DRS Crewe On A Mission

I completely agree. Originally I bought Freightliner only models, now I have a large DRS fleet as well, plus some other locos and operators. I even now have a GWR HST set which I never thought I would buy any passenger stock. I have seen people from various areas of the country pre-ordering the TPE MK5s from Accurascale so as you say people do buy and model what they want, which is sensible because otherwise you just end up restricting yourself and not buying the stuff you want. I will be disappointed as well. Even if I cancel one of the two pre-orders I have I would really like a second one to go with 019. But, I am sure next year or in 2022 when the DRS liveried 68s have sold out with retailers the demand will resurface for the DRS 'Swoosh' livery, thus Dapol may just announce some additional TPE 68s with another one or two DRS 68s, as they have done previously and they may not go down the expressions of interest route. Certainly from when I have spoken to Dapol they have always said they will make all of the running numbers of the 68s, in what livery etc who knows but Dapol do plan to keep producing the 68s for the foreseeable future. So if we don't manage to get 023 & 032 produced this year, they or other TPE 68 numbers will be produced at some stage in the future.

I'm in the same boat. This year I would like a few Bachmann 20/3s, a few Accurascale 37s, a couple of Hattons 66s, Hornby Network Rail and ScotRail MK2s, a rake of TPE MK5s and the KUA twin pack. Not to mention I have pre-ordered both of the TPE 68s in question. This wishlist has already been cut back but I could do with making further reductions because if I don't that's the best part of £4000 in one year on a hobby. It's just becoming more and more difficult because the more I remove from my wishlist the closer I am to the 20/3s and 37/6s of which I definitely want because I have waited years for them. It's typical all of these years I have been waiting for these items that everything is due to arrive in the same year. I agree, the Dapol 68 is fantastic. I have several of them and they are the best locos I have ever bought.

That's interesting. I did have doubts though that they would be popular enough to produce two more TPE 68s, when one has already been produced even with the MK5s now available. If they haven't been as popular as anticipated I think this may be because these locos and coaches will only operate on a specific line and routes, thus they are restricted to the north. So anyone who doesn't model the north and doesn't wish to won't be interested in any locos or coaches. Another reason I think they might not have been popular is just due to money. Alone the 68s and MK5s are very reasonably priced but 2020 is a really big year for modern image modellers, with so many newly tooled models appearing and thus many won't be able to afford everything they want to buy and sacrifices will have to be made. I would say this makes it more likely those wanting these locos and coaches will just opt for one set costing £361 as opposed to £722 for two sets.

Thank you for letting us know. Out of interest which retailer were you speaking to? I'm just interested to know if the retailer was a large retailer thus likely more known and may have received more pre-orders/expressions of interests than smaller retailers. I understand what they and you are saying. I would assume that most won't need x2 TPE 68s because to have them both operational in a prototypical fashion would mean buying two sets of MK5s at £225 each. Off the top of my head that's around £722 for those four items. Personally, I don't think that many will spend that amount of money on TPE stock/trains alone, especially this year when we have various newly tooled models arriving: Bachmann 20/3s, Accurascale 37s. Heljan 47s, Accurascale 55s, Hattons 66s, Accurascale 92s and Bachmann 158s just to name a few that will also be bought by many modern image modellers, thus their money will have to stretch further to afford these other items.

You're right, the more people that order two/both TPE 68s then the more likely it is that they will be produced. I suppose it depends more on how many people order one, considering that if said people just want one model, this may include those who already have 019, thus that group of people might not pre-order if they only want one model. It's certainly interesting and what makes it even more interesting is the proposal of a single livery production run. As you say if this goes ahead it will be new ground for the hobby because this very rarely happens. In fact I can't think of a single loco/s off the top of my head that have been produced in a single livery production run.

I know that their are many DRS liveried examples still available with retailers but yes you would think 033 perhaps could have been announced as a batch with these two TPE examples. That way it may have made the batch more viable and as well not a single livery production run. Saying that though I appreciate what Dapol say about retailers still having many DRS models available and thus they don't want to produce more in the same livery to keep retailers shelves warm. Personally, I think that if this TPE batch goes ahead we won't see any further DRS liveries until late 2021 or 2022, which for big DRS fans/modellers like myself it isn't ideal. We will have to see what Dapol's thoughts are.

