Conflat Wagon GWR Grey 39230 w/GWR AF White Container

Conflat Wagon GWR Grey 39230 w/GWR AF White Container

Model

1:148 Scale model produced by Graham Farish. This model is ready-to-run and will make a great addition to any model railway collection.

Model Features

• 1:148 Scale Model
• N gauge Conflat Wagon in GWR grey livery with separate AF insulated container in GWR white (377-327B)
• Accurate representation of early British containerised freight traffic operated by the Great Western Railway
• Highly detailed wagon and container with planked deck, lashing points, brake gear and moulded container fittings
• Equipped with metal wheelsets, turned metal buffers and NEM coupling pockets for reliable N gauge operation
• This model is best suited to 228mm radius curves
• This model is fitted with NEM style couplings

Details

Add authentic interwar freight operations to your N gauge railway with the Graham Farish Conflat Wagon in GWR Grey with AF Container in GWR White (377-327B), a finely detailed model representing one of the earliest forms of containerised rail transport in Britain. Finished in classic Great Western Railway grey with a separately modelled white AF insulated container, this set captures a fascinating period in railway freight innovation during the Big Four era.

Long before modern container trains became commonplace, the Great Western Railway pioneered container-based freight traffic using specially designed Conflat wagons. These flat wagons were built to carry removable containers, allowing goods to be transferred more efficiently between rail and road transport. The AF-type container represented insulated traffic designed for perishables such as meat and fish, helping maintain lower temperatures during transit.

The Graham Farish model faithfully recreates both the Conflat wagon and separate AF container in N gauge, allowing the wagon to be displayed loaded or empty. Fine detailing includes a realistically planked deck, lashing points, chain pocket lids, detailed chassis components and separately moulded brake gear. The AF container itself features finely rendered body framing, lifting points, door hinges and locking detail for exceptional realism.

Historical Background

The Great Western Railway was one of Britain’s earliest adopters of containerised freight transport, introducing Conflat wagons during the interwar period to improve freight handling efficiency. The name “Conflat” combined “container” and “flat wagon”, and these vehicles were designed to carry a variety of removable containers suited to different cargo types. Type AF containers were insulated units used for transporting perishable goods such as meat and fish, helping preserve freshness during rail transit. Conflat wagons became an important part of GWR goods operations during the 1920s and 1930s and represented an early precursor to the modern intermodal freight systems used worldwide today.