Olivia’s Trains/heljan liquefied gas tanks

◆ SCALE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Olivia’s Trains/heljan 100t BOC liquefied gas tank wagons ◆ PRICE £75.00 each ◆ PERIOD 1970-1990s ◆ AVAILABILITY Olivia’s Trains Tel 0114 3216 160 Web www.oliviastrains.com

Olivia’s Trains brings welcome variety for Br-era modellers. George Dent assesses these premium models.

The British Oxygen Company’s small fleet of 100t tank wagons made for an eye-catching addition to the BR freight scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Running in block trains or as part of Speedlink services, they were a common sight during my teenage ‘spotting’ days. Employed to move liquefied gases – predominantly oxygen or nitrogen – from BOC’S plants at Middlesbrough and Widnes to various locations around the UK, they could be seen behind a wide range of BR diesel traction, especially Classes 37, 40, 45 and 47. Long-haul services would often be handed over to electric traction, such as Classes 81, 85 or 86, as well as the Class 76 ‘Bo+bos’ when heading across the Pennines via Woodhead. My particular memories are of tatty blue ‘25s’ or ‘40s’ moving short rakes of these tankers past Fiddlers Ferry, from Tanhouse Lane (Widnes) to Arpley Junction (Warrington), where they would be marshalled into Speedlink services via the WCML. In contrast to other contemporary, high-capacity tank wagons, BOC’S wagons lacked ladders, walkways and filling hatches on the tank barrels. Instead, loading and discharging of the liquid gases was achieved at ground level, with a large box containing the necessary valves slung between the frames. Unloading was often achieved in goods yards and sidings without the need for special equipment, other than purpose-built road vehicles that would deliver the products to the end user.

FREIGHT VARIETY

Lasting well into the 1990s, these wagons form an attractive and important modelling subject, hitherto overlooked by RTR manufacturers. Now, thanks to Olivia’s Trains and Heljan, ‘OO’ modellers can now add a little extra variety to their Br-era freight stock. A raft of livery and detail options is being offered, portraying the vehicles across their entire working careers, from the early PRE-TOPS 1970s period up to their rather drab, unbranded appearance in the late 1990s. The changes to the BOC corporate identity and evolving safety and operating instructions have also been well-observed and there’s even the option of a faded mustard yellow horizontal band – a distinctive feature of many of the prototypes. Constructed in 1970 by renowned wagon builder Charles Roberts, these wagons were fitted with air brakes from new. Brake reservoir tanks were carried between the frames, to one side of the discharge equipment box. Some were also fitted with cryogenic equipment at the other end of the frames. Heljan has replicated these features admirably, where appropriate, and there’s also a choice of bogies: either the original Gloucester Mk 1V or the later streamlined GPS units.

Accordingly, the arrangement of brake discs varies across the two types, with the correct layout observed on each model. Both types of bogie are also available separately, being a useful resource for kit-bashers and scratchbuilders, at £16.00 per pair. With all models, a small bag of detail fittings provides a replacement set of brake handwheels and handrails, brake hoses, drawhooks and a fetching set of decorative Instanter couplings. An alternative set of buffers is also provided, allowing modellers to choose between the early oval style and the more modern clipped rectangular pattern. Available separately is a sheet of high-quality waterslide transfers (£6.00) to allow for renumbering the wagons, with 24 different sets provided along with liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen legends and other, smaller markings.

VERDICT

The overall profile, dimensions and array of details are accurate and impressively presented, justifying the ‘premium’ price tag attached to these specially produced models. The level of finish is also high and they certainly make for an appealing sight on a late Br-era layout. The fact that they were often seen in short formations or mixed with other air-braked stock, means that modellers can feel justified in treating themselves to one or two examples. Olivia’s Trains also offers a range of customising options, including weathering, renumbering and even the installation of working tail lamps!