Transporting coal was central to Britain’s railways and bulk trains of coal continued into the twenty first century. Hornby’s new TT:120 scale HAA coal hoppers replicate an important prototype that will be at home on any model railway set from the 1970s onwards. Available now from the Key Model World Shop.

By the mid-1960s, British Rail sought to modernise the haulage of coal for power stations and the need for efficiency resulted in the ubiquitous HAA ‘Merry Go Round’ (MGR) coal hoppers, so called because the new wagons allowed continual loading and unloading of coal. With over 11,000 air-braked MGR wagons constructed between 1964 and 1977, they were the mainstay of Britain’s fine grade coal flows right until the early-2000s.

Hornby’s range of new TT:120 HAA hopper includes three identities decorated for BR Railfreight, with this example accurate for the 1980s period (era 8) and includes a removable ‘hood’ that was used to increase the hopper capacity. The model accurately replicates the distinctive hopper shape, with a detailed frame and aluminium finish. 

An important addition to Hornby’s growing range of TT:120 wagons, Railfreight HAAs could be seen behind a diverse range of era 7 to 9 locomotives, from 08 shunters to class 66s. Forming an integral part of Britain’s railways for over 40 years, HAA hoppers record the final iteration of coal haulage in the UK and are essential for any midland region model railway from the 1970s to 1990s. 

Product highlights include:

• BR Railfreight HAA Hopper with red frame
• NEM standard removable couplings
• Highly detailed moulded underframe
• Three identities to easily start a block MGR train (TT6013/A/B)
• Iconic prototype for any era 8 (1980s-1990s) model railway

Learn more about Hornby TT:120 with our full layout build video series here.

Read more about Hornby TT:120 in Hornby Magazine. Check out our latest issues here.