MR/LMS/BR Horsebox

The Midland built Bain's 20 ft horsebox (Diagram 401) in two batches, the first between 1906 and 1914 and the second between 1921 and 1922. The LMS built similar vehicles after 1923 with an identical 12ft wheelbase, but with a 21ft instead of 20ft chassis to conform with running speed arrangements. These had a longer tack compartment and boarded ends, with no panelling on the tack compartment. Some were completely boarded horizontally on bodyside, including groom compartment.

The earliest vehicles were oil lit, but it is likely that most were gas lit quite soon into building the second lot. Electric lighting in later LMS days is probable, as gas lighting was often left on in an empty vehicle, with consequential inconvenience to the next user.

The LMS built horseboxes were gas lit for their first two lots as per Derby practice. However for the next four lots they reverted to oil lighting and in 1933 went back to gas. Only in 1935 did they commence electric lighting with the last 3 lot of 854 using Stones alternators. Which survivors of Bains' lot 401 received which lighting could only be confirmed by photographs.

The horseboxes were originally fitted with 3ft 7in Mansell disc wheels, although later plain disc wheels of the same diameter may have been fitted.

The kit consists of an etched brass body and chassis with whitemetal detailing parts and sprung buffers. A pre-formed brass roof is supplied. Parts are included to enable either a matchboard or a panelled ended vehicle to be built. The chassis has rocking W-Iron suspension.

Wheels and couplings are needed to complete the kit.

You can download a pdf version (which requires Adobe Acrobat to be read) of the instructions for this kit by clicking here

This file is 2.6 MB which will take a while to download if you are on a dial-up connection.

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