Roy Langridge

The linked page at Rails states “Models expected to be released along the rest of the Class 60 range towards the end of 2024.” Roy

Accurascale’s is A1A-A1A, Bachmann’s is, for some strange reason, all wheel drive. Not seen wheel sizes quoted. Edit: Accurascale’s is still all wheel pick-up. Roy

Kernow listing them as 21 pin. Roy

The Cavalex 56 is no different to any other modern standard loco in that the standard lighting that works on just F0 will not work. Old spec locos had the front light and rear lights wired together, but that meant you could not control them separately. Convention has brakes and horns on F2, F3, F4 these days. Up-thread the Aux numbers for each light are listed and you need to map these to the keys you want, or use the default mappings as your decoder provides for, working out what F key is mapped by default to which Aux. Granted, some more info on the clever ESU onboard stuff would be helpful. Roy

For sound the Accurascale version wins hands down on price in my opinion, the speaker set-up looks far superior and I didn't see mention of Hall sensors for flange squeal in the Bachmann spec. And all for about the same as the high-street price of a sound fitted Bachmann 31. And that is before Accurascale give you points worth 3% back which makes if cheaper. Roy

Let's face it, one of the best "locos" for haulage is the Heljan Class 128 DPU and that is a Bo-Bo (or B-B for the pedants). Roy

If you had an email confirmation when you placed your order, I would have no doubt you will get your order. Roy

I wish you hadn't said that as it cost me two more sound fitted 31s - you are a bad man McC! Roy

As somebody who loves 31s and has shares in 6 of the real thing, I should have been excited by this but, as others have said, meh. I have several Accurascale versions on order and they are close to being delivered that I am getting excited anout them. I do look forward to being able to compare the two, but I don’t see anything radical that will make this new offering better by far, if at all. Roy

I had an email from Hattons advising this was happening. Roy

LOL - What was the point in that post? Just repeated what I posted 😵‍💫 Roy

For the running direction, yes it simply means either swapping the feed wires from the pick-ups over or swapping those feeding the motor. But, have you checked it does not have a decoder fitted? I don’t know what behaviour CV29 has on DC direction of it does have one fitted. Anecdote: I once bought a DC Bachmann Class 03 as a non-runner for £35. Cost me about £5 to fix and had a LokSound v4 decoder in it - happy days! Roy

If you read the spec is says: Outer axles on bogies are driven (sprung dummy centre axle) and all wheel pickup Roy

I did, hardly any recently have related to Class 37s. 🙄 Roy

When you look at a spares item on the Bachmann site it normally tells you what model numbers it is for. Like this saying for 31-662. (I did try to make it smaller on my IPad, but no joy) Roy

Wasn’t aware that Class 37s had shoe gear….🙄 Back to topic? Roy

It is a difficult one, if a call/email leads to all my orders being available in my account, I can make sure my card details are up to date for all my orders. I know that the card I used for at least five locos is out of date. That would save SLW trouble of contacting me for all those orders, but troubles them once. I also regularly work places where I am not allowed any Personal Electronic Decices, so no phone, email etc. Therefore, again, disturbing them once again saves them possibly trying to contact me multiple times. So what is best? As I said at the beginning, it is difficult to know. Roy

I think Accurascale were taken more seriously (can’t think of a better way of putting it) after they delivered their first loco and I think getting your Class 56 our in the wild will see you seen in an even better light than your TEA, Warflat etc. have already achieved. All power to you, and I look forward to a second run of Class 56s and you announcing a Class 40 😉 Roy

Perhaps it is just that they only decided to be a Cavalex retailer after orders for the 56 were closed? Not long ago Cavalex were an unknown and with any unknown there is risk. Exactly the same as some individuals may have waited to see what early models were like, businesses may do the same. Now Cavalex have stamped their place on the market with several good models, perhaps we will see even more retailers. I hope so. Roy

Just to add, no login option shows in Safari on my phone, but does using Edge on my desktop. Roy

Not disrespectful, rather puzzled by some of your statements. If you are that on having realistic running and power train, surely that would mean replacing the electric motor and gears with a miniature diesel engine, turbo, generator, traction motors? The real Class 60 is one of the best locomotives we have in the UK for hauling long heavy trains. The Cavalex Class 56 is equally sure-footed and able to haul its equivalent train, what more do we need? Roy

But it always pays to buy quality…. I have just got two sound fitted 56s, have five SLW 25s on order along with a whole bunch of Accurascale locos. However, the cost of living situation means all the lesser models I would have got, and most Rule 1 purchases, have gone. Net spend is probably down 10-15%, number of locos significantly reduced. Enjoyment? Probably just as great thanks to locos like the 56. Roy

Well, I took a look when I got the email from Rails, was generally underwhelmed at what I saw and could not be bothered to post here. To my mind there are still issues with the tooling that I will not / cannot overlook and given there are alternatives I don't see that I should compromise. Roy

Well, I ran my two (56008 / 56120) in this afternoon and I have to say that they are so well matched, probably the best I have ever seen. After running them in on my normal test track (a loop with a reverse curve included on one side) and set on speed step 60 they lapped with 0.1s difference over a 35 second lap. For comparison, my recent Bachmann Scottish Class 20 pair were just over 1.5s different over the same distance. So no worries about these 56s fighting each other if I double head them which, to be honest, it would be rude not to! As others have said sound files are perfect and they are so controllable. Absolutely fantastic. Class 60s are not my era, but I am so tempted, so please, go ahead and announce some more 56s so I don’t have yet another rule 1 purchase! Edit: just to add, the lap time difference between their first laps and after running in was negligible. Compare this with the new Dapol Class 73 I am running in now, and in one direction the lap time has decreased by 5 seconds after running in. Roy

Got back from Cornwall yesterday to find 56008 from Trains4U waiting for me and just had notification that 56120 arriving this morning from Rails. 56008 looks as stunning as everyone says and the pair will get run-in this afternoon. Thanks to Cavalex for a superb model and to Trains4U/Rails for speedy deliveries. Roy