Stroudley Four Wheel Coaches

Prototype

Dapol announced at the 2018 Dapol Collectors Club open day that they were busy planning their next UK based production project, the O Gauge Stroudley 4-wheel coach. These coaches will be produced at our facility in Chirk by our dedicated and skilled workforce. They will represent a major step up in the level of model complexity that we manufacture currently. The whole team is relishing both the challenges and the opportunities that this project promises.                        

These carriages were constructed between 1870 and 1890 totaling more than 1,500 for local and main line sets. The sets consisted of  between eight and eleven coaches each 26ft long on a 15ft wheelbase and were originally close coupled with a bar but later some modified main line coaches were fitted with short buffers and amalgamated into the suburban sets, only the brake ends had long buffers. Braking initially was only available through the guards hand brake, but later all coaches were fitted with Westinghouse air brakes. Lighting was originally by oil lamps, however many coaches were later converted to gas lighting, and from 1881 some sets were fitted with electric lighting with a dynamo in the brake coach. 

We are now at the stage where we are pleased to be able to show you a selection of production samples. We have also provided a short YouTube video showing them in use behind one of our sound fitted Terrier production samples on our test track here at Dapol.

Specifications

The Dapol Stroudley four wheel coaches will have the following specifications:

• Diecast compensated chassis for excellent riding characteristics.
• Superbly detailed body with many separately added detail parts.
• Metal Sprung Buffers (see notes below).
• Expertly applied liveries and decorations.
• Lightbar fitted options available (DC & DCC versions).
• Two lengths of draw bar. A short for use between buffer free coaches and a longer bar for use with converted main line coaches with buffers at each end.

Suburban Coaches                  

• Buffers only at the outer most end of the brake 3rd coach (Guard compartment end).
• Standard passenger coaches are fitted with prototypical Maunsell (wooden) disk wheels and do not have brake gear.
• Brake 3rd coaches are fitted with spoked wheels and are the only coach to have brakes.
• Brake 3rd coaches are also fitted with a step at the guards end to allow access and egress from the coach by the guard.
• Connection between non buffered coaches is provided by a prototypical draw bar.
• A modeler will require at least one brake 3rd coach to allow their train to couple up to their locomotive. A three link coupling is only provided at the guard end of suburban stock.

Main Line Coaches                  

• Buffers at both ends of all coaches
• Standard passenger coaches are fitted with prototypical Maunsell (wooden) disk wheels.
• Brake 3rd coaches are fitted with spoked wheels.
• All coaches are fitted with Westinghouse brake gear.
• Brake 3rd coaches are also fitted with a step at the guards end to allow access and egress from the coach by the guard.
• Connection between coaches provided by standard three link coupling
• The underframe detail on the standard passenger coaches has a greater degree of complexity.

Proposed Models

Dapol will be offering the oil lit varnished mahogany liveried coaches in the first run. Later we shall be offering different liveries, and details including gas and electric lighting and Westinghouse brakes.

• 7P-020-001 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit Brake 3rd Mahogany 917
• 7P-020-002 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit Brake 3rd Mahogany 918
• 7P-020-100 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit 3rd Mahogany 861
• 7P-020-200 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit 2nd Mahogany 507
  
• 7P-020-300 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit Composite Mahogany 404
  
• 7P-020-400 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Suburban Oil Lit 1st Mahogany 707
  
• 7P-020-500 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Main Line Oil Lit Brake 3rd Mahogany 1031
  
• 7P-020-501 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Main Line Oil Lit Brake 3rd Mahogany 1032
  
• 7P-020-600 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Main Line Oil Lit 3rd Mahogany 811
  
• 7P-020-800 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Main Line Oil Lit Composite Mahogany 301
  
• 7P-020-900 - Stroudley 4 Wheel Main Line Oil Lit 2nd Mahogany 456
  

Pricing

Other Coach Variants

We have already taken a look at several of the coach types being produced in the first production run, below is a quick photograph of the composite and 1st class suburban coaches.

How do they perform? See for yourself