Bachmann 394-076 Ffestiniog Railway Curly Roof Van No.1 FR Lined Plum

The ‘Curly Roof Van’ is one of the most distinctive and ornate vehicles that might be found operating on the Ffestiniog Railway (FR) today, and now for the first time, OO9 Scale models of this beautiful vehicle can be enjoyed thanks to Bachmann Narrow Gauge.

Three Curly Roof Vans were built between 1873 and 1876 and sadly none survive today in original form, yet thanks to the generosity of one of the railway’s donors we can once again enjoy the beauty of this Victorian design after an authentic replica was built in 2004.

The Bachmann Narrow Gauge model is formed from a finely-detailed, injection-moulded bodyshell featuring intricate panel engraving, along with hinge and door handle detailing. The ‘curly roof’ is integral to the bodyshell whilst the prominent duckets are fitted separately and are flush glazed too. The body is mounted onto a diecast metal underframe, with engraved planking on the guard’s platform and rivet detail along the solebar and at either end. Further external features include the prominent handrail provided for the guard along with the vacuum pipe support bracket and vacuum pipes at either end.

Within the guard’s compartment a handbrake wheel is fitted, whilst below the solebar the models run on detailed bogies fitted with metal wheelsets with curved spoke wheels. NEM couplings are mounted to the underframe, into which standard OO9 scale couplings are fitted.

Once you have seen the prototype in its striking lined plum livery it’s unforgettable, and the same can be said of the Bachmann Narrow Gauge model too. With more than 100 separately lined panels, the livery application on this model truly is a work of art, all of which is completed using authentic Ffestiniog Railway colours, logos and typefaces.