DRS Crewe On A Mission

That's a nice variety of stock. I am debating 97301, as lovely as the model is and it's completely unique, I just don't know how often I would use it considering the loco in reality doesn't regularly see mainline use. In fact I believe it has only appeared on the mainline 2/3 times in the past two years since 2018. I have the Bachmann 37425 and a renumbered 405 to 419, both in Compass so I don't necessarily need the Accurascale pair, although obviously they would be really nice to have in their heritage liveries. But at the moment neither of them are on my wishlist, just because we can't afford everything can we. If you Ebay search "Accurascale PFA wagons" their is a set of DRS PFAs on for bidding or best offer. Maybe you could submit a best offer to avoid bidding? Kind Regards, Danny. If I was you I would definitely buy 37423 because it's the only 37 in the Basic livery and the only 37/4 with Wipac lighting, so it really is unique, a bit like 97301. As nice as these AS 55s will be I just don't have enough interest in 55s to warrant spending money on them. The Heljan 33s will be very nice, but I'm not buying any of these either, just because I don't have enough interest in them. You have pretty much all of the same wagons as me except the AS PCAs and MRAs. The DRS 68s are very nice aren't they and they are excellent value for money. I am thinking exactly the same with regards to TPE MK5s. I will definitely have one set but a second set will be a stretch for me too, just because of the money. At the moment for me and I'm sure it will be the case for you as well it's about thinking about what you want the most and leaving the items that you don't want as much. I decided to leave the Bachmann 37800 in favour of the AS 37608 instead. But in the long run it will be better to pay a bit more for a lot higher quality products and if I'm honest I have no interest in constantly spending money anymore and I would rather wait for specific items and appreciate them more. Kind Regards, Danny.

I know exactly what you mean. I have an interest in most of those items except the 55s, PCAs and JSAs. Something that isn't on your list which I have an interest in is the TPE MK5s. Are you going to be buying a rake of those? What's your thinking with regards 37s? Which other two do you want to buy? My current thinking of which ones to buy is: 37423, 37602, 37605, 37606, 37607, 37608, 37609 & 37610. 605 and 607 would be renumbers of 602 and 606 and not the original DRS blue liveried models. I have to say 37610 is going to look excellent, as are all of the other 37s for that matter. Kind Regards, Danny.

At the moment they seem to model just about every single model I want to buy and it's costing me a fortune, but still I'm not complaining. I have been waiting for these models to be produced for years haha. Kind Regards, Danny.

