nightstar.train

So Accurascale, will your comprehensive tooling suite cover this? 😁🤣

19 minutes ago, 009 micro modeller said:

Getting back on topic, if the class 60 conversion has to be hydrogen-powered I’m still unclear why this is seen to be a better way than using a fuel cell.

One problem with fuel cells is they work best at a constant steady output, they don't like being ramped up and down. So you'll find that some of the hydrogen test trains have a battery bank as well so the cells can run constantly and the batteries can provide a boost during acceleration and take in charge during braking and station stops. I would guess that the steam turbines can be ramped up and down, much like a diesel engine. Possibly a better solution for a heavy goods loco than fuel cells and batteries, at least in that regard. 

47 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said:

I don't think anything above the chassis survived the first 'conversion' and it's questionable how much of the body survived the second.

Yeah, that's very true. Rebuilt would probably be a better term for the first time. 

48 minutes ago, Cruachan said:

Mark 3 seated stock entered service on the Cornish sleeper during the first half of 2006: The ex-FGW mark 2s that found employment on the North Wales coast prior to this were sourced from FGW's four recently withdrawn daytime mark 2 rakes.

Ah right, thanks for the correction. Did FGW get more HSTs around that time, so they could withdraw the Mk2s?

2 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said:

For a bid at the most extreme off-region working, how about this at the Kyle of Lochalsh terminus in the Scottish Highlands?

Thanks to Brian Flannigan on Flickr.

 

Quote

On a June evening in 1968, D5330 stands at the head of an Inverness train consisting of three ex-SR parcels vans and three coaches, the last of which I now think was an ex-SR Observation Car. Nearer to the right, between another ex-SR parcels van and three LNER/BR-pattern fish vans is a real rarity for Scotland - a GWR-pattern Hawksworth bogie brake. On the far side of the station there can be seen the roofs of three coaches, the middle low-pitched one of which is an ex-HR coach that would be in departmental use.

 

The "SR Observation car" is the ex pullman Devon Belle observation car, painted in maroon. These cars both started life as LNWR coaches, before being converted to Pullmans, and then converted again into Pullman observation cars. 

39 minutes ago, The Pilotman said:

Another source of trains that fit the OP’s specifications were those that utilised the seating coaches of the Paddington-Penzance sleeper train for a daytime local to Plymouth and back. 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately I can't find a picture of that. But I did find this picture of ex-FGW coaches being used on  Bangor to Manchester service in 2003. By that time the Cornwall sleeper had gone over to entirely Mk3 operation after Virgin retired their Mk3s and FGW acquired some. 

17 hours ago, 97403_Ixion said:

 

It's one of those models, very difficult to gauge popularity liveries though.

It may be one of those 'It will fly off the shelves...' type of models, like Deltic 9016 was with Accurascale, despite plenty of people saying 'Urgh!'... and they even went on to do a second run!

I shall park it next to my purple deltic with pride. 

For a while Wessex trains hired in a set of Mk2 air-cons to help with capacity. Topped and tailed by two class 31s usually. Usually four coaches, with the brake in the middle oddly, but could sometimes be 5. 

Does anyone know if the Model Rail exclusive, 31116 Rail Celebrity In Infrastructure livery has been offered for sale yet? I really want one, hope I haven't missed the boat. 

I have no idea of the complexities of dual braked stock, so this might be complete waffle. But if you had dual brake stock could you run it with a vacuum steam engine to do the braking, and then have a compressor of some sort to supply the yellow pipe for the door locks? Would that work? Or would filing the main res air pipe stop the vacuum brakes from working? You'd need to certify the compressor, but that would presumably be easier than certifying a whole new CDL system. And as it's only supplying air for the CDL and not the brakes.

1 hour ago, scottrains29 said:

What I find odd is that Hornby are still selling theirs for £224 dcc ready. I think they'll need to reduce theirs to less than half this to shift them. Perhaps they could try factory weathered versions too.

Presumably the tooling has long since been paid for, so the only actual costs to Hornby are the manufacturing and distribution costs. I wonder how low they would be willing to go on price? And how quickly their factory can churn out a batch? They've got form with trying to spike the guns of a new model, with the class 66 and Hattons. Presumably they also own the old Lima class 60 tooling, if it's still usable. Maybe they'll make a Railroad class 60. 

2 minutes ago, Islesy said:

Yet...

 

😁

Please please please.....

So is that official confirmation Accurascale are working on a 67?......

3 minutes ago, Covkid said:

Best of all my wallet is safe !! 

I think mine is, although I'd be very tempted by a 60001 or a green 60081 as a museum piece. My wallet is thankful it has been spared abuse, at least on this occasion.

15 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

with another four more exclusive locomotives to come soon (watch out for news in the coming weeks, but you've seen some above!) between our own exclusives, charity fundraiser and a retailer exclusive, there is something for everyone within our launch range.

3 minutes ago, Chilly said:

DC Rail not showing on the website 🤔

Looking at the launch photos/video and what's been announced I'm guessing DC Rail and 60001 will be two of the exclusives. I'd imagine that green 60081 might also feature, and maybe the flame liveried one they showed in the video as well. That's my guesses anyway.

7 minutes ago, classy52 said:

In my opinion I would say the Class 67 would be the least favourable amongst the possible candidates and to me is a pretty dull loco used sparingly these days especially when it comes to freight/engineers trains, Hornby's model can still get away with it....good if you're modelling Wales I suppose.

