Peco has announced the rerelease of its popular four-wheel grain hopper wagons, now updated and featuring three distinctive whisky-themed liveries: Dewar’s, Haig, and Johnnie Walker, all available to pre-order now.

While not based on new tooling, the models have been significantly refined and upgraded to meet modern standards, making them attractive additions to N gauge rolling stock collections.

The grain hoppers have been reintroduced with several notable improvements:

  • Metal wheels fitted as standard
  • Enhanced and more refined livery application
  • Improved detailing for better realism in N scale layouts

With their distinctive branding and period styling, the wagons are equally appealing to railway modellers and whisky enthusiasts alike.

 

Behind the prototype

The COVHOP wagons, introduced from 1966, were built for Associated British Maltsters Ltd and Scottish Malt Distillers. They were primarily used to transport grain from East Anglia to distilleries across Scotland.

As the whisky industry recognised its visibility on the rail network, many wagons were repurposed as mobile advertising platforms, carrying branded whisky liveries.

However, most of these advertising markings were removed by circa 1973, making surviving photographic references particularly iconic among modellers today.

 

Initial release: three whisky liveries

Peco’s first release in the updated range features three classic whisky brands, with further whisky-themed variations are planned for future release, expanding the range of historically inspired liveries.

Models are available to pre-order from stock now and are supplied individually, though look best in rakes of three wagons and more...

NR63P — Johnnie Walker Grain Hopper No. 5846. RRP: £18.95 Our price: £17.05. Pre-order now.

 

NR65P — Dewar’s Grain Hopper No. 5811. RRP: £18.95 Our price: £17.05. Pre-order now.

 

 

NR68P — Haig Grain Hopper No. 5823. RRP: £18.95 Our price: £17.05. Pre-order now.

 

 

 

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