N Gauge Gresley's Survivors - BR Blue Grey Buffet

Exciting Announcement: we are delighted to launch of the N Gauge Refurbished BR Blue Grey Gresley Buffet CoachWe are thrilled to unveil the launch of the N Gauge refurbished BR Blue Grey Gresley buffet coach. 

However, due to the limited scope of the prototype, we anticipate that sales volume may not reach a level that makes this project feasible through our retailer network. Therefore, we are currently accepting expressions of interest on the Dapol website. 

The project will only progress to tooling if we sufficient interest is shown in the project. We will provide you will regular updates on pre-order levels.

Prototype

During the 1960s, British Railways found itself short of Mark 1 catering vehicles to meet demand and so some LNER Gresley-designed buffet cars were brought back into front-line service on the Eastern, Western and Southern regions.

Some Gresley Buffets received an extensive refurbishment in the early 1970s which included new paneling on one side, removing several windows and a much-hated interior refurbishment. The new interior replaced the beautiful wood paneling with cream Formica along with BR Blue seating.  

All but one of these Buffets were allocated to the Eastern Region and saw extensive use, notably on the Harwich to Liverpool “European” service. One Buffet, W9135E achieved some celebrity during the 1970s, being allocated to the Western Region. This coach was used extensively on Summer Saturday trains from Paddington to Devon and Cornwall, as well as filling in on secondary services to the West Country.

Both of the prototype vehicles being modelled by Dapol were removed from service by the mid 1970's and have remained in preservation ever since.

CAD images currently under final review - shown for illustration only.

Specifications

The Dapol models features all-new body tooling to accurately portray these fascinating coaches in BR Blue/Grey livery. 

• Highly detailed body, underframe and bogies 
• Fine application of livery  
•  Lightbar ready (2A-000-041 - 70's/80's style light bar available to purchase separately).

Proposed Liveries

·        2P-011-501 - Gresley Buffet W9135E in Blue/Grey Livery

·        2P-011-502 - Gresley Buffet E9115E in Blue/Grey Livery

Price

Project Update

Advanced CADs and artworks have been completed, expressions of interest are now being taken. We will keep you updated with fortnightly progress reports and plan to make a decision whether to proceed with the project by the end of November 2025. If the project goes ahead we would expect to have first shot samples to show you by the middle of February 2026.  

Assuming the project progresses, we will offer you the opportunity to place a pre-order to secure your models. This will occur around the time we reveal photographs of the decorated samples. Typically, it takes an additional nine to twelve months for the models to arrive at our warehouse, ready for dispatch. Dapol will not charge you any fees before the models are prepared for direct shipment to you, and we will not do so without your authorization.