The Key Publishing Limited Edition collection is expanding with an exclusive model of Coal Sector liveried Class 31 31276 Calder Hall Power Station with Accurascale for ‘OO’ gauge.
Key Publishing has commissioned an exclusive ‘OO’ gauge limited-edition model of one of only two named Coal Sector Class 31s – 31276 Calder Hall Power Station – using the brand-new tooling from Accurascale.
The model of 31276 will be the only triple-grey liveried Class 31 in the first production run and will be available this summer along with the main production batch.
This ‘OO’ gauge limited-edition model will be restricted to 150 DCC ready units and 150 DCC sound fitted units. The model will use Accurascale’s new tooling for the Brush-built A1A-A1A Class 31s (HM178) which is at the decorated sample stage before progressing to production for release this summer.
The real 31276 was completed at Brush Traction, Loughborough, on July 13 1961 and numbered D5806. It was given Works Number 307 and entered service at Sheffield Darnall shed (41A). It spent the 1960s allocated around the Sheffield area including periods at Tinsley and Wath depots, but moved to the Nottingham Division briefly in 1972 before returning to Tinsley in the same year. Its final allocation was to Thornaby from 1987 until withdrawal on February 11 2000.
31276 was an early repaint into the Railfreight triple grey livery in December 1988 when it also gained Coal sector branding. It was repainted at Vic Berry’s and had a black centre door as well as centrally mounted high-intensity lights at the bottom of each cab front. The locomotive carried the Calder Hall Power Station nameplate from November 30 1988 until April 30 1992 when the name was transferred to 31130. The locomotive retained Coal sector livery until withdrawal in 2000 with its duties including nuclear fuel trains, engineering movements and even passenger workings on the North Wales Coast around 1992.
The specification for the Key Publishing limited edition will see 31276 delivered in Railfreight Coal sector livery with centrally mounted high-intensity lights on each cab front. Etched metal nameplates will be included with the model, but will not be fitted to allow modellers to choose whether their model represents 31276 before or after April 30 1992. It will have separately fitted metal handrails, flush glazing, in-line brake blocks, etched metal and injection moulded detail parts, chassis fitted optional miniature snowploughs, sprung buffers, correct buffer beam pipework and optional dummy screw link couplings.
Mechanically the Accurascale produced Class 31 will feature a die-cast chassis and injection moulded body, a 21-pin DCC decoder socket, helical cut gears for maximum performance and slow speed running, and gearing for a scale top speed of 90mph. DCC sound fitted models will have a LokSound V5 21-pin chip, factory installed twin speakers, a PowerPack supercapacitor, switchable lighting and a wheel flange squeal sensor for automatic flange squeal. There will also be an independently powered roof fan which will operate on DC and DCC control systems.
Prices for the limited edition of 31276 are set at £169.99 DCC ready and £269.99 DCC sound fitted. Both versions are available to order from the Key Publishing Shop today with a £10 deposit, with delivery expected in summer 2023.
