light instead.

Accurascale are covering four different liveries in this second run, featuring two Mendip stone favourites and of course, two British steel iconic workings. First up are the Mendip packs, with Yeoman revised "Big Y" debuting for the first time on the Accurascale model, a livery much in demand since the model was first added to the Accurascale range. It will be supplemented by two packs of ARC liveried wagons in their earlier livery, featuring the classic olive scheme and "Procor" markings.

As well as the Mendip favourites, British Steel workings are once again well represented, with the legendary Redcar - Consett/South Bank wagons introduced to the range for the first time. Famous for utilising pairs of 37s between 1974 and the closure of Consett in 1980.

Of course, no PTA run is complete without a re-run of the famous Port Talbot-Llanwern circuit, famous for its haulage with three Class 37s! Three new packs with new running numbers debut in the range.

Common Features

• Pack of five Wagons, each with individual running number and decoration
• OO Gauge / 1:76.2 Scale Models
• Recommended Min Radius 2 Curves
• NEM standard coupler pockets with ‘kinematic’ close coupling functionality
• NEM narrow tension lock couplers provided for Outer vehicles, with Knuckle couplers provided for inner vehicles.
•  Sprung metal buffers
• Etched metal factory fitted detailing
• Extra fine factory fitted detail plastic parts
• Extra fine factory fitted Pipework
• Individual lettering, logos and codes from real wagons for authenticity
• BSC Axle Motion bogies
• Blackened RP25.110 profile wheelsets with 14.4mm back-to-back measurements, and 26mm over pinpoints
• Fitted, flashing red Tail Light fitted to one outer vehicle per outer pack
• Working Tail Lamp