So you've done it again, but this time by teaming up with Rails. That's another Class 37 to add to my order list and another £170 spoken for. This loco is an excellent choice to produce because it's the only ex DRS, Wipac lighting 37 to wear BR Blue and it has small BR bodyside logos, unlike the previous and usual large BR bodyside logos. Fran please can you confirm that this is the final Class 37 to be announced for production in batch one? I am really looking forward to these Class 37s arriving especially this one. Well done Accurascale and Rails for both an excellent selection and for producing this model as an exclusive. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the info. Can you share the photos with us please as I am not currently a member of the BCC, but I intend on buying a few of these. Thank you very much in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran, Thank you for the reply. I really appreciate it. I am assuming that the new 37 will be announced via RMWeb, so I will keep a look out. I will hold off buying any decoders for the Accurascale 37s for the moment then and I will wait to see what you recommend regarding ESU decoders. That's an excellent function and something that many locos don't have. Thank you for all of the help. Stay safe. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran, I hope you are all well? I just have a few questions regarding the OO Gauge Class 37s. Is their going to be an additional Class 37 announced as part of batch one? If so do you know when this will be announced? I ask because I have decided which Class 37s I would like, but if another one is to be produced in batch one and it's one that I would like to buy, I may have to shuffle my wishlist around. Also will all of the DCC lighting features on the Class 37s be able to be operated using a standard Bachmann 21 Pin DCC Decoder (Product Code 36-557)? I ask because I mostly use Bachmann DCC Decoders for locomotives and I need to buy some more for some locos I already have, so I may decide to buy them for the Accurascale 37s as well, so I have the decoders ready to fit when they arrive. Lastly, will the 'stay alive' system which allows uninterrupted running, lighting, sound etc over dirty track work on the Class 37s regardless of which DCC Decoders customers choose to fit? Thank you very much in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thanks for the update and the info. I would have been trawling the internet trying to find photos and videos otherwise haha. It's good to hear that the moves are still planned to happen soon. Wow x5 90s in two moves will be something very special and spectacular to see. On a personal note I can't ever recall such a move with that number of 90s in one consist, it sure will look impressive. WNXX reported yesterday that 90014 has now moved over to Basford Hall from Crewe Electric. So as of yesterday or possibly Tuesday FL have officially acquired their first ex GA 90. I have heard that all x13 going to FL will undergo some modifications and a repaint before been released into traffic. I also heard that they will spend the remainder of May and June out of service with FL, with plans in place to introduce at least some onto FL services in July. It will be interesting to see if all x13 are repainted into Orange before entry to traffic with FL or if some of them will run around in ex GA white and grey for some time, alike some of the ex DRS 66s that have only just last year been repainted after eight years in traffic with FL. 90002 was rubbed down at Eastleigh Arlington last week in preparation for repainting. The rubbing down of 90001 I believe started a few days later, so 90002 should be the first of the LSL pair to emerge in it's new coat of paint. Yes, hopefully some of the restrictions will be eased before the third and final 90 move next week, at least that way some people may get to see 1/3 moves. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for confirming. I hadn't thought of searching RTT. I live in Yorkshire so I won't see them anyway in person but I will be sure to look out for photos and videos of them on transfer to FL. I am quite sad about the 90s leaving GA but I am excited for their future with LSL and FL. I understand 90014 is at Crewe Electric and 90001 & 90002 are at Eastleigh Arlington Works for repaints, so I wonder if the two moves to Basford Hall will see all twelve remaining 90s move to FL. If so it certainly would be an impressive convoy/loco move. I read the original plan was for three or potentially four light engine moves, so the plans must have changed. It will certainly be interesting and make for good sight if both convoys have six 90s in each. That would be something we haven't seen for years. I can't remember any recent occasions in the past few years where that many 90s have moved together. Get well soon Russ and Siggie. Stay safe everyone. Kind Regards, Danny.

This made me laugh. DRS are loving having 402 at Norwich recently. Their was ten ex GA MK3s in this consist today and no DVTs. A friend told me this week that the ex GA 90s were due to move to Crewe to join FL this week. I'm not sure if any of the moves have happened though or will happen. I understand these moves have been due to happen over the past two weeks but they didn't materialise.

0Z51 back to Norwich Crown Point even. Kind Regards, Danny.

37059 & 37402 worked 5Z50 from the Mid Norfolk Railway to Long Marston today with a rake of ex GA MK3 stock for further storage. I assume this was then the pair that went on to work 0Z50 back to Norwich Crown Point. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the update. I'm really looking forward to these arriving. I plan on buying two DRS Compass and one HNRC. Are you buying some? Kind Regards, Danny.

You beat me to it with this post. It would be good if Bachmann could produce this loco in it's latest NHS livery in OO Gauge, even though Bachmann have already produced 66731 in GBRf Europorte livery before, I am sure this new livery would sell well. It would be excellent if a percentage from each loco sold could be donated to the NHS. If this was to happen I would definitely buy one. Come on Bachmann, make it happen. Kind Regards, Danny.