I agree. Besides if Bachmann release it as a standard model it will only be £153 and as a Limited Edition only likely around £180. So you will save considerably either way, for a factory finished model. That's what I'm doing now, waiting until models are produced by a manufacturer and not buying anymore resprays for a higher price and often lower quality.

Yes DRS 034 is good in the fact that it can be used either on DRS duties or TPE trains. I'm hoping Dapol do 033 as well at some stage because technically you can buy one loco which can technically be two locos, for two different purposes/types of trains. Thanks for letting us know. I didn't know about this. I will have to try and buy it. Glad you have got your pre-order in. Hopefully we will find out soon if they will be produced. It's me going on about 68s. You're as bad as me now... But I'm just beyond help haha!

Don't quote me on this but... To my knowledge a TPE liveried 68 hasn't yet appeared on any type of nuclear flask train, whether it be with FNAs, PFAs or KUAs. But I am sure that a Chiltern Railways 68 did appear on a nuclear flask train a couple of years ago. So in that case it is prototypical to have the passenger liveried 68s directly placed onto DRS duties/trains. DRS liveried 68034 regularly appears on nuclear flask trains so that is definitely prototypical. So I would say if you want to model a TPE 68 with DRS 68034 go for it, because in reality at some stage it will likely happen anyway. I have a rake of NR Yellow JNAs too and I still use them to operate my DRS engineers trains with, even if not entirely prototypical. I think and this is my opinion and perspective only when you are modelling modern image you can't always be bang up to date. Locos are regularly repainted/revinyled, have new logos applied, are renumbered, transferred between operators, operator numerous workings etc, so been entirely prototypical is difficult so I just follow rule one and run what I like. I have two Chiltern Railways 68s and they both work on DRS duties on my layout because as yet no Chiltern MK3s are available by Hornby, Oxford or any other manufacturer. Thus, if I didn't make use out of them they would have been sat in their boxes for going on four years now since I bought them in 2016...and still no coaches have been announced to run with them.

That's very true. Some items due late 2020 will no doubt as you say roll into Q1/Q2 2021. Good to hear that you have returned to the hobby. I know what you mean, but with me I currently have 40 DRS locos and with many more expected to be released over the coming years, especially newly tooled locos, I really now don't need 40 locos for one operator already. Funnily enough some of the DRS 37s I bought I intended to have reworked to Wipac lighting DRS 37/6s and now Accurascale have announced them for just £170 each, so that's saved me a considerable amount of money. I may now sell some of said 37s because I don't need to have them converted anymore. That's a good idea. TPE liveried 68s are regularly stabled in the parcel sidings at the side of the station, either for training purposes or for forwarding to Longsight Depot. There used to be a York to Doncaster and return engineers train operated by DRS which was worked by a variety of traction including 20/3s, 37/6s, 47s, 57/0s, 66s so realistically you could say that a TPE 68 was hauling the train or in the consist. I'm not sure if this working still exists but it was operated for many years by DRS.

I know what you mean. At least that way, that's the money found for a few new locos. To my shock when I added up my current loco fleet the other day, I now have 62 locos, so I'm sure I can spare two or three to sell to pay for some new items.

I know the feeling. Originally I was only planning on buying 023 but then ended up pre-ordering 032 as well. Thinking about it though with me already have 019 I may cancel one of these two at some point if they are going to be produced. I have pre-ordered both and I have decided I may cancel one of them, if they are to be produced. Just because I already have 019 and realistically this year I can only afford one TPE MK5 rake, so technically I don't need three locos in TPE livery. Especially when by cancelling one of them this will nearly pay for another model. My budget is well and truly overstretched this year as my wishlist is now into thousands even with some items knocked off and sacrifices been made. I may decide to sell a couple more items of my existing stock/fleet to pay for some new stock. 2020 I would say is the most expensive year so far for us modern image modellers.

