Model railway manufacturer Dapol has released plans to produce a range of new N Gauge Period III 57ft non-lavatory suburban coaches.

The London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) started to build the carriages in 1933 to Stanier’s “Period III” designs.

They were the next phase in carriage development, after the construction of several designs of non-corridor coaches for suburban services.

From 1933 until 1950, a large number were built, with the last being withdrawn in 1967.

The proposed models include:

• Non-corridor Third Class to Diagram 1906/1906A.
• Non-corridor Composite to Diagram 1921/1921A.
• Non-corridor Brake Third to Diagram 1907.
• Non-corridor Driving Brake Third to Diagram 1856.

Four livery variations are planned:

• LMS Period III Crimson Lake (1934-1947).
• BR unlined Crimson (1949-1956).
• BR unlined Maroon (1957-1959).
• BR lined Maroon (1959-1967.

The company has completed advanced CADs and artworks, and is now seeking expressions of interest. Fortnightly progress reports will be provided to all those who express interest.

A decision on whether to proceed with production will be taken by the end of next February. If it is decided to proceed with production, pre-orders can be placed to secure models. Photographs of decorated samples will be released at the same time.

It will then take around nine to twelve months for completed models to arrive at Dapol’s warehouse, ready for dispatch. Intending purchasers will not be charged until their models are ready for shipment.

To increase the capability of its tool room, Dapol recently installed a new three-axis machining centre.

At the beginning of December, the company got into the Christmas spirit with the release of OO and O Gauge wagons adorned with Christmas-themed advertising, including a Christmas Pudding livery and a Noël Christmas Ale livery.