DRS Crewe On A Mission

Thank you for the update Accurascale. The amount of detailing on these coaches is incredible. That coupled with the 'flicker free' lighting throughout is going to make an already incredible rake of coaches even more impressive. Waiting a few more months for the MK5s is fine. I am sure that they will be well worth the wait. Kind Regards, Danny.

It's a shame that the sprockets are not sold separately and that the bogies are £40. As you say, you didn't pay much for the loco in the first place, so £40 is quite expensive with that mind, I suppose it depends as to if you want the loco to be potentially be a runner again, or if you aren't fussed about paying the £40 for the bogies then you could just demotor it, and it would look fantastic for a double headed train or consist. Sorry you haven't managed to fix it. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thanks for the photo and the info Jim, even if the branding in the photo is Fastline and not DRS. From this we also now know that Fastline hoppers at least as per the photo have seen some use working out of Shapp, presumably with DRS traction, as per the photo and caption. You have actually helped me with the answer to another question too. I was wondering the other day when DRS 37601, 603 and 604 were repainted into DRS Compass, because I have trawled the internet and for these three 37/6s I can't find anything to suggest a particular month or year. But from this photo I now know that both 603 and 604 were in Compass by October 2010 and back out in traffic, so this is excellent, thanks Jim. I was looking regarding these three locos potentially been produced by Accurascale at some stage, within another batch. I have been making notes about the time span in which each modern 37 has worn each livery. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thanks for posting this photo Tommy. I never knew that the HYAs had carried DRS branding. I don't suppose you have details of or can remember anything about the working/s that you saw the DRS branded HYAs on, any headcodes for the working/s, what traction was hauling them and roughly what time the DRS branded HYAs were in traffic/in service? I am now most intrigued, because been a big DRS fan I never knew about this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Danny. Well I never! Not sure how I didn't know about this, but this is a really interesting development. What's even stranger is that I have bought several different rail magazines for years, I have been a member of many info/gen sites for years, and I have been on Flickr for seven years and I haven't know about this. You would have thought I would have known about this before now. I wouldn't mind but I have no idea as to when, what flows and and as to what traction have actually hauled these DRS branded HYAs, so it's not as if I can accurately search for any further details online. Just checked on Flickr searching both 'DRS branded HYA wagon' and 'DRS branded IIA wagon' for good measure and not one result for either searches. This continues to be interesting. Kind Regards, Danny.

Haha... 1. KUA Twin Pack 2. TPE MK5a Pack 1 3. x5 Class 37s (423, 602 to become 605, 606, 608, 609, and of course 610 which won't show here because it's an Exclusive for Rails) 4. x1 DRS PFA Pack 5. I did buy the second loaded DRS PFA pack from the first batch, but from an Accurascale stockist Kind Regards, Danny.

I don't blame you making up for it with the batch of TPE due for delivery soon. The TPE livery is superb especially on the 68. I'm the same, I mean I probably won't be able to afford any of the CS MK5s or 92s to go with them, but if I can't I will have been fortunate enough to have plenty of other stuff. Had the 20/3s and 37s from Bachmann and Accurascale not all been arriving between December and March I would have had some spare money, but not to worry because the 20s and 37s are two of my favourite classes of loco. I have LTM 718, Night/Day & Rainbow 720, LTM 721 and Maritime 727. I like all of four of the liveries but I have to say 721 does look splendid, I think the colourful tube map works really well on the white background. I would say it's my favourite out of the four, and the other three are equally as good, I'm not even sure if I can separate them for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. Kind Regards, Danny.

I'm about the same but across different items from Accurascale. When I have ordered a sound fitted 602 that will make my total order of 37s up to seven, but I also really would like 409 in BR Large Logo Blue too so if I do have the funds I will most likely buy that one too at some point. Thanks Dave and it looks as though we are both buying the same models. The modern image 37s do wear some really nice liveries, and the fact that Accurascale are capturing many of them in the first batch alone is testimony to the fantastic manufacturer that they are. I have a big interest in DRS and their Class 37s, so when these were announced it was like all of my birthday's and Christmas' had come at once. I can't wait until they arrive and we are all posting photos of them on our layouts and in our cabinets. They sure will be brilliant. Yes they deserve all of the thanks they get for the Class 37s especially because we have needed a definitive Class 37 for many years, and to see a wider variety of 37s produced that the other manufacturers tooling doesn't incorporate such as the original 37s and 37/6s. Plus with Accurascale we get so many other lighting and DCC features with them. Kind Regards, Danny.

