Peco OO-9 4Wheel Coach 3rd Class Ffestiniog [GR556A]

This is the GR-551 Peco OO9 Ffestiniog 4-Wheel Bug Box 1st Class Coach in Green Preservation Livery.

The Small Birminghams, commonly known as Bug Boxes, are the small four-wheeled carriages that were constructed by Brown, Marshall & Co of Birmingham. They are the earliest passenger carrying vehicles on the Festiniog Railway, dating from 1864-7. 10 were built, of which 7 survive today in service. Three have been scrapped.

In old Company times, they were known as "Small Birminghams" to distinguish them from the bogie carriages built by the same company. The term "Bug Box" is thought to have been given to them c.1955 by LNER driver Bill Hoole as it was a term used for ancient four and six wheelers on the North Eastern Railway. The main square internal frames are thought to be original as well as the door handles. They share - with the original Talyllyn carriages of 1865-66 - the distinction of being the oldest railway carriages still in regular use in the world.