KR Models revealed at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition that it has selected the ever-popular English Electric Class 40 1Co-Co1 diesel-electric as its next ready-to-run project. We bring you the full story.
The 1958 introduced English Electric Class 40 1Co-Co1 diesel-electric has been announced as KR Models next ‘OO’ gauge ready-to-run locomotive model at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition.
These substantial 133ton Pilot Scheme diesels were built by English Electric to fulfil a need for powerful diesel locomotives in the Type 4 category. They produced 2,000hp from an English Electric 16SVT Mk II engine and measured 69ft 6in over buffers. Being an early diesel locomotive, their weight meant that a 1Co-Co1 16-wheel chassis was required to meet British Railways axle loading limits.
Over four years 200 Class 40s were built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry and at Robert Stephenson Hawthorns with the initial Pilot Scheme order being delivered to the Great Eastern and Great Northern sections of the BR Eastern Region.
Construction of the Class 40s was split across three distinct nose end designs. D200-D324 were built with disc headcodes while D325-D344 were built with split headcodes; both of these batches having central communication doors in the nose ends. The final batch, D345-D399 were built with central four-character headcode boxes.
The Class 40s saw service across the Eastern and Midland regions on a wide variety of duties covering express passenger, parcels, freight and engineering trains. Withdrawals started in 1976 with the last being stood down in 1988 following temporary reinstatement of a handful of locomotives to work trains in connection with Crewe station’s remodelling. Seven have been preserved with two examples currently main line registered.
KR Models is developing an all-new model of the Class 40 for ‘OO’ gauge with the first batch including examples of all three bonnet front designs. The specification includes etched metal grilles, cab interior lights, a cast metal chassis plus a choice of DCC ready, DCC fitted and DCC sound-fitted versions.
The DCC sound locomotives are set to include a LokSound V5 decoder with twin speakers and a cold start sound function is also flagged as part of the models highlights.
Above: Class 40 40145 departs Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on May 5 2005. Mike Wild.
Locomotives selected for release as 40106 with disc headcodes in BR green with full yellow ends, 40135 with split headcodes in BR blue and 40145 with centre headcodes in BR green with small yellow warning panels. In addition a fourth limited edition is planned modelling the 1963 Great Train Robbery locomotive D326 which will released in BR green and restricted to 250 pieces.
Prices for the KR Models Class 40 are set at £210 DCC ready, £240 DCC fitted and £310 DCC sound fitted.
Visit KR Models for more information.
