Image courtesy of Paul Bartlett.
The LMS, being the largest of the Big Four railway companies, was behind a great number of freight wagons, including some of the first large bogie flat wagons. British Rail, when they took charge of the UK national rail network chose an aquatic theme for their freight wagons, and as such the LMS bogie flat design would come to be called the Salmon. Salmon wagons were designed to carry lengths of rail and later, track panels.
The 65 foot length of the wagon enabled them to easily carry standard 60 foot lengths of track and consists of up to ten of these wagons would be connected to enable the transportation of even longer lengths. Batches of these wagons, totalling 894 examples, would be constructed between 1949 and 1961 with a further batch built in 1983.
Almost all of these batches would see a rebuild at various points in time with items such as the bogies and bolster positions changing and the addition of rail cranes and end bolsters on some variants. Each different variant would receive a different TOPS code.
YMA Salmons were the result of a BR rebuild, with wagons entering the workshops then leaving with shiny new air brakes. The fitment of these brakes allowed the wagons to be run in larger consists and also allowed for the removal of the rear coupled brake van, therefore reducing the staff required for a freight service.
The Hornby Salmon range is a new tooling for 2023 with almost all variants of the wagon catered for. Fitted with diecast chassis, these wagons have fantastic weight that rolls freely on metal wheels. Bolsters are included in the accessory bag can be fitted to represent the different ways these wagons would have appeared