HORNBY R40234 BR Intercity, Mk3 Trailer First, 41059-Era 8 Railway-Rolling Stock Coach Packs, Grey HORNBY BR Intercity, Mk3 Trailer First, 41059-Era Railway-Rolling Stock Coach Packs, Grey

To enable running at 125 mph on Britain's Victorian era railways, new rolling stock was required by British Railways. Significant enhancements over the Mk2 included the introduction of new secondary air suspension between the bogies and the coach body, as well as aerodynamic skirting on the underframe. The Mk3 coaches, measuring 75ft (23m) in length, offered significantly greater capacity than their predecessors. These coaches also incorporated disc brakes and wheel slip protection, enabling faster deceleration.

The first Mk3 coaches were delivered in 1972, forming part of the HST prototype along with the two Class 41 diesel power cars. Mk3 coaches entered regular service in 1975, alongside the Class 43, to create the iconic InterCity 125 trainset. Following the introduction of the HST Mk3 coach variant, additional Mk3 coaches were incorporated into locomotive-hauled trains on the West Coast Mainline.

While the Mk3 stock is the standard for HST units, the standard locomotive-hauled stock is the Mk3a. The Mk3a stock differs from the Mk3 due to the inclusion of buffers and a different electrical system that utilizes motor generator units in each coach to power air conditioning and other ancillary systems. The Mk3a stock was produced until 1984, after which the 3B stock, featuring improved seating and lighting, was built from 1985 to 1988.

After a brief stint in the BR Blue and Grey color scheme, the Mk3 coaches underwent a livery change to align with a corporate rebrand of high-speed services. The new InterCity livery saw the coaches painted in a darker grey color, with a beige stripe along the top and bottom, and a red stripe under the windows. This livery was designed to emulate or copy the advanced, yet ultimately unsuccessful, APT project. This livery would largely remain unchanged even after a further rebrand to Intercity Swallow, before the coaches were transferred into private ownership at the end of BR.

The Mk3 coaches include the provision for lighting provided by the R7305 Maglight lighting unit, as well as fully detailed interiors and metal wheels throughout. For the first time, these coaches also include Hornby's new Buckeye-style magnetic couplings.

As the UK's leading model railway designer, Hornby has been thrilling model making enthusiasts for over 100 years. Since 1920, Hornby has been the brand leader in 00 Gauge model railway design. Whether you're a seasoned model maker or just beginning your miniatures journey, Hornby's range of unique trains, track accessories, scenery kits, and more, offers something for everyone.

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