Arguably the most popular of the Class 37/4s in the British Rail and early privatisation era, No. 37408 Loch Rannoch clinged obstinately to its large logo paint scheme – the last so adorned – until being called to Toton in mid-1998 for a repaint. Following a protracted overhaul, which included a new toughened centre window, it debuted in the revised maroon and gold of its owner EWS, sans-nameplates, in November and wasn’t reunited with its famous name until the following February. Over the next seven years, the former No. 37289 (built as D6989) was a regular performer on loco-hauled services around the country, particularly Birmingham/Crewe-Bangor/Holyhead, Cardiff-Fishguard/Rhymney and Crewe/Manchester, Leeds-Carlisle/Knaresborough and even in Scotland on the Fort William sleeper. It could also be found on a wide variety of freight and even Railtrack/Network Rail test trains and was variously allocated to Crewe Diesel, Motherwell, Cardiff Canton, Toton and Margam during this period.

Outshopped in the same livery in March 2002, its rock star status meant that it was never long before it gained various accoutrements, including regular bouts of Eastfield ‘Westies’, silver buffers, white lamp irons, black headcode panels and even Immingham 40B shedplates. It seemed inevitable that Rannoch would return to large logo in due course and would have been a favourite for preservation, but after running away and colliding with its stabled rake of coaches at Rhymney on 1 August 2005 the locomotive was stored and repairs were not authorised. It was eventually scrapped at EMR Kingsbury in January 2008

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