Dapol has announced the impending release of a range of OO Gauge JNA-Y bogie ballast wagons as a follow-on to its range of MRA side-tipping wagons.

JNA-Y bogie ballast wagons are a familiar sight on Britain’s railway network, and are familiarly known as Hawks. They are a development of the earlier MRA side-tipping ballast wagons, which were rebuilt to extend their working life and to bring them into line with modern engineering practice.

During their rebuilding, the MRA side-tipping ballast wagons were stripped back to their original frames, then rebuilt with new high-capacity steel box bodies, resulting in a robust open wagon that could be loaded and unloaded by excavators or grabs.

Around 300 JNA-Y bogie ballast wagons were produced for Network Rail in the early 2020s, making them one of the most common types now in service on the national railway network.

Although classed as bogie ballast wagons, JNA-Y wagons are also widely used for spoil and general infrastructure materials, and will typically be seen in long rakes, but are also operated as a single standalone wagon.

With their typical Network Rail yellow livery, they are often heavily weathered and are an essential part of the modern railway scene. As such, they would make an ideal addition to any modern OO gauge layout.

To ensure accuracy, Dapol received help and information from the Hawks’ manufacturer, Loram, and also had access to a prototype wagon. Like the original MRA side tipping wagons, the new OO gauge JNA-Y bogie ballast wagons replicate the different buffer beams fitted to end and middle cars of the MRA.

Two versions of the JNA-Y bogie ballast wagons will be available, all liveried in Network Rail yellow. Two models will depict wagons used as outer wagons in a rake, and four as inner wagons; the only difference in each version will be the running numbers. They are available for pre-order from Dapol stockists at £44.95.

The new wagons come soon after Dapol announced the release of two new six-wheel tank wagons, and specially-liveried wagons to celebrate World Book Day.