Friday, December 27, 2024

Tempted to the dark side by Caroline

Revolution Trains, N gauge model of the inspection saloon "Caroline"

A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to spend a day with Revolution Trains taking a tour of the country in the railway inspection saloon "Caroline".

It really was an amazing day, and I wanted a souvenier. The obvious choice was the model Revolution were producing, which was the reason for the tour. A OO gauge version was ordered, in blue and grey livery. I felt that this colour suited the coach rather better then the green it was in when I rode in it.

A few months later, the model arrived, and very impressive it was too. Except, the printed orange curtains in the windows.

Now, orange is the correct colour for the period, and I like orange, but to my eye, these looked all wrong. More 1980s Hornby than modern RTR. And being orange, they were the first thing you saw. I did look at removing them, but the printing was on the glazing. 

I kept the model for a couple of days, but every time I looked at it, all I could see was the curtains. So, reluctantly, I returned it. This isn't a cheap coach, and I didn't want to hide it in a box at the back of the cupboard. 

This left me with a problem. I still wanted a "Caroline", but they aren't that easy to come by. That is, until an N gauge model popped up on RMweb. It was in blue and grey, and didn't have curtains. Result!

A few days later, the model was in my hands, and what a stunner!


Revolution Trains, N gauge model of the inspection saloon "Caroline"

Every bit as good as the 4mm scale version, I'm very happy. OK, I need to buy a Class 37 to go with it. Something large logo blue I think, but that can wait until the right model appears. 

Best of all, I own very little N gauge stock, but this is perfect for the sort of small diorama/layout I'm likely to build in the future. I just need to hide my interest in the smaller scale. I'll never hear the end of it...

1 comment:

Simon Hargraves said...

The curtains bring back a lot of memories for me...both the Hastings DEMUs from which "Caroline" is derived and main line SR EMUs had them when I was a nipper, and the Hastings DEMUs ran on the line over the other side of the valley from our back garden! I was tempted when these came out, though I'd have paired one with either a 73 or a 33/1...