Dapol Announcement

Dapol generated an enormous amount of hype by declaring a week ago they'd be making a major product announcement at noon today. This is what they finally announced:

During mid 2005 Dapol announced that we would be releasing Stanier Coaches in N gauge at the Warley 2006 Show.

However, due to customer comment, feedback and demand we have decided to postpone this model and instead we have decided to manufacture a series of GRESLEY COACHES.

Already at the early stages of production, these models are being produced using brand new tools, and will be released at the Warley 2006 Show.

Initial body designs will be 3rd Class, 1st Class and Brake Composite. Buffet cars will also be included but �Sleepers� are still under review.

As with all Dapol N gauge Coaches, the models will have highly detailed interiors and will be produced with a range of alternative running numbers to enable our customers to create a pro-typical rake.

However, Dapol would like to involve customers in the choice of the actual livery to be initially produced. There are of course three main liveries to consider:

Teak : BR Maroon : BR Crimson and Cream.

Therefore Dapol have added an extra section within our 'Contact page' below, where customers vote for their own particular favourite choice of livery. We must state however, that we can only except one vote per person.

By mid 2006, Dapol will collect all of the comments and will make the 'most requested' livery as their initial model. Furthermore, from all of the 'most requested' responses received, Dapol will randomly select one customer and will present to that person one of each of the initial release of Gresley Coaches.

As with all Dapol models, regular updates of its progress will be posted on the Dapol website.

Dapol have clearly been looking at the absurd prices that the long-discontinued Minitrix models have been fetching on Ebay. If that's the case, I would expect the maroon livery to appear first.

Strictly speaking, such kettle-era coaches are a little outside of my chosen time period; although I have seen pictures of maroon Gresley coaches behind a class 52 "Western" in Devon. It's hoped they will be doing the Buffet in Blue/Grey, which actually outlasted the Westerns themselves.