New livery added to Accurascale’s popular Class 37 range

Building on the specification of the existing Accurascale Class 37s, the new production run sees all new tooling to cater for the Class 37/4 variant, which now includes the operating roof fan that is synced to the DCC sound file and also operates on DC. There are subtle tweaks around the bonnet top doors, improved glazing fitment to stop them popping out in rough handling through the postal/courier systems, grille tweaks and further drive train and sound setup improvements.

Available to pre-order now, the DC/DCC Ready locomotives are priced at £189.99 and the DCC Sound Fitted locomotives are priced at £289.99.

As with any Accurascale Exclusives model, it will come complete with bespoke presentation packaging and a limited-edition certificate. Delivery is expected by the end of 2025.

About the prototype

Stored by EWS at Motherwell in April 2005, No. 37418 was purchased by preservationist Steve Beniston from Toton at the end of 2007. The former No. 37271 (built as D6971) initially spent a year at Allelys’ yard at Studley, before moving somewhat appropriately to the East Lancashire Railway, after which it was named in April 1994. Repainted into the same EWS livery, albeit with its Railfreight Petroleum era name Pectindae, it entered service on the ELR almost immediately.

Unfortunately, a power unit failure the following year put it out of action until 2015, by which time it was halfway through a repaint into large logo. In July 2017, it moved to Barrow Hill for further attention which would eventually lead to a long-term hire contract with Colas Rail. This was eventually realised in November 2018 when the Class 37/4 returned to the main line, now fully finished in its 1980s paint scheme complete with Highland ‘stag’ logo and its classic An Comunn Gaidhealach name (after the organisation that promotes the use of Scottish Gaelic) that it wore between October 1986 and February 1991.

Its first year of Colas hire saw it used on Cardiff-Rhymney commuter turns, Network Rail test trains, and infrastructure/freight workings, while 2020 often found it partnered with NR saloon No. 975025 Caroline. In September 2022, Loram Rail, based at the Derby RTC, took over the hire of No. 37418. As well as its Caroline duties, which continued, the locomotive was common on shuttling vehicles between Toton and Derby in conjunction with the MRA to JNA-Y ‘Hawk’ rebuilding programme, as well as stock moves of both wagons and coaching stock. In January 2024 it was repainted into Loram Rail’s house colours of Flame red, black and white making it one of the most recognisable locomotives on the current railway network.

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