Darjeeling 1st Generation Bogie Carriage 2nd / 3rd Class Composite
No 76, Closed compartments at the end and open compartments in the dropped down centre. 2nd Class closed compartments had glass windows, 3rd class had slatted blinds and hard benches. Open compartments had drop down weather blinds and half height doors
No 76, Closed compartments at the end and open compartments in the dropped down centre. 2nd Class closed compartments had glass windows, 3rd class had slatted blinds and hard benches. Open compartments had drop down weather blinds and half height doors
No 76, Closed compartments at the end and open compartments in the dropped down centre. 2nd Class closed compartments had glass windows, 3rd class had slatted blinds and hard benches. Open compartments had drop down weather blinds and half height doors
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway introduced a 1st Class bogie carriage in 1906 it proved a great success, by 1914 twenty two new carriages had been constructed. With large radius corners, dropped central floors and sliding doors, blinds and striking liveries they looked superb.
Four 1st Generation bogie carriages are offered:
• 1st / 2nd composite, No.74, with central waterproof curtain, arm chair central seating
• 2nd / 3rd composite, No 76, with closed and open compartments
• Guard / Luggage / Open, No 82 guard’s veranda, luggage / freight and three open compartments.
• 4 Compartment Closed, an adaptation or development of the 1st / 2nd composite with the central floor divided into two compartments. Probably offering 1st & 2nd class accomodation.
In 1914 around five 1st Generation 2nd / 3rd composite carriages existed, This model depicts No.76 running in 1909, with room for twelve 2nd class passengers and twenty four 3rd class passengers. Source The Iron Sherpa Vol 2 P199.
The models match the large radius corners, dropped central floors. Careful scaling has allowed for different layers make up the relief for the various doors, windows, panels, openings and canvas screens, etc. In built tabs and indexing help to ensure parts line up and detailed step by step instructions are included to take the modeller through the entire construction process to produce a complex and rewarding model. The bogies incorporate sealed ball bearings for easy no maintenance running and compensate for both pitch and body roll.
The model is not a overnight build as glue will need to be left to dry and parts painted. The most complex parts are the curved plywood ends, but these are straightforward to make using standard household implements in easy to follow steps. The supplied pre-cut plywood skins being gently heated / simmered in a saucepan, before being pulled out and allowed to cool so that it can then be carefully wrapped around a structural end and held in place with clothes pegs or similar whilst the glue dries and the plywood re-hardens.
Fully constructed from laserply, the kits come with everything apart from glue, paint and decals. 418 - 425 mm over buffers, 105 mm wide and 132 mm high.