This page last updated September 2nd 2008

Lord Kitchener's Coach
Suakin-Berber Railway, Sudan and UK MOD
4mm and 7mm

1:76 and 1:43.5


Photo: R.M. Casserley

This coach ended it's life on the Shoeburyness Military Railway in Essex. It commenced it's existence in 1885 at the Metroploitan Carriage and Wagon Company in Birmingham and from there went to the Suakin-Berber Railway in The Sudan, North Africa. This was a military railway, and it's claim to fame was that it was closed within a very short space of time, having not even been completed. As a result of the ensuing scandal, which was mentioned in the English parliament,the then Ministry of War decided to repatriate all the railway equipment. Of course, since the coach was never actually used to any great extent in The Sudan, it is doubtful whether Lord Kitchener actually ever used it - but it's a nice story!

The kit is now a catalogue product for Steam And Things. Test etches and test builds of the 7mm kit are shown on the accompanying page. All you need to do is click on this link .

We carried out some test building on the 7mm kit to tie down the specification of the undercarriage. The coach is a fixed 8-wheeler, and it did not behave on our test track of minimum radius 2'4" (700mm) though it felt more comfortable at 3' (900mm). We will have to offer a "cheat" option of "hidden bogies" and you will have to decide yourself how to build, depending upon the radii of the curves on your layout.

The roof structure is very unusual - it looks like an old clerestory that has been canvassed over. We have used some modeller's and designer's license and produced a clerestory, and the modeller may leave as is or "canvas over".

Since this is an unusual prototype we will offer special decals (unshaded, any script or colour) with each order to suit your railway.

7mm Kit specification is as follows:

  • Etched brass in 0.3mm (12thou)
  • Casting supplied for buffers, W-iron/spring/oil boxes and lamp tops
  • Additional castings include vacuum cylinder parts and brake shoes
  • 3-link couplings (our own product) are also included, as is wire (3 sizes), nuts, bolts and screws, shackle chain etc.
  • Decals, of our own production, for the SBR or CUSTOM (utilising computer font with no shading) are also included
  • Internal detailing - this is in the form of simple etches and includes seating and partitions
  • Comprehensive instructions with drawings and photographs of the prototype are included, including on CD

    • The 4mm kit is designed and supplied to the same high standard, but modeller's should note that certain things are not feasible due to the low market potential:

  • Etched brass in 0.3mm (12thou)
  • Generic castings supplied for buffers, W-iron springs, oil boxes and lamp tops
  • Buffers include turned steel heads
  • Modeller can use castings as is or modify to suit
  • Decals, of our own production, for the SBR or CUSTOM (utilising computer font with no shading) are also included
  • Internal detailing - in the form of partitions
  • Comprehensive instructions with drawings and photographs of the prototype are included, including on CD

    • Kit prices as follows:

  • 7mm Scale £125.00; A$313.00
  • 4mm Scale £42.00; A$105.00
  • Prices include the custom transfers / decals referred to in the text above
  • Prices include air mail; sea reduction available
  • Full terms and conditions click