Darjeeling 1st Generation Bogie Carriage 4 Compartment Closed
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.
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.
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.
The one the model depicts appears from a drawing in The Iron Sherpa Vol 2 P202. It is probably an adaptation of the successfull 1st / 2nd composite allowing more seating on the same wheelbase. An unknown number of 1st Generation 4 Compartment Closed carriages existed and the vechicle numbers have been lost over time. The carriage probably seating around 24 passengers across all four compartments in a 1st or 2nd class configuration.
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.
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.