MHA ‘COALFISH’ SPIN-OFF

AS MGR wagons were taken out of service by EWS, perfectly good underframes were used to build a large fleet of ballast and spoil wagons with two different types of body. The fleet grew by one batch of around 250 at a time to number over 1150 wagons, which were finished in EWS maroon livery. They were constructed by RFS Industries from 1997 onwards and were used mixed in trains with MFAs, a similar rebuild which utilised domestic and industrial coal hopper wagon underframes (HEA) to create box wagons for coal and aggregates (MEA) which were later cut down for ballast and spoil use.

Accurascale has added the MHA to the MGR range, starting with four packs of the later body style of MHA with 11 body side ribs (the first type were built with 16 closely-spaced ribs). The MHA wagons will be assembled with the same underframe components as the MGRs including the metal underframe, sprung buffers and details comprising of etched metal fittings alongside NEM coupling pockets and cosmetic ‘Instanter’ couplings.

Four packs of MHA wagons are offered for £74.95. accurascale.co.uk.

MHA No. 394003 is an early MHA wagon with the heavier 16-rib body. Photographed at Westbury on May 7, 2004.

MHA No. 394906 is a good example of the later 11-rib MHA wagon which was photographed at Carlisle on November 22, 2018.

The MHA box wagon rebuild on HAA underframes is included in the range, with later style of body.