The Great Western introduced its first diesel railcar in 1933, and that is the subject for this model by Denis Redrupp. They continued in service until the 1960s.
The original body design was very much of the art deco period, its rounded lines giving rise to the nickname ‘Flying Banana’. Although diesel powered, heating was by steam for the rail car and two or three coaches. Power train was supplied by AEC, most famous for its production of the long lived buses London buses, up to the Routemaster.
Three of these railcars have been preserved: at Swindon, Didcot and the Kent & East Sussex Railway.
