Just arrived for TT:120: GNER HSTs and Touax KFA wagons
Hornby’s expanding TT:120 range continues to impress, with the recent arrival of its GNER TT:120 TT3047M HST train pack, compatible rolling stock, and two Touax KFA container wagons (TT6030 and TT6032). These models represent milestones of modern British railway history and contemporary freight operations. Here's a quick look at the real-world inspiration behind them...
Class 43 / HST (Prototype for TT3047M)
The High Speed Train (HST), commonly known by its InterCity 125 branding, revolutionised British rail travel in the 1970s. Developed by British Rail, the prototype power cars entered service in 1972, with production models rolling out from 1975. The HST was designed to bring high-speed, long-distance travel to non-electrified routes, using two Class 43 power cars at either end of a rake of Mark 3 coaches.
With a top speed of 125mph, the HST held the title of the world’s fastest diesel train for decades. It transformed routes on the Western Region (Paddington to the West Country and Wales), the East Coast Main Line (before electrification), and cross-country services.
The livery depicted on Hornby’s TT3047M sees GNER blue with red banding appear for the first time in the scale. A typical GNER HST formation consisted of:
- 2 × Class 43 power cars (one at each end)
- 8 × Mk. 3 coaches
The coach configuration was often:
- TRFB – Buffet car (with kitchen/dining area)
- TS – Standard class coaches (usually 5)
- TF – First class coaches (usually 2)
Configurations could vary slightly depending on service requirements or modifications during GNER's operation (1996–2007) on the East Coast Main Line. In the early 2000s, GNER increased many of its sets to nine coaches (still with two power cars) to add capacity, including a standard class coach with wheelchair access.
Touax KFA Container Wagons (Prototypes for TT6030 & TT6032)
In contrast to the legacy of the HST, the KFA container wagons reflect the modern, globalised nature of freight traffic on Britain’s rails. Originally built in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the KFA flat wagons were designed to carry intermodal freight—standardised shipping containers—across UK and European networks.
TT6030 Hornby TT Gauge (1:120 Scale) Touax KFA Container Wagon with three 20ft containers. Buy here.
Operated today by Touax Rail, one of Europe’s largest freight wagon leasing companies, these wagons are a common sight on freight routes connecting ports (like Felixstowe and Southampton) with inland terminals. Their flexibility makes them ideal for carrying 20ft and 40ft containers of varied types, including box containers and specialised tank units.
TT6032 Hornby TT Gauge (1:120 Scale) Touax KFA Container Wagon with three 20ft containers. Buy here.
Hornby’s TT6030 and TT6032 models each carry three different 20ft containers. TT6030 includes liveries for ‘K’ Line, AWS and Eurotainer (a tank container), while TT6032 features Evergreen, NOL, and Delmas—representing major international shipping firms.
These wagons give modellers the chance to realistically represent present-day freight operations and add a modern commercial flavour to layouts that might otherwise focus on passenger movements.
TMC TT:120 exclusive
For those seeking further realistic TT:120 formations that can't be found elsewhere, consider our maroon JNA Touax bogie hoppers arriving from Revolution Trains late-2025.
