The introduction of Class 156 ‘Super Sprinters’ on the West Highland from January 1989 and on the Far North/Kyle lines in the May triggered an exodus of Class 37/4s to freight work. By the end of that year, Laira, Motherwell and Tinsley had gained allocations, while Immingham and Thornaby both acquired three locos each in the middle of 1990, by which point half the sub class were south of the border. One of these was No. 37414, which was on china clay duties in Cornwall until transferred to the North Lincolnshire depot’s FABI pool that September. This loco, which retained its Western Region-style lamp irons at the No.2 end only, had been repainted in the Roundel triple grey scheme with Distribution decals in August 1989, but quickly swapped these for more appropriate Construction brandings after its move. This saw it mostly outbased at Buxton in the Peak District to haul aggregates, cement and the iconic ICI limestone trains.

While it wasn’t completely allergic to passenger work during this period, it moved to Crewe Diesel in November 1992 to join the RCMC Regional Railways North West pool, initially to work Liverpool Lime St/Crewe-Cardiff trains, still wearing its classic Railfreight image. In March 1993 it became the first member of the fleet to receive the new Regional Railways livery along with the name Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993, becoming a stalwart of the North Wales coast and the famed ‘club’ trains from Liverpool and Manchester Victoria. It soldiered on until it was stored by EWS in March 2000 and was scrapped at TJ Thomson’s of Stockton exactly nine years later.

Specification

Building on the already class leading specification of the existing Accurascale Class 37s, this new production run sees all new tooling to cater for the Class 37/4 variant (and other future variants!) which now includes the operating roof fan which is synced to the DCC sound file and also operates on DC. With subtle tweaks around the bonnet top doors, improved glazing fitment to stop them popping out in rough handing through the postal/courier systems, grille tweaks, and building on the already impressive drive train and sound set up, the ultimate Class 37 in OO/4mm gauge has taken another step forward from the competition.

Accurascale’s new tooling also covers the new limited edition models for the SRPS and Key Model World for 37403 and 37710 respectively.

Common Features Include:

• Heavy die-cast metal chassis
• Accurate tumbleholme, nose, cab roof and cantrail curves taken from 3D Laser scan and extensive surveys
• Timeframe specific details, including but not limited to;
• Bogies (Fabricated and three variations of Cast)
• Fuel tanks (As built and with later smooth-sided long range fuel tank)
• Three styles of buffer: large round Oleo, oval and squared oval
• With or without cab roof vents and bodyside windows
• Nose and roof aerials and antennas (where applicable)
• Three styles of windscreen: standard, centre toughened and all toughened
• Three styles of cab interior: as built, refurbished and modern DRS locos
• Four bufferbeam variations with different piping configurations
• Door kickplates where applicable
• Multiple body and nose slides to accurately represent almost every member of the class, including three variations of cantrail grille: early EE (for D6700-D6704), later EE and RSH
• Four roof styles: Original double riveted, single riveted, welded and welded with antennas
• Separately applied etched metal and high fidelity plastic detail parts, including grab handles, aerials, steps, wipers, nameplates, crests and more.
• Etched metal door kickplates (where applicable), ‘frost’ grille (where applicable) & super fine etched metal roof grille
• Scale width wire handrails
• Turned brass roof-mounted horns on centre headcode examples
• Full underbody tank detail with brackets and pipework
• Bogies feature separate footsteps, etched footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder, end brake rigging and very fine brake chain
• Brake blocks on trucks (bogies) in line with wheels (can be moved for EM/P4 gauges)
• RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels with fine scale ‘drop in’ EM (18.2mm gauge) and P4 (18.83mm gauge) wheels available separately
• Accurate high-fidelity miniature snowploughs
• Fully sprung metal buffers, extra-fine factory-installed pipework and screw couplings
• Correct height mini-tension-lock couplers with NEM socket as well as a fully detailed bufferbeam
• Every model includes PowerPack / Backup Power Capacitor Bank for up to ten seconds of power free running, flicker free lighting and continuous sound
• High Performance traction, to include;
• High-quality five-pole motor with two flywheels
• Metal Helical Gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h)
• DCC ready with PowerPack Super-capacitor for uninterrupted power and super low speed running
• All wheel drive and all wheel pickup