Presenting "AccuraGronk!" - We Cut The Class 08 Family Down To Size

[Warbonnet]

We've heard the cries, felt the anticipation, and now, the time has come. We're incredibly proud to announce our latest venture into the heart of British Rail diesel locomotives: the legendary Class 08, Class 10, and the unique, reduced-height Class 08/9 diesel shunting locomotives in 00 gauge!

Welcome to "Accuragronk"!

"Why an 08?" we hear you say...

Well, since we begun our journey into the world of British outline model railway production, it's been one of our most requested locomotives at shows and online. Every range should have an 08 in it, and, as you will see below, we will do our own take on it!

Watch! We reveal our 08 family and look at the real locos! 

We'll be bringing interesting variants never done before in ready-to-run models, alongside the more familiar members of the 350hp diesel shunter family. We will be adding in our blend of technology under the hood including lights, stay alive, sound suites and of course, our excellent value for money too! 

Let's see what we've got in store for you... 

The Shunter with a Twist: The Class 08/9 Story

While the standard 'Gronk' is a railway icon, there's a fascinating chapter of its history rooted in Wales that we simply had to capture.

On the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley (BP&GV) line, connecting Llanelli and Cwm Maur, British Rail was required to maintain a fleet of low-profile locomotives due to height restrictions. When the existing Class 03 shunters reached the end of the line, a special solution was engineered: the conversion of standard Class 08s into the characterful Class 08/9.

The conversion, carried out in January 1986 at Landore Depot, was extensive:

• The cab roof was lowered and reprofiled to a much flatter, angular curve.
• The bonnet was dramatically lowered by removing the bottom section.

The Cutdown Fleet

Initially, three locomotives were converted and renumbered as Class 08/9s:

Original Number	New Number	Name
08203	08991	Kidwelly
08259	08992	Gwendraeth
08592	08993	Ashburnham

When 08991 and 08992 were withdrawn, a further two 08s (08462 and 08687) were converted, renumbered 08994 and 08995, and the names Kidwelly and Gwendraeth were transferred.

These unique machines initially sported BR Rail Blue and survived sectorisation into BR Railfreight. They continued their work until the BP&GV closure in 1996, eventually being absorbed into EWS ownership. Under EWS they escaped the Welsh valleys and could be seen around the country, from locations like Doncaster to Westbury. 

They are also just funky, and as our sample shows, looks great in model form too. 

From Cut Downs To Perfect 10s...

Do we just stop at the oddness that is the 08/9, or do we go further? Well, the "Accurascale Way" dictates that we fill the gaps, and with our Gronk family we will be doing just that in this run and beyond. 

An oft forgotten chapter in the BR shunter story is the Class 10, featuring a Blackstone power unit and GEC electrical gear. A total of 146 Class 10s were built before being deemed "Non Standard" in BRs traction programme, so they were withdrawn earlier in their careers.

Finding use in industrial service post BR, 4 survive today and our model will be the first to capture the rather loud and unique thrash of these diminutive powerhouses in a ready-to-run model.  

Surveying the Shunters: Thanks to Our Partners

With such a resilient fleet of Class 08s, 09s, and 10s still surviving in service and preservation, we were spoilt for choice when it came to gathering the necessary data. Our comprehensive survey work has taken us across the country—from County Durham and North Yorkshire to Derbyshire, and all the way to Kent, East Sussex, Hampshire, and Wiltshire.

A special thank you must go to the Freightliner Group, who afforded us invaluable access to follow operations at Southampton Terminal. This experience allowed us to witness the 'Gronk' in its natural environment, ensuring every detail of its operation is faithfully recreated. Thanks to Freightliner and all the heritage lines, we look forward to bringing you a huge variety of liveries and variations!

The Accurascale Feature List: Power, Detail, and Precision

Our new 08 family isn't just about accuracy; it's engineered for superb shunting performance and packed with latest features that we have become renowned for.

The Chassis & Running Gear

• Die-cast metal chassis and underframe for maximum weight and tractive effort.
• Operating over a minimum radius of 2nd radius set-track.
• Wheels profiled to RP25-110 standard, set into brass bearings.
• High quality, large diameter coreless motor paired with a helical gearbox.
• Extreme slow speed running capability.
• Gearing arranged to achieve realistic shunting speeds with smooth power delivery.
• All-wheel pickup for reliable operation.

Detail & Variation

• ABS plastic body and cab with separate metal/wire detailing components.
• Era and version specific tooling, covering differing cab types, doors, buffer beams, couplings, and more.
• One-piece cab unit with poseable opening doors and a sliding roof hatch (where applicable).

DCC, Sound & Lighting

• DCC ready with a 21-pin decoder interface accessible via a magnetic, removable upper engine compartment section.
• Fitted with a PowerPack/Stay-Alive capacitor for uninterrupted running—a must for shunters!
• Designed around the LokSound 5 DCC/MM/SX/M4 ESU Decoder.
• Supplied DCC Sound Ready, permanently fitted with twin ‘sugar cube’ speakers.
• Full sound suite with different engine type options.
• Fully directional fibre optic and LED lighting, with a full range of light options for marker lights, high-intensity lights, and flashing beacons.
• Separate cab lighting configurations.
• Two 2-pin accessory sockets to enable the use of DCC auto-couplers (available separately).

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Whether you’re a fan of the standard 'Gronk' in a modern freight yard, or the unique low-profile operation of the BP&GV, our new model will bring this iconic shunter to life on your layout.

Prices, Delivery And Ordering Info

So, you have had your first look at the Accuragronk range, and you are wondering "How much?" and "When?"

Well, in keeping with our mantra of "realistic models at realistic prices", our shunters will be priced at £159.95 DC/DCC Ready variants and £249.95 DCC Sound Fitted with our suite of ESU Loksound 5, twin sugarcube speakers, stay alive powerbank, full lighting suite including cab and desk lights and configurations depending on era, and easy access hatch through the roof of the model. Delivery will be in Q1 2027. 

With a vast range to get through, our first run is pretty extensive so we can ensure there is something for everyone as much as possible. You can browse the range in the link below, and place your pre-order with no money down, or indeed spread the payments with our flexible terms at no extra cost, and avail of 3% cash back in loyalty points and free UK postage and packaging below!

Browse The Range And Pre-Order Your Accuragronk Here!

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[Flying Snail]

I have to say who ever is doing your announcement videos is doing a smashing job! As always its very enjoyable to watch