It can be difficult to accurately estimate how many meters of OO track can be covered with a 250g bag of ballast, as...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
How many meters of OO track can I cover with a 250g bag of ballast ?Read more -
What are my curved platform options in model railways?Read moreA good many real-life platforms have some sort of curve incorporated into them to accommodate either the topography...
-
How can I create a reversing loop with Y-shaped turnout on my layout?Read moreA reversing loop is a section of track that allows a train to change direction without reversing. Reversing loops can...
-
How do you design a track plan?Read moreThere are several different ways to design a track plan for your model railway project. There is no right or wrong...
-
How do I connect track?Read moreThe track is connected using rail joiners, also called "fishplates". They are thin metal plates that simply slot...
What is the difference between a motor-car-van and a motorail?
A motor car van is a railway wagon designed to carry a motor car; Motorail, on the other hand, is simply a service brand name introduced by British Rail in 1966.
Motor car vans first appeared in the early 1900s, they were essentially little more than covered wagons with additional doors fitted to the ends and ramps incorporated for through loading. At that time, they were used primarily for wealthy motor car owners wishing to take their vehicles with them when travelling by train. Often these wagons were used for general purposes goods when not being utilised as car transporters.
By the end of World War One, motor cars were somewhat more reliable and roads were marginally better, so demand for private cars to be transported in this way dwindled. However, the life of the motor car van was far from over, and as car ownership increased, car manufacturers needed to find a way to distribute their new cars around the country.
Rail was the obvious choice, and that gave motor car vans not only an extended period of usefulness, but also a demand for them that was increasing exponentially resulting in many more being built. Although types of car-carrying wagons have changed beyond recognition over the years, they do still exist today transporting new cars from factory to port.
As for individuals taking their cars with them on train journeys, the concept was given another chance to prosper in 1955 with the introduction of an overnight car sleeper service from London to Perth. This eventually became a network of services (mainly through the night but sometimes during the day) and was eventually branded Motorail by British Rail in 1966. Once again history repeated itself, and better cars (and this time much better roads) led to a demise in demand and the eventual termination of services when BR was privatised in 1995.
With the exception of a short-lived experiment by First Great Western from 1999-2005, the only motor rail service left in the UK is the Eurotunnel Shuttle which still carries lorries, cars and buses to this day.
Posted in: Rolling stock
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Motorail set including wagons, cars and loading...
Price: £ 20.10Motorail set including wagons, cars and loading ramp OO gauge used
DISC**BR Mk1 GUV General Utility Van BR Blue &...
Price: £ 48.95BR Mk1 GUV General Utility Van BR Blue & Grey (IC Motorail) OO gauge...
Related posts
-
How to weight my model so it does not tip?For wargaming figures, a small coin or washer glued to the under side of the base will usually to do the job. This... - Is Bachmann compatible with Hornby?Yes, any OO scale loco, wagon or coach will work on any OO scale track, regardless of brand. Couplings are also...
- What are tension lock couplings?Tension lock couplings are the standard couplings for model trains in the UK. These are the ones we all know from...
- How do I test the width between the wheels of my engines?The best way to check the wheels of your locomotives is to use a tool called a back to back gauge. They are...
- How do I clean the wheels of my engine?One easy way is to get yourself a Peco cleaning kit containing a wire brush, wheel scraper, foam cradle and oil. The...