Class 31 exclusive for Locomotion Models

Locomotion Models, in partnership with Accurascale, has announced the release of a OO gauge Class 31 locomotive as the newest addition to the National Collection in Miniature Series.

The model, depicting 31018 has been designed and is being made by Accurascale at its factory in China. Model specifications promised are as follows:

• One truck (bogie) styles with separate footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder and end brake rigging
• Brake blocks on bogies in line with wheels
• Scale width wire handrails
• Etched metal roof grille
• Accurate high-fidelity miniature snowploughs, chassis fitted
• Full underbody battery box/air tank detail with pipework
• Full sprung buffers, multiple pipework variations and screw couplings
• A fully working, scale speed roof fan, that will run on both DC and DCC
• High quality 5-pole motor with two large flywheels
• Lighting clusters with appropriate day and night-time settings
• Switchable red and white marker lights
• Separately switched cab lighting and illuminated driver's desk with auto/off on movement

In 1955, the British Transport Commission published the 'Modernisation Plan'. This plan intended to revolutionise the railway system, increasing speed, reliability, safety and line capacity of British Rail. To achieve this meant replacing steam locomotives with diesel and electric traction, and the Class 31 were the first engines built by Brush Electrical Engineering Company under the new plan. The locomotives were built in Loughborough in 1957, but their original 1250 HP Mirrlees engines soon proved to be unreliable, so were replaced by 1470 HP engines produced by English Electric in the 1960s.

D5500 was restored in Doncaster and has since operated on multiple heritage railways across the UK. It is now on display in the Great Hall at the National Railway Museum in York. For further details on the new model, visit the Locomotion Models website.

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