Hi everyone, Just thought that I would post a reminder, that we have until this Friday (31st January) to express our interest via retailers in 68023 'Achilles' and 68032 'Destroyer' in Transpennine Express livery in OO Gauge. After this Friday Dapol will then evaluate the expressions of interest they have received and decide if a single livery production run is viable to produce these models. Expressions of interest can be placed via Colletts Models of Exmouth, Rails Of Sheffield and Hattons and no doubt other retailers upon enquiry too. So if you missed out on 68019 or you would like a second/third TPE 68 then you know what to do. Hope this helps. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you very much. Four years hard work, but it was worth it. I came out with a first overall which is 70%+. I think I got 72%. I really enjoyed it as well. There are many days where I wish I could go back. You're right. See something I didn't account for was the production in reality and consequently in model form of so many new models, some of which need wider radius curves, longer sidings etc, so now I am having some issues. But nothing that really can't be solved or worked around. I have done this with the latest area of track that I have reconfigured and pinned down this month, which I will show soon. Well you're right again. I am planning on buying some GWR IETs. I am not too bothered about the 800s that Hornby have produced so far and I instead I am waiting for Hornby to produce 802s in GWR Green and Transpennine Express livery. A slight issue I may have though is my longest loop line is used to store a long rake of IOA wagons hauled by my DRS locos. I could most likely fit two 802s in this loop line which with the curves on this section should be suitable for the 802s to run over. But then where would the IOAs go... I have plenty of other sidings but I think some are too short and the others that are on my depot are longer, but it's my DRS depot and thus now for passenger trains. But again I couldn't forsee the amount of new stock becoming available when I built the layout in 2015. So I will have to keep making use of the space I have at the moment and see if I can make changes to the track layout as and when needed. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hope that you get to drive for some of the tour Jim. I'm hoping that the pair of GBRf 50s are used on some of the tour. Can't wait for Hornby to release them both in OO Gauge later this year. Yes, please keep us updated on further details of the tour and hopefully details of what part of the tour they have allocated to you.

Thank you very much for sharing Jim. This is brilliant news and for a very worthy cause. It's such a coincidence that this has been announced today because I read earlier that their are now more people who are diagnosed with prostate cancer than people who are diagnosed with breast cancer. All cases of cancer are truly heart breaking but it's good that for this tour GBRf are focusing on men, prostate cancer and raising money for the cause. That video is encouraging me to buy more GBRf locos. Can I afford them? No, 2020 is already a really expensive year for model railways. Do I want some more GBRf locos? Yes. Will I buy them? Probably. That's really how easy it is for me to give in and start spending money on models. I will be skint throughout this year at this rate. Anyway, less about models. Well done GBRf! When do you find out Jim if you will be rostered for any of the tour workings?

Thank you very much for posting the photos. It's always good to see models in photos. I have to say this is an excellent respray. It's that good that I can't even tell that it's a respray. Well done Rainbow Railways!

It is difficult isn't it trying to make progress in between everything else. I have made some good progress in the past few weeks which I will show in the next update/s on this thread. I have been doing some work on quite an important section of the layout which has only been recently added. It's important because this particular area/space will see a lot of use in the future with the stock that I have planned to occupy it. Watch this space.

Very impressive Mick. I wish I had the room and space with my layout to have a yard like this. Right now I could do with it too with more and more coaches and wagons been announced and realistically my layout can only hold a few rakes. A few years ago when I first built it their was ample space for stock but now with so much modern image stock been announced I am already running out of storage space.

It's a shame actually because a cement wagon would be nice but seen as though it isn't I'm sure whatever it is will be fantastic produced by Accurascale. This sounds interesting, and as though this announcement could be something you don't want escaping until it's formally announced. You've got me thinking... In a way I'm praying it's something that isn't my era or something I'm not interested in, or better still something not OO Gauge otherwise I'm bound to want to buy it haha.

