Dapol HBA/HEA coal hoppers

AIR-BRAKED domestic coal hopper wagons in ‘O' gauge edge closer with Dapol revealing engineering prototypes of its brand-new models scheduled for a winter 2022 delivery. The pictures show the models at the assessment stage where Dapol has identified some sink marks which are to be corrected before livery samples are authorised.

The HBA and HEA coal wagons, which regularly saw use on both domestic coal alongside industrial coke and coal flows, were introduced in 1975 to replace remaining vacuum braked coal wagons. Constructed at Shildon, the design was modified part way through by relocating the end ladders from a position in the middle to the left side of each end, alongside the fitting of Bruninghaus suspension which permitted the operating speed to be increased from 45mph to 60mph. Earlier builds were retrospectively changed to standardise the fleet.

The new ‘O' gauge model includes both the original type with centrally mounted ladder and earlier suspension coded as HBA alongside the later design coded HEA. The photographs show a wealth of detail including brake pipe runs, suspension fittings and individual parts making up the manually operated discharge doors. Sprung buffers, ‘Instanter' couplings and the correct pattern of wheels with brake discs with axles running in brass axle box bearings completes the picture.

Competitively priced

The suggested retail price for each wagon is perhaps quite remarkable at £55 for both the HBA and HEA variants in both Bauxite and Railfreight red liveries. It is competitive even when compared to new ‘OO' gauge models. The domestic coal wagon is not only going to be popular among BR Railfreight modellers, but is the basis for a number of different wagons which were built on the underframes of redundant HEAs as their traffic base declined in the 1990s including MEA and MFA box wagons. The wide variety of liveries, long operating history and wide geographical area of use will make them appealing for operation both in long rakes and as small blocks in mixed air-braked ‘Speedlink' trains.

Dapol ‘O' gauge HBA and HEA wagon engineering prototypes with differences between the two models including end ladder detail and suspension springs.

A view of the ‘O' gauge HEA model with modified suspension springs and relocated end ladders. The level of detail for a wagon which has a suggested retail price of £55 appears excellent.

The brand-new models are composed of an injection moulded bodyshell fitted out with a wealth of details including sprung metal buffers, brake equipment and metal ‘Instanter' couplings.