Model railway manufacturer Dapol is producing a series of O and OO Gauge wagons with a special logo to raise funds for the World Book Day charity.

The company teamed up with Browsers Bookshop, representing independent booksellers, and Booklaw Publications, representing independent Publishers, to help in fundraising efforts for the charity. World Book Day has been running for many years, and anyone with children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews is sure to know what enjoyment the children get from the day.

Dapol will be releasing the wagons in March and will make a donation to the charity for each wagon sold. The wagons include ventilated vans and Conflats with their containers, each with Browsers Bookshop, Book Law Publications, or World Book Day liveries, with a weathered or pristine finish.

The OO Gauge models will have NEM pockets with self-centring couplings, and O Gauge models will have the appropriate three-link or screw-link couplings. Decorative chains to attach the container to the conflat will be supplied with the O Gauge conflat and container.

Recommended retail prices are: £15.20 for pristine wagons and £16.49 for weathered versions, and £77 for pristine conflats and containers, and £78.20 for weathered versions.

World Book Day was established to show that reading can be fun. Research shows that reading seriously improves lives and is a major factor for children growing up to enjoy a happier and more successful future. Only one in three children says they like reading, and by getting more children to enjoy it, the charity aims to transform their lives. It knows that if young people look upon reading as fun, entertaining, and a social pastime, they will enjoy it. That is the charity’s aim: to inspire young people to see reading differently. This year, World Book Day is being celebrated on Thursday, 5th March.

Dapol has a record in raising funds for charity, as last November it presented a cheque for £11,000 to the Royal British Legion. Mainline train operators also participate in World Book Day, such as in 2022 when Avanti West Coast donated books to schools in the north of England.