From what I know it's that two locos have to be used on the 'in service' nuclear flask movements whether they are full or empty. Obviously yesterday's move with 88003 is different and an exception to this rule because the movement wasn't an 'in service' movement. It was just that the wagons are been transferred from one depot to another. With this in mind, I am sure that I have read before that it's a contractual arrangement/agreement that at least two locos are provided per nuclear 'in service' working. Thinking about this, this probably excludes maintenance moves because the wagons are not 'in service'. Yes their have been the odd occasions in which only one loco has appeared on an 'in service' working, but this is most likely due to fleet availability. If you notice their hasn't been many of these occasions for the past couple/few years since DRS gained further 68s and then 88s. Their older traction fleet, most of which is now mostly redundant wasn't always available to have two trains per movement just because the locos e.g. 20/3s, 37s, 47s, 57s all needed more repairs, maintenance, and heavy exams during some periods meaning that certain locos were not available for weeks sometimes. Back in 2016/2017 when 37s were still used on nuclear flask trains they were be stopped at Crewe or Kingmoor for weeks on some occasions before released back into traffic. Obviously the older that locos are, then the more likely that such time out of service is needed on some occasions. Now that the 68s and 88s dominate the nuclear flask trains reliability and availability is not so much of an issue. Repairs, maintenance and exams can be completed relatively quickly and within a few days sometimes a loco can be seen back out in service on some diagrams. Obviously a B Exam which happens with the 68s at Kingmoor requires more time to complete, so it takes more than a few days to do, but still takes less time to complete than the aging locos that the 68s and 88s have replaced.

No, usually they always have two locos for assurance and failure scenarios whether loaded or not. This was one of the reasons why this working caught my eye today, because even on the previous few moves to Roberts Road wheel lathe, their have been two locos on the working. The only thing I can think of as a reason for this is because the wagons aren't actually 'in service' on a working and are just off for maintenance to the wheel lathe, so even if 88003 failed, the train could be just rescued in the usual way e.g. rescue loco, thunderbird loco etc.

Yes like you say under the wires it makes perfect sense to utilise an 88 as per today's move and as for operating on diesel with only four flasks the 88 should handle it really well, despite not been double headed as what is usually seen with the nuclear flask moves.

From what I gather it is a way of exercising the use of their 88s, because what you will find is two or three of them will always be on Kingmoor depot, either available for use or that are ready for use again after an exam, repairs or maintenance. So for most of the trips that depart from Kingmoor or where train loco/s swop at Kingmoor it's easy for any traction, especially 88s with several of them available to just slip onto such workings. Besides with so many 68s now handed over to TPE, their is much less availability on the 68 front, so making use of the 88s is another good option.

That will be 88003 you will have seen, with four nuclear flask wagons working Carlisle Kingmoor to Doncaster Roberts Road, probably for tyre turning. Hope this helps.

I see what you mean. Hornby have probably got the market spot on with these at around £32 per coach, even if they are not correct. As you say, it would probably never be viable for a manufacturer to accurately produce each individual coach and even if it was the cost of each coach would likely be very high to reflect such different and complex tooling, and even then would people in their thousands pay this. I have to say I have viewed Mick's thread before, but I have never studied the Network Rail stock that he models, thoroughly. As you say, this could be something for me to look at so that I can start to learn of just some of the differences between the different coaches.

That's very true, but I don't know enough about the Network Rail coaching stock to actually know the differences, so what I don't know won't hurt me haha.

That's excellent and I suppose that's the bonus with this particular set, because the other items will hold the value of the set overall, even if the value of the loco falls. I do like the Intercity Mainline livery, especially on the DRS 37419. They are really good choices. 37608 is a definite for me, but I am undecided on 97301, just because the real life loco never seems to move much. I have searched through Flickr and it has only worked two or three times on the mainline since 2018. So I have been thinking do I actually need this one considering that none of the four Network Rail 97/3s work test trains on a regular basis anymore. Most test trains are operated with DRS or Colas 37s, with the HNRC or previously seen EP 37s thrown in occasionally for good measure. To be honest and this is partly where my difficulty in choosing lies, all of the 37s announced by Accurascale are very nice, especially the modern variants. I already have 409, 419 & 425 in DRS Compass, but the Accurascale retro liveries are very tempting. Decisions, decisions.

