Mk3 TS Coach First Great Western 42073

Mk3 TS Coach First Great Western 42073

1:120 Scale Coach produced in First Great Western livery. This model features lots of expertly applied details as based on the prototype, a high level of body detail and excellent running characteristics.

Features

• 1:120 Scale Model
• This model is best suited to layouts based around Britain
• This model is decorated in First Great Western company markings
• Authentic First Great Western “fag packet” green, white, and gold livery
• Highly detailed Mk3 Trailer Second (TS) coach body with accurate proportions
• Individually numbered 42073 for prototypical realism
• Designed for use within HST formations and compatible TT:120 rolling stock
• Fine-scale detailing reflecting British Rail Mk3 engineering evolution
• Smooth-running chassis for reliable operation on TT layouts

Details

Build out a complete and realistic High Speed Train formation with the Hornby FGW Mk3 Trailer Second Coach No. 42073 (TT4074A), produced in TT:120 scale (1:120).

Finished in the distinctive First Great Western “fag packet” green, white, and gold livery, this Mk3 Trailer Second (TS) coach represents standard class accommodation as seen on HST services across the UK. Designed to integrate seamlessly with other Hornby TT:120 Mk3 coaches, it offers accurate detailing, smooth running performance, and prototypical styling for modern-era layouts.

With its correct running number 42073, this model is ideal for modellers looking to assemble authentic FGW HST rakes from the privatisation era.

Historical Background

The British Rail Mark 3 coaching stock was developed in the late 1960s as part of a major programme to modernise long-distance passenger travel.

Introduced in the mid-1970s alongside the InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST), Mk3 coaches brought major technical improvements over earlier designs. These included a strong monocoque body, advanced secondary air suspension, and disc braking systems, enabling reliable high-speed running at up to 125 mph.

Entering service from 1975–1976, Mk3 coaches quickly became the backbone of InterCity operations across Britain, working key routes from London to the West Country, Wales, Scotland, and northern England. Their durability and passenger comfort ensured a long service life.

Following the privatisation of British Rail in the 1990s, Mk3 coaches continued in widespread use with operators such as First Great Western. Repainted into new liveries, they remained a familiar sight on HST services well into the 2010s, making them one of the most successful British coach designs ever produced.