I couldn't agree more mate. Ultimately certain manufacturers that deliver models with QC issues and errors etc will lose out to manufacturers like Accurascale, because modellers and collectors will mostly opt for quality, especially when at the moment their are so many models on the market available. We all have to become more picky and choosy about what we buy because no one can afford every model that they might like. DCC features are so important now, the Accurascale 37s are going to look fantastic with so many lighting options, including for different running modes, day and night time running and even the control desk is going to be lit up, as well as the engine room I believe. That is quality and value for money all rolled into one, and the icing on the cake for both Accurascale and us is that the 37 is hugely popular with so many different noses, grilles, liveries and operators to model. I don't think I have ever seen the Touax HYAs, but I have seen plenty of rakes of the GBRf HYAs passing Church Fenton and Monk Fryston. If you get the Touax pack to mix with the GBRf pack it will add variety which is prototypical, because I was watching videos earlier which showed at least two different liveried HYAs per rake. It seems the most common mixed together are the GBRf and Fastline liveried HYAs. I believe I have seen this configuration in reality too. So your TPE 68s will be slightly different to the ones I will have. I will have 019 and 023. I did want some of the CS MK5s and a 92 or two to go with, but I just can't afford it at the moment, but I will be happy regardless because I have quite a lot on order, and we can't have everything can we. I have to seen I would be keen to see the Cemex wagons produced. Maybe Accurascale will produce these in the future too. For now the GBRf HYAs and other liveries are brilliant. I have seen photos of the LTM 66721 tube map liveried 66 atop a rake of these wagons, from a few years ago and it does look like a very smart train to see in reality and replicate in model form.

Fantastic isn't it mate. I can't wait to see all those 20s and 37s on the layout at some point. You're like me with the 37s, got to love them! I have come to the conclusion that I am now out of control, especially where Accurascale are concerned. Even when I pre-order 602 and possibly 409 after, I like 419 in BR Intercity Mainline and 97301 in NR Yellow. But I really shouldn't even be thinking about adding anything else to that already long list of models I am buying. Haha, it's a good idea. Certainly Accurascale models are extremely popular. I have never seen so much interest, demand and pre-orders for models.

I don't blame you. See because I model the north really I have to have a rake of TPE MK5s, to run with 68019 and 68023. With the GBRf HYAs I have four GBRf 66s by Bachmann, four FL 70s, one Colas 70, that have all debuted on workings with these wagons before, but for me they aren't a must have, because I tend to concentrate on DRS locos and stock. But hopefully, money depending I might be able to place an order in say Q1 next year for a pack of HYAs with GBRf branding because they would look fantastic running with GBRf 66s. I have separate wishlists for models depending on if I really need them or if I would just like to buy them because they are nice, offer value for money etc, so I know exactly what you mean. With so many new models appearing at the moment we have to narrow down what we buy and I find lists are a really good way of doing this. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran, You are most welcome. As usual the detailing looks fantastic. Thank you for confirming that the pre-orders do not close. That's ideal for me because if I do buy some it probably won't be just yet until I have paid the money for my outstanding pre-orders. Paying in installments is also a really good option to have and it might be something that I do in future. Kind Regards, Danny. That's brilliant, thank you very much for letting me know. I have to say the easy pre-ordering of items on your website, just makes it even more convenient for people like me who love your models to keep ordering more. Kind Regards, Danny.

I placed my pre-orders a couple of days ago, and now I am very happy and thoroughly looking forward to these models arriving. So I ended up pre-ordering the following: 37423 DRS Basic 37602 DRS Compass (to renumber to 37605, I am ignoring the minor differences to create a 605 because it's a favourite) 37606 DRS Compass 37608 Europhoenix/ROG 37609 DRS Revised 37610 BR 'Small Logo' Blue with wrap around yellow ends KUA Twin Pack TPE MK5a Pack 1 I also plan on pre-ordering a sound fitted DRS Compass 37602, because 602 in Compass has regularly worked with 605 and 606 in Compass and 609 in Revised. I may also buy BR Large Logo Blue 37409 'Lord Hinton' because upon doing some research, watching videos, checking dates etc I have realised in LL Blue 409 worked the Northern Cumbrian Coast loco hauled services, Greater Anglia loco hauled services, the final service/s for both of these loco hauled operations and has worked with 'Caroline' which I also pre-ordered in her latest guise of green. Whereas the Compass 409 I already own by Bachmann, has only worked the Cumbrian Coast loco hauled services and as far as I can tell never worked the GA loco hauled services in Compass and didn't work the finale for either of these operations in Compass livery. So the past two and a bit years since 409 was repainted into Large Logo Blue at Loram Derby, it has been rather busy until it was stored XHSS last month at Kingmoor. It definitely has a 'busy' reputation as a DRS 37/4. To complement the 37s I also pre-ordered x4 Bachmann Compass 20/3s to renumber and the Bachmann Network Rail Generator Coach '6262'. Thank you again Accurascale for announcing the definitive 37 in so many modern liveries. These are the models I have been waiting many years for. Kind Regards, Danny.

