The American-built Electro-Motive Division Class 59 heavy-freight locomotives started a revolution in rail freight haulage. Dapol is looking to achieve the same with its all-new ‘OO’ gauge model. MIKE WILD finds out if it has succeeded.
HEAVY FREIGHT is a subject which has always fascinated me and the arrival of the first-ever American-built diesel locomotives for the British railway network only served to enhance that interest. These new arrivals in 1985 were unlike anything else in the BR fleet and delivered 3,300hp straight out of the box and the ability to move incredible loads. They were truly ground-breaking locomotives and set the template for today’s signature freight locomotive, the Class 66.
Models of the Class 59s, of which just 15 were built between 1985 and 1995 in three batches, have been relatively thin on the ground as until recently the only choice for the ‘OO’ gauge model was the ex-Lima product now offered by Hornby. In ‘N’ gauge there had been a short run, high price CJM product in the 1990s, but there are now two versions in development for the smaller scale with Dapol and Revolution Trains.
Above: Dapol’s ‘OO’ gauge model of the Class 59 is here and it offers a choice of all three sub-classes. Our sam…