My money is on the Class 33 or 40 but if AS go Big Bang then Class 43 HST with Coaches.

Lot of livery possibilities with the 67, which is something that Accurascale like. 

• EWS
• EWS/DB royal (there are at least 3 variations of this livery)
• 67029 - EWS silver for the management train. 
• DB red
• 67018 - DB Canadian red (subtly different shade than DB red)
• 67029 - DB silver for the management train
• Arriva Trains Wales
• Caledonian Sleeper
• 67026 - Queen's diamond Jubilee silver livery
• 67007 - Queen's platinum jubilee purple livery
• Colas
• TfW white
• TfW black
• Belmond Pullman
• GBRf
• WSMR
• Chiltern ex-WSMR

So lots for the 00s to now modellers to get their teeth into.

8 minutes ago, Going2theDogs said:

Hi All,

I reckon it will be a class 67.

Plenty of liveries & a large geographical coverage.

Same era as the 66 and Limby model is due an upgrade…..

We will have to wait & see.

Hornby did do a new tool class 67 in 2012 and upgraded it last year with a 21 pin socket. It's a lot better than the Limby model, but nowhere near the standard of the current generation Accurascale models. The Limby model has soldiered on though in the Railroad range. I'd probably be up for a few if Accurascale make a 67, especially if they make the right liveries. 

(as an off topic aside the way Hornby have done the lights in their 67 is annoying. They have all the lights required at each end for day/night and markers/tail lights. But they don't follow DCC practice and use common positive, no no, that's not for Hornby. They use common negative. So I can't easily rewire it with a better socket and a better decoder to get all the lighting options. Infuriating.)

1 hour ago, alastairb said:

They've done more DRS 37s than BR blue ones from 60s-80s. Seems odd to me (70s/80s teenage spotter),but maybe the market is more contemporary focused than I realised.

 

And since we're wishlisting, IS 37s (37/0s and 37/4s) in br blue / large logo pse

Talking to the Accurascale guys at model rail Scotland they said they did so many DRS ones as no one had modelled them correctly before, the 37/6 sub class with the Wipac lights and so on. So it was a gap in the market to fill. I expect we’ll get more BR blue ones though, it seems to be a popular era to model. 

2 hours ago, TravisM said:

I was told on the Accurascale stand at Key Model World at the NEC that they are going to probably ease off doing DRS Class 37’s for now to due the high numbers done already.  I suppose it gives them a chance to catch up with other versions 

They have done a LOT of DRS models. Doing more would be a risk, the market might well be saturated. 
 

My list of wishes:

• a pair in Intercity swallow livery
• EWS
• WCRC
• Loram
• ROG green livery
• EPS triple grey
• Police, preferably with blue flashing light

Although if Accurascale make all of those in one batch I may have to sell a child to afford them. 

This link gives a list of sold P class on eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=hattons+p+class&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1

'Bluebell' Non runner - £132

'Bluebell' runners - £235, £310, £270, £125. 

Madness. Seems the SECR lined green is also averaging £130 or so. I'm patiently waiting for an SECR and Bluebell when they come. But some people can't wait it seems. And/or they simply don't know that the Hattons Originals have been rescued and will continue with Accurascale. If you don't know that more are being made and 'Bluebell' is your must have loco, I guess they feel price is worth it. 

5 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said:

Red.

Possibly the least-used colour in a railway modeller's paint box?

Usually...

 

 

 

I've heard of having a red team as aggressors to practice war against, but didn't realise it was so literal! 

Having had a google it seems that these vehicles are for the range safety officers to patrol in when live firing exercises are happening. Definitely one to have at an exhibition to confuse the public and enrage rivet counters (unless there are army modelling rivet counters there, they'd probably be delighted).

37 minutes ago, roythebus1 said:

And of course the country is short of bus and coach drivers. to shift 1000+ passengers would need about 200 50 seat coaches with drivers who have enough tacho hours to undertake such work.

It's actually 20 coaches, not 200. More doable, but not easy at the drop of a hat. And Preston to Glasgow and back by coach must be 8 hours at least, more if you get traffic, so you'd need drivers that had basically done nothing that day already. 

6 hours ago, 4630 said:

 

Moved on 28th May 2024, I understand.

This appears to be the working.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:77108/2024-05-28/detailed

It says a diesel loco trailing 3400 tonnes and timed at 27mph!!! That doesn't seem right. Over on another forum the rake is given as: 9525 - 12091 - 12064 - 12098 - 10413 - 11078 - 11095. Certainly not 3400 tonnes worth!

45 minutes ago, McC said:

 

We're currently evaluating decorated samples ;) 

1 hour ago, Steven B said:

This is the only photo I've seen of a Mk3 set with the motorail GUVs attached to the DVT.

 

I'd like to see any images of the GUV behind the DVT with the loco at the other end; It's not a combination I've seen.

 

Steven B

They definitely did run in this fashion, but only for a couple of years right at the end of motorail workings. And people tend to just take photos of the loco, not the whole train, so pictures are rare. As I said there is a photo in a magazine, I'm still searching for an online version. 

2 hours ago, Bucoops said:

 

 

Ooh I hope it's a 58.

 

Because I don't need any and my bank balance agrees.

I'm with you there Bucoops. The announcement of run 3 of the 37s can't be very far away, and I expect that will stress my wallet.