{"product_id":"5-inch-gauge-autocoach-stock-code-2452","title":"5 inch gauge Autocoach","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn these days of little diesel multiple units, happy to run in either  direction over short haul commuter runs, it's easy to forget the special  problems associated with steam haulage on these services seventy years ago.  Running engines around their trains involved points and passing loops, turning  engines completely required a turntable, neither ideal for the short, stop-start  intensive running on the huge network of short branch lines spread across the  country.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eEver in the vanguard, the Great Western, whilst experimenting with  new-fangled diesel rail cars, investigated ways to alleviate the problems  involved in steam-hauling on these routes. After diverse attempts to tackle the  problem, their final solution involved a modified coach with driver's  compartment in the end. When running locomotive-first, driver and fireman  occupied their conventional places in the cab, running bunker first - typically  using a 14xx 0-4-2 or one of the ubiquitous 0-6-0 Pannier tanks. At the end of  the line, the driver moved into the coach, whereupon the locomotive controls  were coupled through mechanically to a duplicate set of controls in his  compartment. Large bells mounted above the driving compartment and in the  locomotive cab enabled communication between driver and fireman.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSuch was the success of the autocoach that they survived nationalisation and  ran until made obsolete by the diesel multiple units.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThis is a very finely engineered 5 inch gauge model of an autocoach, highly  detailed including the train coupling gear, generator beneath the chassis,  working leaf springs and fully-detailed interior. Unusually for a scale model  coach, it is built entirely in steel, requiring a two man lift and will happily  carry four passengers - steel rods can be pushed through holes in the chassis to  provide foot pegs.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe builder had several fine locomotives to his credit, including a batch of  three similarly-detailed 57xx Pannier tanks (one of which I have) built using  his own drawings and patterns. This model was used as the basis of a  much-simplified commercially-produced kit - whilst about the same length, there  is little other similiarity between the two. The coach, whilst spending much of  its time in the builder's study on a piece of display track, has been used at  the club track, picking up a scar to the paint on a recent outing. This is shown  in detail in one of the photographs and could easily be touched-in.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eLength 67 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight approx 100 pounds\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019072557397,"sku":"2452","price":1650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/2452-1.webp?v=1779901564","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/5-inch-gauge-autocoach-stock-code-2452","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}