BATCH TWO OF '37S' ANNOUNCED

Western Region and 'modern' Type 3/Class 37s lead Accurascale’s second promised run of the locomotives for OO gauge/4mm:1ft scale. Accurascale has lifted the cover on its second production run of Class 37s as its first batch head to the UK following production completion. Eight new running number and livery combinations are promised in this second batch, with new tooling options not seen in its first run.

At the forefront of this new production run is the Western Region-based Type 3s with their unique style of lamp irons. Each locomotive promises an accurate rendition of the real locomotive, with differing details of each class member. Each locomotive is available with DC/DCC-ready and DCC sound options, for the recommended retail price of £169.99 and £259.99 respectively.

An Accurascale Exclusive model to follow is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. This batch of locomotives will go into production soon, with decorated samples due in early summer and delivery due in Q1 2024. The eight locomotives are as follows: D6600 - Completed nearly six years after D6700 had left Vulcan Foundary, D6600 wears its original BR green with small yellow warning panel and features its as-built nose condition with no riveted strengthening plate and WRstyle lamp irons only.

Accurascale said, "This has been one of the most requested conditions for our 37s to date and we are delighted to bring this variant into the range for the first time."

D6956 - New to 86A Cardiff Canton in January 1965 and then to Swansea Landore in 1972, this non-boilered locomotive shares the same nose configuration as D6600 and rides on Deltic-style cast bogies.

D6992 - This locomotive was the highest numbered example from new, and was recorded in this BR green livery variation – still with D-prefixed number – in the second half of 1969, just four years after debuting at 86A Cardiff Canton in July 1965 for freight work.

37140 - March depot's 37140 was one of the first Class 37s to gain the high visibility headlight, being so fitted in mid1986. It also gained an orange cantrail stripe later the same year before it moved back to Stratford in May 1987.

37258 - Repainted in the controversial general grey paint scheme in May 1990, like most locomotives to gain this livery, 37258 quickly swapped it for the 'Dutch' variant, being outshopped with the upper body yellow band in September 1991, also receiving a high visibility headlight, cast double arrows and Cardiff Canton depot plaques at the same time.

37116 - The Colas Rail Class 37 fleet is full of interesting oddballs but none comes close to

37116, which made its triumphant return to the main line in late 2015 after being acquired from a preservation career at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough in January 2014.

37218 - The highlight of the Direct Rail Services' annual open day in 2022 – the first such event since 2019 – was the official unveiling of 37218 in a 'heritage' livery backdating the centre headcode machine to its original DRS paint scheme with rectangular branding that it wore after departing Brush Traction, Loughborough in 2002.

37422 - Acquired as part of the mass transfer of Class 37/4s from DB Schenker to Direct Rail Services in 2011, 37422 is unique among the ETS-fitted EEs in having been repainted in the company's dark blue livery, but having never received ownership branding.