Heljan BR Mk 1 CCT

◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Heljan 9403 BR Mk 1 CCT BR Rail blue, Red Star ◆ PRICE £199.00 ◆ AVAILABILITY Heljan stockists Web www.heljan.co.uk

The vast majority of BR’S Mk 1 passenger and non-passenger carrying stock came in the form of bogie vehicles. However, during the late 1950s, when much of the stock was being built, a need for a few twin-axle vans was also identified.

The CCT, or Covered Carriage Truck, certainly retained an archaic designation, harking back to the days of hauling horsedrawn carriages by rail. Indeed, each of the ‘Big Four’ companies had maintained stocks of four-wheel covered vans to handle a wide variety of cargoes as part of passenger trains.

Commodities included parcels, newspapers, milk churns and generic light goods. However, Carriage Trucks offered the added benefit of accommodating road vehicles, loaded via sets of end doors and drop flaps. Internal chocks and restraining equipment were provided and, if multiple vans were coupled together, numerous motor vehicles could be loaded from the end ramp and driven between vehicles.

BR’S Mk 1 CCT design was an evolution of the preceding ‘Big Four’ designs, and over 800 examples were constructed at Earlestown Works, near St Helens, during the early 1960s.

Complementing Heljan’s existing range of Mk 1 coaching stock, the CCT is definitely a welcome arrival. In fact, any shorter vehicles are a boon in ‘O’ gauge, especially for those of us with limited space. Several versions are available, encompassing BR maroon

(in lined and unlined form), Rail blue, Departmental olive, Engineers’ yellow and the eye-catching ‘Tartan Arrow’ white/red scheme from the turn of the 1970s.

I decided to add the Red Star-adorned Rail blue version to my collection, as it rekindles youthful memories of the parcel and newspaper workings from Manchester Red Bank to Leeds in the late 1980s, often hauled by a Class 31. These were among the last jobs for the CCTS in revenue-earning service.

The model really looks the part, with the overall outline appearing spot on. The flat sides offer no tricky tumblehome profile to vex toolmakers, but the roof shape is important to get right, yet it looks good to me. All key dimensions tally almost exactly with the prototype and there’s plenty of detail relief to enjoy, from the ribs, gutter strips and shell-type vents on the roof

to the door panels, seams, hinges and bump stops on the sides.

Fine wire handrails, picked out in white paint, are neatly installed, as are separate door handles. I was particularly impressed by the lamp brackets, hinges and locking handles on the end doors which, again, are all separately fitted parts. Sprung buffers and drawhooks, complete with working screw‑link couplers, adorn the headstocks, along with vacuum brake and steam heat hoses.

The glazing is fitted perfectly, with the security bars printed onto the inside of the clear plastic. Paint finish is flawless, with the red and yellow stripe applied cleanly, which is no mean feat considering it traverses lots of undulating surface relief.

The main Red Star logos lack a tiny bit of clarity in places, but we’re veering into nit‑picking here! Attention to detail, regarding the smaller printed details, extends to a mix of original and post‑1980s style overhead line warning stickers on the end doors.

Below the footplate, the level of detail is superb, with a set of compensated axles (running in brass bearings) sliding smoothly within the ‘W’ irons. My model arrived with all four of the footboards broken off and loose within the box, so a little repair work was needed. A foam‑lined box would perhaps offer better protection from the stresses of transit.

The brake gear is impressive, with the shoes lining up with the wheels, while the yokes, safety hoops, cross shafts and actuating rods are all present and correct. A pair of vacuum cylinders is installed, and the battery and fuse boxes are equally well rendered.

On the rails, the CCT runs beautifully, its bulk providing just the right amount of inertia to suit this scale. The compensated axles and brass bearings allowing it glide over points and crossings with ease.

This is a lovely new addition to Heljan’s RTR ‘O’ gauge range. (GD)

I decided to add the Red Star‑adorned Rail blue version to my collection, as it rekindles youthful memories of the parcel and newspaper workings from Manchester Red Bank to Leeds in the late 1980s