Railways Group
The Phoenix Kits GWR Page
Phoenix coach kits are successors to the 4mm scale BSL range, using a combination of cast white metal ends and fittings, and aluminium sides. Detailing components available separately include plastic and etched brass items.
Owing to various factors – e.g. developments elsewhere in the model carriage market since Phoenix (then BSL) started in 1968 and broken or worn tools which no longer give acceptable results etc. – production of new sides is largely suspended at the moment while we review how to proceed in the future. In the meantime feel free to ask; we may still be able to help you. Further, Phoenix kits occasionally appear on e-Bay so the notes covered by these pages are being retained.
While the majority of the Phoenix range of coaching stock kits are Southern vehicles, the range also includes GWR kits as listed below.
Demonstrations of the construction of Phoenix kits have appeared in a number of publications, for example Chapter Five “Assembling a pre-formed metal kit – A Southern Railway ‘Ironclad’ Brake Third“, in Stephen William’s book “The 4mm Coach – Part Two – Working with metal kits”, published by Wild Swan.
Note: These Kits are only available in 4mm Scale.
Photographs of completed kits can be seen by clicking on those Descriptions which appear in underlined coloured script.
Please note the following codes in the lists below:
- A Right Hand (R/H) van is a coach with the van at the right hand end when viewed from the corridor side. A Left Hand (L/H) van is, naturally, the converse.
- A composite coach is R/H where the the first class end is on the right when viewed from the corridor side. Again, a L/H composite is where the first class end is at the left when viewed from the corridor.
- The given body lengths are over corner pillars. Bow ends usually add 1'- 2" or 1'- 4" to give an overall body length (excluding gangway connectors where present). Measurements are given to the nearest inch.
- A right hand third with one bow end and one flat end has the bow end on the right when viewed from the corridor side. A left hand third is the opposite.
GREAT WESTERN / BR CORRIDOR COACHES
Collett 70' stock, 1922-25
Carriages from the early lots of these coaches were for Paddington-South Wales expresses. Later they were widely distributed and the 'Cornish Riviera' was formed of 70' stock from 1924-1929. There were a number of variations to be found in the ends of these coaches: bow, flat or one of each. In the following list: B=Bow ends; F=Flat ends; B/F=One Bow and One Flat end.
Collett Bow Ended Articulated stock, 1925
Six sets of eight coaches were originally built, formed as follows: A17+A16//H30+H31+H32//C52+C51+D92. All were later rebuilt as non-articulated vehicles.
Collett Bow Ended 57' stock, 1925-29
In the following list: L/H=Left Hand; R/H=Right Hand. Please see notes 1 and 2 at the top of this page
Collett Bow Ended 60' stock, 1929-33 "CORNISH RIVIERA" etc.
In 1929 these coaches were put on principal expresses to the West Country, most famously on the "Cornish Riviera", but also others including the "Torbay Limited". For the initial run of the down "Cornish Riviera Express" on the 8th July 1929, the train was formed as follows:
Penzance: D106/C59/C59/H37/H35/H36/E137/D106 StIves: E138 Falmouth: E138 Plymouth: E138 Weymouth (slipped): F23/E138
In the following list: L=Left Hand; R=Right Hand. Please see notes 1 and 2 at the top of this page.
Collett Bow Ended 60' Sleeping Cars 1930
Collett Bow Ended 60' Super Saloons 1932-38
Collett Flat Ended 57' Stock 1933-36
Collett Bow Ended 60' "CENTENARY STOCK" 1935
In 1935 the GWR was 100 years old and to mark this occasion a series of brand new coaching stock was built for the best expresses to the West. Following very closely on the design of the "Super Saloons" these coaches were put into service on the "Cornish Riviera Limited", as the "Cornish Riviera Express" had become a service for booked-seat passengers only and had been renamed from the 8th July 1935, the beginning of the summer timetable that year. The Centenary Van Third coaches were the last on the GWR to be built with handed bodies for a set train. An important note for modellers is that due to problems with the large drop-type opening windows, in the 1936-38 period certain corridor side windows and all compartment windows were altered by fitting with sliding type ventilators. The standard formation of the down train was: D120(L/H)/C69/C69/H44/H43/E149/D120(R/H)/C69/E150/E150
Collett Flat Ended "SUNSHINE" Stock 1936 "BRISTOLIAN" , "CHELTENHAM FLYER" etc.
Built for general mainline services and used on the "Bristolian" and the "Cheltenham Flyer" but not in set formations.
Collett Flat Ended "SUNSHINE" Stock 1938
Hawksworth Post War Stock
GREAT WESTERN / BR NON CORRIDOR STOCK
Collett Bow Ended 57' Stock 1925-29
Some formed into sets, eg: 4 Car D98/E131/E131/D98 5 Car D101/C56/E134/C56/D101
Collett Bow Ended 60' Stock 1930-33
Stock with recessed door handled. Some formed into sets, eg: 4 Car D109/E141/E141/D109
Collett Flat Ended 57' Stock 1933-34
GREAT WESTERN / BR AUTO TRAILERS
Collett 1929-33
Notes on the listed bogies used on GWR Coaching stock listed on this page.
7'0" Plate Bogies were used by Corridor stock as follows:
some 70' Stock 1922-25; the articulated stock (non-articulated ends); the bow ended 57' stock 1925-29; the bow ended passenger brake van K40 and the following Non-Corridor stock:
the bow ended 57' stock 1925-29; the 60'stock 1930-33 (except the E145 brake composite); the 1929/30 auto trailers A27 and A28.
9'0" Plate Bogies were used by Corridor stock as follows:
some 70' Stock 1922-25; the bow ended 60' stock 1929-33 (but not the K40 passenger brake van); the 1930 J11 third sleeping car; the 1932 super saloons and the following Non-Corridor 1933 'B' set brake composite E145.
9'0" Pressed Steel Bogies were used by Corridor stock as follows:
the flat ended stock 1933-36; the Centerary stock 1935; the Sunshine stock 1936 and 1938; the post war Hawksworth stock and the following Non-Corridor stock:
the flat ended 1933-34 stock; the 1933-34 stock; the 1933 auto trailers A30.
8'6" Articulation Bogies were used by Articulated corridor stock (Articulated ends only).
6 Wheeled Bogies were used by the 1930 J12 first sleeping car and the 1938 H55 and H56 buffet and kitchen cars.