Loram Rail 37418 'Comunn Gaidhealach' joins our Exclusives Range!

[Warbonnet]

The announcement of Run 3 of our Class 37 locomotives has certainly captured the excitement of modellers, not helped by the fact we've drip-fed what's in the full run. 

Today, we can confirm that 37418, the next addition to Run 3, is in the striking Red and White Loram livery. Eagle-eyed attendees of the recent Great Electric Train show will have seen a teaser on the front cover of the latest catalogue. 

This is the latest addition to our "Accurascale Exclusives" range of special edition models. 

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 the 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 in put it out of action until 2015, by which time it was half way 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.

It’s 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.

Building on the already class-leading specification of the existing Accurascale Class 37s, our new production run sees all new tooling to cater for the Class 37/4 variant (and other future variants!) which now includes the operating roof fan which is synced to the DCC sound file and also operates on DC! With subtle tweaks around the bonnet top doors, improved glazing fitment to stop them popping out in rough handing through the postal/courier systems, grille tweaks and building on the already impressive drive train and sound set up, the ultimate Class 37 in OO/4mm gauge has taken another step forward from the competition.

The DC/DCC Ready locomotives are priced at £189.99 and the DCC Sound Fitted locomotives are priced at £289.99. These models are now available to pre-order our website direct with NO DEPOSIT required. As with any Accurascale Exclusives model, it will come complete with bespoke presentation packaging and limited edition certificate. Delivery will be Q4 2025.

Pre-Order Your Class 37418 Here!

Common Features Include:

• Heavy die-cast metal chassis
• Accurate tumbleholme, nose, cab roof and cantrail curves taken from 3D Laser scan and extensive surveys
• Timeframe specific details, including but not limited to;
• Bogies (Fabricated and three variations of Cast)
• Fuel tanks (As built and with later smooth-sided long range fuel tank)
• Three styles of buffer: large round Oleo, oval and squared oval
• With or without cab roof vents and bodyside windows
• Nose and roof aerials and antennas (where applicable)
• Three styles of windscreen: standard, centre toughened and all toughened
• Three styles of cab interior: as built, refurbished and modern DRS locos
• Four bufferbeam variations with different piping configurations
• Door kickplates where applicable
• Multiple body and nose slides to accurately represent almost every member of the class, including three variations of cantrail grille: early EE (for D6700-D6704), later EE and RSH
• Four roof styles: Original double riveted, single riveted, welded and welded with antennas
• Separately applied etched metal and high fidelity plastic detail parts, including grab handles, aerials, steps, wipers, nameplates, crests and more.
• Etched metal door kickplates (where applicable), ‘frost’ grille (where applicable) & super fine etched metal roof grille
• Scale width wire handrails
• Turned brass roof-mounted horns on centre headcode examples
• Full underbody tank detail with brackets and pipework
• Bogies feature separate footsteps, etched footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder, end brake rigging and very fine brake chain
• Brake blocks on trucks (bogies) in line with wheels (can be moved for EM/P4 gauges)
• RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels with fine scale ‘drop in’ EM (18.2mm gauge) and P4 (18.83mm gauge) wheels available separately
• Accurate high-fidelity miniature snowploughs
• Fully sprung metal buffers, extra-fine factory-installed pipework and screw couplings
• Correct height mini-tension-lock couplers with NEM socket as well as a fully detailed bufferbeam
• Every model includes PowerPack / Backup Power Capacitor Bank for up to ten seconds of power free running, flicker free lighting and continuous sound

High Performance traction, to include;

• High-quality five-pole motor with two flywheels
• Metal Helical Gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h)
• DCC ready with PowerPack Super-capacitor for uninterrupted power and super low speed running
• All wheel drive and all wheel pickup

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