Ellis Clark Trains E1017

Class & Prototype

The Wickham trolley was a revolutionary railway maintenance vehicle produced by D. Wickham & Co of Ware, Hertfordshire from 1922-1990. Nearly 12,000 vehicles were built across multiple variants, making it one of the longest production runs in railway history. These compact, reliable vehicles transformed British railway maintenance from manual labour to mechanised efficiency, serving permanent way gangs for track inspection and repair work. The most successful variant was the Type 27 series, with over 600 built for British Railways between 1948-1990. Powered initially by JAP engines and later Ford automotive units, they featured innovative friction drive systems and could transport 8-10 crew members plus equipment via trailers. Many survive in preservation on heritage railways, whilst detailed scale models are available from manufacturers including Bachmann (OO gauge) and Ellis Clark Trains (O gauge). Their 68-year production span and global service from Chile to Malaysia demonstrated the enduring value of practical engineering over fashionable innovation.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The Southern Railway (SR), formed in 1923 through the amalgamation of numerous railway companies, became Britain's most passenger-focused railway company. The three principal constituents were the LSWR, LB&SCR, and SE&CR, alongside several smaller railways including the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway and various light railways. Operating 2,186 miles across southern England, the SR pioneered extensive third-rail electrification and developed distinctive locomotive classes under Chief Mechanical Engineers Maunsell and Bulleid. The company's malachite green and olive green liveries, Art Deco architecture, and premium passenger services like the Golden Arrow established new British railway standards. Nationalised in 1948, the SR's innovations in electric traction and passenger comfort influenced modern railway practice. Today, SR locomotives remain highly popular with railway modellers for their elegant designs, varied operational roles, and distinctive Southern Railway heritage that connected London with the Channel ports and southern resorts.