Hornby R4273A Virgin Trains Pendolino 1st Class Open 69445

Description

Hornby R4273A Virgin Trains Pendolino 1st Class Open 69445

In excellent used condition

Background

During 1997, private operator Virgin Rail Group started operating the InterCity West Coast franchise, taking over from state-owned operator British Rail. Virgin Rail had been awarded the franchise having made a commitment to replace the locomotives and rolling stock in use on the route, namely the British Rail Class 86, 87 and 90 electric locomotives and Mark 2 and Mark 3 coaching stock, with brand new tilting trains. Following negotiations with several manufacturers, Virgin Rail placed an order with Alstom/Fiat Ferroviaria to produce the tilting train, which was known by the name Pendolino and was later designated under TOPS as the Class 390.

The purpose of tilt on the Pendolino was to maintain passenger comfort levels when traversing curves at high speed by reducing the sideways forces on the train’s occupants, minimising their tendency to slide across the carriage. The train was designed to be visually impressive: the concept design for the Pendolino was originally produced by industrial design firm Priestman Goode in cooperation with JHL and Start Design and many aspects of the finished product, such as the shaping of its aerodynamic nose and much of the train’s interior areas, can be attributed to them.

Technical Specification