Expected Delivery Q3 2027 (Subject to Change at Manufacturer's Discretion).

Prototype History

66501 was the first Class 66 to arrive in the UK for another operator, in this case Freightliner, on 17 July 1999 aboard the ‘M.V. Gajah Borneo’. On 19 July 1999, the locomotive was formally handed over at Newport Docks before making its way to Ipswich for acceptance. It settled into normal Freightliner intermodal operations and gained the name “Japan 2001” to commemorate Freightliner’s support of the Japan 2001 Festival. It remained in this condition until being taken to the former Brush works of UKRL in 2024 for assessment and overhaul. Chosen as one of a pair to receive special commemorative livery for the “Freightliner 60” celebrations, it was outshopped from Loughborough in striking orange paintwork on 8 March 2025 and subsequently named “Spirit of ’65”. This locomotive has now received the modified driver’s door handle arrangement, with the upper handle plated over.

Model Enhancements

Alongside the new liveries, Accurascale has implemented a number of refinements to the Class 66 tooling to ensure the models remain faithful to the evolving real-world fleet.

Enhancements include a newly tooled exhaust silencer with improved profile and detailing, revised handbrake linkages moulded in the off position, and an etched middle handrail bracket on the cab fronts for locomotives that carry this feature. Additional updates include the ability to represent roof-mounted Wi-Fi pods, Freightliner cab-door handle modifications, and locomotives fitted with BMAC-replacement lighting units.

New buffer-plate combinations have also been introduced, allowing additional prototype variations to be accurately represented within the range.

Deluxe Features:

• PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power
  
• Customised Dual-Speaker Technology with large ‘Accurathrash’ Style Bass Speaker and smaller 'iphone' style cube for higher frequencies (on DCC Sound-fitted models only)
  
• Hall sensor for flange squeal effect (on DCC Sound-fitted models only)

DCC Features:

• DCC ready with PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power
  
• DCC ready [21-Pin MTX Socket] or factory-fitted with Original ESU LokSound 5 Decoder options
  

High Performance Traction Features:

• Five-Pole motor with two flywheels
  
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve minimum scale top speed of 75 mph (120kph)
  
• All wheel drive and all wheel pickup

Fully Detailed Lighting Pack Features:

• Directional lighting, DC and DCC
  
• Switchable Red and white marker lights with day/night options
  
• Separately switched cab lighting, auto/off on movement