Yes, we are very fortunate to have the best of both worlds at the moment. But, I might hold out in the hope that Accurascale produce them. After all, they now have the tooling for the 37/4s and they intend on producing each loco with the appropriate specific detailing, so really anything is possible. Kind Regards, Danny. This is very true. As you say even if the price of the loco itself falls if Accurascale were to announce it, the other collectors items may mean that the set as a whole still holds a decent value overall. What loco did you respray 424 to? Kind Regards, Danny. This is the thing, ultimately I now would like more definitive 37s thus those produced by Accurascale. As they are producing specific locos with the appropriate detailing for each one, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't produce 401, 407 or 424, except for the reason that Bachmann have already produced 424. I am happy to wait to see if Accurascale produce the 37s that I would like even though they are a bit more money, just because of the extra value for money we are getting e.g. more lighting functions, higher levels of detailing and stay alive capacitors fitted. Kind Regards, Danny. I have quite a few of the Bachmann 37s, but I am going to keep them because I bought most of them at reduced prices anyway, so none of them owe me anything. I am really excited about the DRS Basic 423 and DRS Fade 609 on the Accurascale 37s, because we have only seen the Basic livery modelled on the Bachmann & Hattons 66s, and 609 will be the first model to be produced with the DRS Fade livery applied. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Roy, I hope you are well? Of course, I do understand your point but on previous occasions the Accurascale team have been happy to confirm or deny future plans regarding their models to myself and many others on several of their threads. In terms of the accuracy of the Bachmann 37424 model, it's not necessarily just the accuracy which I want on the Class 37s that I buy, it's value for money and despite the added collectors items that are in the Bachmann 37424 set, £170 for essentially a loco with less detailing, minimal lighting features and tooling which is now old, due to Accurascale announcing newly tooled Class 37s, this is a lot of money. I would prefer to wait and buy the models from Accurascale if they do intend on producing them, to ensure that I have bought the most accurate model/s with specific detailing to individual locos, models that have an increased number of lighting features and models which offer the best value for money. Kind Regards, Danny. Hi, That's a really good and clever way to have a 424 model. I have a feeling that with several of the DRS 37s currently wearing BR Large Logo Blue, that Accurascale will produce further models in this livery after 37409. I really do hope so anyway! That's very true. I am holding out for the Bachmann 20/3s and Accurascale Class 37s for my DRS fleet. I have got a few other models on my wishlist including the TPE MK5s by Accurascale and the Network Rail and ScotRail MK2fs by Hornby. But yes, you're very right, that with many models becoming available now really is the time to be picky about what you buy. I'm going to go with my instinct and leave the Bachmann 37424 I think, because I am confident that Accurascale will produce this one or 401 or 407 in the future. Kind Regards, Danny. See this is the thing, I don't think I would regret buying the Bachmann 37424, especially with the other collectors items that come with it, but I would just prefer more of my Class 37 fleet to be the definitive Accurascale models. Which Accurascale Class 37s do you plan on buying? Kind Regards, Danny. Yes, I have noticed that a few retailers have discounted this set recently. It is tempting but I might hang on in the hope that the Accurascale gods validate my decision haha! Here's hoping! Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran, I hope that you and the team are all well in these challenging times. I have a question with regards to further batches of the 37/4s in OO Gauge. Bachmann have recently released a pack which includes the Class 37/4 locomotive 37424/37558. I am keen to buy 37401, 37407 & 37424 all in their current BR Large Logo guises as currently in use with DRS, from yourselves. Would I be right in thinking that their is a good chance that some or all of these three locos will be produced by yourselves at some stage? I ask because I really begrudge paying £170 for the pack containing 37424 by Bachmann and then you may announce/release the same loco. I also don't want to buy 424 by Bachmann and then you announce/release 401 or 407, because their will be significant detailing, lighting, running differences between your superior model and the older tooling Bachmann 37/4, and this will be especially noticeable when running 37s together. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.