Golden Delicious - Ochre Type 2 Exclusive Launches Our Second Class 30/31 Range!

Warbonnet · April 8

Well, our all new Class 30/31 really has gone down a treat since they began arriving in late 2024. Picking up the "Diesel/Electric locomotive of the Year" award in the BRMAs and the Model Rail awards was a real treat and honour for us, as has all the positive reviews for our definitive Peds!

Demand for what's coming next has been unbelievable, and it just so happens that we have the decorated samples ready to launch for a further, smaller run due at the end of this year.

What better way than to begin the launch with our Accurascale Exclusives loco for this production run, D5579 Experimental Golden Ochre with small yellow panels!

Prototype History

Although the Brush Type 2s arguably wore one of the most attractive interpretations of the BR green paint scheme, a growing concern within British Railways was improving the visibility of its diesel motive power, which did not announce themselves to trackside workers in the same way as the steam locomotives they were quickly replacing. As well as trials with flashing lights on various classes, in January 1960, Falcon Works outshopped two ‘Class 30s’ in experimental liveries, D5578 in a French blue and D5579 in golden ochre, also described as bronze gold. Oddly only the latter retained the off-white stripes and was all the better for it.

While both were initially allocated to 30A Stratford and then 31B March from November 1960, they parted company just under five years later when D5579 joined 41B Tinsley, having gained a small yellow panel – BR’s answer to the conspicuity problems – in 1963. While D5578 was painted into the standard green in September 1964, its colleague survived until January 1966 before being admitted to Doncaster for its own makeover.

It was renumbered 31161 and was rescued from withdrawal as a late addition to the Class 31/4 programme, becoming 31400 in March 1988 after 31401 was condemned following an accident earlier in the year, notably swapping its Railfreight livery for a return to BR blue. It was stored just over three years later and was cut up at Booth’s of Rotherham in August 1993.

The Model

Following on from our first production run and due to popular demand, our factory has given us a production slot to follow up quickly with a second run. D5579 will be one of six locos in this run, with very limited availability due to production capacity. It will also be available from the factory with our Mirrlees sound file fitted for the first time, a sound recording that has gone down very well indeed with modellers.

We will reveal the general range on Friday, with 5 other stablemates, all of which are due in stock in Q1 2026 with production already underway.

As stated above, production on this batch is very limited, so we advise early pre-ordering, either no money down direct or via your local stockist for the main range models. As ever, our Accurascale Exclusive will come in special presentation packaging and certificate. Models for run two are priced £184.96 DC/DCC Ready and £284.95 DCC Sound fitted.

Pre-order your Golden Ochre D5579 via the link below, available exclusively only direct from Accurascale!