Another fantastic announcement Accurascale! I had actually been thinking that it wouldn't be long before we saw the HYA/IIA in RTR form in OO. Money dependant but I may buy some of these. I also think that the price of £210 for six of the GBRf HYAs is fantastic. I can't think of any other manufacturer that can offer such competitive prices especially on wagons and rolling stock. I can see these been extremely popular, especially seen as though haulage has been 60s, 66s and 70s recently. Just out of interest and in case I can't resist the bundle pack of six GBRf HYAs, do you know when the pre-ordering/paying of deposits will close if they are due to arrive in Q2 2021? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the reply and the information. I really appreciate it. Their are some really interesting potential models their going on the interest of their employees. I can understand the hesitation and caution in relation to producing multiple units. Whilst multiple units in OO Gauge can be popular, as you say the interest has to go beyond that and be extremely popular to justify the costs of new tooling to potentially produce a new unit. Finding a gap in the market is challenging as you say, especially in OO Gauge as we are already seeing more retools of diesel and electric locos, and more newly tooled wagons and coaches announced. Had they have been delving into the UK OO market a few years ago then their would have been plenty of scope and options to upgrade existing models or to produce models which hadn't been produced before, but since then their has been a flood of announcements 'grabbing' many models from that list. It will be interesting to see what Rapido come up with in the next year or so. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hope you can identify the issue and can get it sorted. Let us know how you get on. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for posting this. I haven't seen the Facebook live video. Was their any mention of what OO Gauge products their are or might be in the pipeline: steam, diesel, electric locos, wagons, coaches etc? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Sorry that you haven't had much success. Unfortunately I haven't ever taken a 68 apart, so I can't offer any advice on that one, but as has been mentioned above have you tried cleaning some or all of the wheels? It's just worth a mention before you start taking the loco apart. Kind Regards, Danny.

I have several of the Dapol 68s in OO and I haven't experienced this issue, but what I would say is to do some more running in with the loco light engine without any stock attached. I remember from the first batch where I bought six out of the seven models available that they needed a while to be run in, to ensure the smoothest running possible. Couple this with the fact that your 68 was produced a few years ago now and if it hasn't been run until now it may require a longer running in period to also allow for the time it's been stored without use. You could put it on an oval loop or circuit of track either on your layout or set up a new circuit and just leave it running for a few hours and then go back to it, stop it and set it off running again but in the other direction. Then see what it's like. Hope this helps. Kind Regards, Danny.

Sorry Andy, I must have missed this information. I always like to think that I am quite good with keeping updated regarding different models, so this one must have just slipped past me. As always I am happy to be corrected if something I have posted isn't accurate. Thank you for clarifying, it's very much appreciated. Kind Regards, Danny.

That's something for me to think about then. To be honest if they were to release a Collectors Club model that was something modern and something I really wanted I would definitely join but for me at the moment their is nothing that 100% attracts me to subscribing and it's been that way for a while. The only CC model I have bought was the West Coast 37706 in 2017, but only because it was cheap second hand, and I sold it in 2019 because I didn't really have any use for it.

That's very true, and Andy, other moderators and members always share photos, information, and delivery dates etc on here. I have considered the wagons previously, but they wouldn't be something that I would need or usually buy so I would essentially by paying money for the membership for a wagon I wouldn't use or need, even though it is free. Plus their is the fact that the more I spend on membership the less money that their is to buy models with. Currently I am only a member of one site for model railways and that's a well known information and news website. I have previously paid monthly/yearly memberships for other sites but the money soon adds up and I found that I was using them less and less, so it made more sense to not renew the subscriptions and save the money for models which I would get some use out of. At the moment I only have a few Bachmann models on my wishlist and that's a few of the DRS & HNRC 20/3s due in December and the Network Rail Generator Coach which is due next month. Most of the other models I am going to buy are from Accurascale. So yes I understand what you mean when you say that you were only buying the things that you really wanted. That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment, because we are spoilt for choice with modern image models. Thank you very much for the insight and the information regarding the times. I really appreciate it. Kind Regards, Danny.

I might have to look into subscribing to it then. Does it give photos of their projects, updates on their projects and estimated delivery dates etc? Thanks in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thanks for that. I have never been a member of the times or collectors club, so maybe that's why I haven't found out this information. It would have been nice though to give this information to retailers and for Bachmann themselves to announce something on their website regarding the postponement or cancellation of products. Out of the four DMUs the only one I was considering buying was the ScotRail 170, just because 453 which Bachmann intended to produce is now with Northern, so I could have used it on ScotRail workings but also Northern workings before it's repaint into Northern colours, and the livery would have remained prototypical.

Thanks for letting me know mate. I really appreciate it. I wasn't aware that they had been cancelled. I haven't seen anything from Bachmann or any of the retailers, so if you can remember where you saw it posted I would be most interested to know. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Nick, Thank you for the reply and for letting me know. I was just wondering because I haven't been able to locate them on the Bachmann website but I also haven't seen a statement from Bachmann themselves or retailers saying that they now aren't going to be produced, at least not at the moment anyway. Hopefully if they have been disbanded from the OO Gauge range they may be added again in the future. Kind Regards, Danny. Hopefully if they aren't at the moment, they will do in the future. I meant sold out quickly at the larger retailers such as Hattons, Rails and Kernow. Smaller retailers may have had stock left recently but the majority of the air freighted batch sold out quickly.