C-rail Intermodal KTA pocket wagon
◆ GAUGE ‘N’ ◆ MODEL KTA Pocket Intermodal wagon ◆ PRICE £30.00 (£35.00 weathered) ◆ AVAILABILITY C-rail Intermodal Web www.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk
In an effort to enhance capacity without increasing transport costs significantly, the adoption of 9ft 6in tall shipping containers provided UK railway operators with a few headaches. While the old ‘standard’ of
8ft 6in height could be accommodated throughout much of the British network on traditional flat intermodal wagons, the taller boxes called for a different solution.
Certain routes received gauge clearance work, whereby tunnels and overbridges and other impedimenta were modified, but this came at huge cost. An alternative was to create new wagon types that would allow the taller containers to sit closer to the rails. A good example is the ‘Megafret’ vehicles, which feature a traditional flat deck, but carried on low-profile bogies equipped with tiny wheels.
A different approach was the creation of a drop-centre wagon, where the container is loaded into a sunken pocket between the bogies. This allows existing bogie types to be installed, with standard diameter wheels.
The Tiphook ‘KQA’ is one such wagon, with an initial batch of 35 vehicles being built for the leasing firm by Rautaruukki of
Finland during the 1990s. Initially intended to travel between the UK and the Continent via the Channel Tunnel, the wagons eventually lost their international RIV (Regolamento Internazionale Veicoli, or International Wagon Regulations) identities, once it was clear that they would be confined to domestic work.
A further batch of similar wagons was soon ordered and the whole fleet was re-classified as ‘KTA’ under TOPS, receiving the GERS977XXX number series. Freightliner is the main user of ‘KTAS’ on its various intermodal flows, with a handful of examples usually being included within a rake of other container flat wagons.
Although the ‘KTAS’ are capable of accommodating two 20ft containers, or a single 30ft box, it’s far more common to see a 40ft high cube container mounted within the pocket. Having released a 2mm scale rendition of the Tiphook ‘KQA’ in the summer of 2020 (MR275), a second production run has recently appeared from C-rail Intermodal. Depicting the wagons in more recent times, with ‘KTA’ TOPS codes and Touax leasing branding, they bring the pocket wagon story right up to date.
A handful of different models are available, with individual numbers, some of which are offered in pristine or weathered condition. Under review is wagon GERS97772 in a pristine
coat of blue paint. Like our reviewer back in 2020, I’ve been impressed with the level of detail contained within this model, especially considering the price – just £30.00 each.
The air brake equipment, mounted atop the end sections, is linked with plastic piping and fine wire rods, while the open nature of the wagon’s framework has been faithfully captured. The parking brake hand wheels and U-shape handrails are nicely rendered, although the latter soon came loose on our sample (owing to careless handling on my part) and had to be glued back into the mounting holes.
The axles turn freely and the wagon ran very smoothly under test, taking tight track radii in its stride, including first radius (263.5mm) curves. Being rendered entirely in plastic, the wagon weighs in at 13g without a container load, providing just enough weight for reliable running.
The quality of finish is top notch, with the number panels and lettering printed to a high standard. The attractive blue livery is seldom seen in the real world, as these wagons invariably appear in a filthy shade of brown, so the weathered versions are bound to prove popular. Supplied without a load, there’s a healthy selection of suitable (fully finished) high cube dry containers and reefers available in the C-rail range to suit the ‘KTAS’, with prices starting at £6.50 each. It’s great to see the pocket wagon available again in ‘N’ gauge, offering modellers of the contemporary scene greater variety for their intermodal rakes. (GD)
The wagon weighs in at 13g without a container load, providing just enough weight for reliable running