Goodness me, this will likely mean one thing, bad news for my wallet haha. Can we have a clue or two if your feeling generous Fran on what you will be announcing? Is it something modern image in OO? Is it additional Class 37s that will be in batch one, due Q4 this year? Thanks in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Eddie, Also I forgot to add, sorry for the delay in replying. Hopefully now that I have finished uni I will have more time to reply and post onto this thread. Thank you. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Eddie and to everyone else who follows my thread on the layout, I hope you are all well? Thank you for your interest in the layout. It's excellent that people are interested in the development of the layout, especially for me because I don't consider myself as a massive modeller and I have nowhere near as much knowledge and skill as others on here, or in the hobby in general. Firstly an apology, I did mean to post some updates on this thread last year but I was at uni so I had a limited amount of spare time, thus the lack of updates. However I have now finished uni and their has been some work on the layout this month. Thank you Eddie and to everyone else who follows for sticking with me and been patient. I really appreciate it. So without further a do the first update of 2020... A close up of one of the pair of 'active' DRS 47s I currently have. 501 & 802 were bought and pressed into service in 2012 and were two of my first DRS locos. From January 2020 the pair have now gone on hire to Rail Operations Group to act as intermediate traction for the haulage of new locos, coaches and wagons around the layout. Currently the plan is to keep them both in full DRS Compass livery but both have been transferred to the GROG pool. I was going to wait until Accurascale delivered Europhoenix/ROG 37608 but I decided that I couldn't wait until Q4 to begin introducing new stock. I am really excited about this development and it's something I have been waiting to put into action for a while. As many people will know my main interest is in DRS diesel locos, but over the past few years I have bought some additional DRS stock but some other stock for new operators on the layout, thus the start of ROG operating Class 47s to deliver and transfer new stock is the beginning of a new chapter for the layout and I am determined to make it the most exciting yet. I have plans to considerably expand my layout in terms of depot areas and sidings to facilitate new stock, to reinstate some old stock that has already appeared on the layout and to continue buying new stock to give the layout a lot more variety without just focusing on the operations of DRS. 501 & 802 will be used by ROG for the foreseeable future as they will support the delivery, transfers and movements of new stock that will arrive on the layout. A Dapol Network Rail Yellow JNA wagon will act as a barrier vehicle for the delivery and transfer of new stock. I have decided to use one of these wagons because the couplings are quite flexible and allow a good amount of movement for the stock attached to manoeuvre around curves and corners, but without any stock derailing. Then you will see what the first new delivery is... Meet the fleet announcement one: Great Western Railways MK3 Coaches x5. I have tried uploading more images but the website is saying that it will only allow me to upload 10MB. Not to worry, I can carry on explaining what's happening. So just to clarify their are another four GWR MK3s behind the first in the rake in the image above. So after coupling 501 & 802 transferred the five new GWR MK3s from Portbury to Old Oak Common GWR Depot for staff training/familiarisation and testing. Since then the DRS 47s double headed the same rake of coaches on a test run. These are the first MK3s I have operated on this new layout so I wanted to check and see if the wheels on the coaches were all ok and if the MK3s could handle the layout of my track. Safe to say, the MK3s ran faultlessly, which I was quite shocked about considering the number of points I have on some lines and the fact that the coaches are very light. I'm very impressed with them and Hornby have done a brilliant job at portraying the GWR Green and the silver on the doors. For £30 each they are a bargain. That's the first of the new stock now on the layout and delivered for testing. I have to say I am really pleased that I have bought some different stock especially some passenger stock, as many will know I mainly buy diesel locos, so these coaches will provide some variety. I am really taken with the GWR Green livery and personally I think it's one of the best current liveries worn on a passenger train. Following the addition of GWR MK3 coaches to fleet I can now confirm that further GWR stock will be arriving in due course. There you have it, my first ever rake of MK3 Coaches are delivered and are undergoing testing. I will give further updates in due course with the addition of other new stock and some changes that I have made to the layout. Thanks for looking. Kind Regards, Danny.

I have to say I wasn't sure or keen on the orange and black G&W livery on the 66s but I think it looks and is suited better on the 90. Classy...I agree, Bachmann you know what to do...

Thanks Fran. Haha, I think you have already said enough. Judging by how popular the half height DRS PFAs have been surely their would be enough demand for two or three packs of three full height PFAs as hauled by DRS 68s. DRS Class 68s also haul some blue full height PFAs as well. So their are potentially two liveries/modern variations that you could produce as full height PFAs. I know that I would have some, especially if the price is £70, or in that area for a pack of three. I feel that offers excellent value for money in the current market. Have you got any ideas when a second batch may be produced? Thanks in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.