Fancy a Good 'Bone'? Our Brand New Accurascale Class 58

[Warbonnet]

Welcome to the 'AccuraBone'!

We're delighted to announce that the next all-new locomotive in the Accurascale range is the mighty BREL Class 58 diesel in 'OO' gauge!

Built to haul heavy coal trains on Britain's famous Merry-Go-Round circuits, the Class 58 embodied British Rail's vision for the future of freight. Combining a distinctive modular design with advanced engineering and electronics, these powerful locomotives were created to meet the demands of the 1980s and beyond.

Affectionately nicknamed 'Bones' thanks to their distinctive narrow-bodied design and full-width cabs, the Class 58 burst onto the scene in 1983 as British Rail's next-generation heavy freight locomotive.

Built to tackle the demanding coal flows between collieries and power stations, these hardworking machines soon became a familiar sight across Britain's industrial heartlands, hauling the trains that helped keep the nation's lights on.

Continuing the 'Powering Britain' story that began with our popular HUO coal hopper range, the all-new Accurascale Class 58 is the perfect locomotive for recreating the heavy freight operations that defined the Railfreight era.

In development for over three years here at Accurascale, this locomotive, designed entirely new from the ground-up, has been a labour of love for Project Manager Steve Purves. Watch our launch video below to learn more about the project and everything that makes up the brand new Accurascale Class 58:

The Accurascale Class 58 faithfully captures the many variations found across the fleet, featuring a range of prototype-specific tooling differences and finely rendered details throughout.

Beneath the bodywork, a powerful five-pole motor with twin flywheels, all-wheel drive, all-wheel pick-up and a built-in stay-alive system ensure exceptional performance.

Completing the package are working radiator fans, a comprehensive lighting suite including cab and desk lights, and DCC-ready electronics designed for easy decoder installation.

Our first production run showcases some of the Class 58's most iconic liveries, charting the story of the class from its introduction through to preservation.

From the striking Railfreight Red Stripe livery carried when the fleet entered service, to the much-loved Railfreight Coal triple-grey scheme synonymous with Britain's heavy coal traffic, each model captures a defining era of freight operation.

The journey continues into the privatisation era with both Mainline Grey and the eye-catching Mainline Blue livery, while a special highlight of the range is preserved locomotive 58023, depicted in its current condition as it continues its remarkable return to operational status.

Scheduled to arrive in Q4 2027, you can pre-order yours today, exclusively from Accurascale, with no deposit down!

Prices start at £169.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £259.99 (DCC Sound fitted), and don't forget you'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases, such as decoders or ModelU crews!

PRE-ORDER YOUR CLASS 58s TODAY EXCLUSIVELY FROM ACCURASCALE

Why Direct Only?

We wished to offer these locomotives through our retailer network, but due to the complexity of the Class 58 body, which requires three times the amount of body tooling compared to a traditional British outline diesel locomotive alone due to its narrow body shape and wide cabs, the price would’ve been circa £220 DC/DCC Ready and £320.00 DCC sound fitted. 

With the current economic conditions as they are, we simply could not ask you to pay out such significant outlays. So, we are offering a smaller run direct only to ensure modellers can save at least £50 per locomotive in this first run. Future runs may be offered to trade at higher RRPs should economic conditions improve.

We've always been committed to the best possible value for your models, and that ethos simply cannot be changed. Our hobby needs to be fun, sustainable and affordable, and this is the cheapest price point we can offer these locomotives at for you to enjoy.

Meet the new fleet of Accurascale Class 58s!

58016 - Railfreight Coal

58016 entered service during October 1984 and, although part of the first batch of 35 locomotives, differed in several subtle ways from the as-built 58001. Outshopped in Railfreight Red Stripe livery, it featured the revised cab side sheets, bodyside door handles and a moisture trap/filter on the air brake pipework.

It was repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding in 1989 and had by then gained a wide exhaust silencer and NRN radio pods on the cab roof. In 1991, the familiar Toton cooling towers depot plaque was added to the secondman's side.

During 1992, 58016 became notable for deputising on a Sprinter diagram between Cambridge and Birmingham with a motley collection of Mk2 coaches. Like many others in the fleet, Coal Sector branding later gave way to Mainline branding and the locomotive continued in Triple Grey until receiving a striking coat of EWS maroon and gold in 1996.

58016 was one of the final Class 58s to operate in Britain for EWS before withdrawal in August 2002. Selected for export to France with Fertis, it later returned to the UK and entered storage at Crewe Diesel Depot. It remained there until being purchased for preservation by the Class 58 Locomotive Group. Today, the locomotive resides at UKRL's depot in Leicester.

58017 - Mainline Freight Triple Grey

Delivered from BREL Doncaster during October 1984, 58017 remained in its as-delivered condition until 1989 when it was repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding. It gained a Toton depot plaque but remained unnamed.

In September 1993 it was named "Eastleigh Depot" and soon afterwards received Mainline branding. It remained in this condition right up until withdrawal and storage in April 1999.

The locomotive subsequently became a parts donor for locomotives overhauled for export and was rather ironically scrapped by EMR at Eastleigh in January 2014.

58023 - Mainline Freight Blue - PRESERVED CONDITION

Entering service in December 1984, 58023 was a typical mid-batch locomotive. Most reliability modifications had been incorporated, but it pre-dated the more substantial changes introduced with the second batch.

Outshopped in Railfreight Red Stripe livery, it worked for several years before being displayed at the Welbeck Colliery Open Day on 25 June 1989 in freshly applied Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding.

A locomotive that would remain unnamed for some time, it continued in this condition until receiving Mainline Freight's Aircraft Blue livery and the name "Peterborough Depot".

It retained both name and livery until withdrawal in July 2001. Following many years in storage at the rear of Toton Depot, it was eventually dispatched to Ron Hull's scrapyard. A last-minute deal saved the locomotive from scrapping and it entered preservation under private ownership during 2016.

Since then it has been restored to full working order and, from late 2024 onwards, has appeared at diesel galas around the country. During restoration it was renamed "Leicester Depot", reflecting its current home base.

58023 has effectively become the Class 58 for a new generation. As the only operational member of the class in Britain for more than two decades, it represents many enthusiasts' only opportunity to experience a working Class 58 in action.

58040 Railfreight Red Stripe

58040 was released to traffic on 16 March 1986. This locomotive is typical of the second batch of 15 Class 58s and featured many differences from the earlier 35. The engine room doors were now fitted with proper handles, cab ventilation had been improved through the addition of cab side vents, and the cab access handrails had changed to a full-height design. Underneath, the bogies had been revised to the new CP3A type with external sandboxes.

58040 was notable for carrying a wider exhaust silencer fitted with experimental round exhaust ports located at the opposite end to normal. As this was only a trial, they were later replaced by a standard wide silencer with conventional exhaust ports. Our model offers both options.

The locomotive gained the name "Cottam Power Station" soon after construction, after the power station in North Nottinghamshire near Retford. The name remained with the locomotive until withdrawal. It was not the only adornment carried, as 58040 was also one of the few Class 58s to receive cast "Railfreight" plaques on the cab fronts.

58040 was repainted into Triple Grey during 1991 and carried Coal Sector branding until 1994, when Mainline branding took its place. It remained in this condition until withdrawal and storage. The locomotive was later reactivated and exported to France, where it worked for a number of years before finally being cut up at Alizay Depot in 2023.

58042 - Railfreight Coal

58042 was handed over to traffic during May 1986 and, like other members of the class, carried Railfreight Red Stripe livery from new. A typical second-batch Class 58, it ran with CP3A bogies and the wider exhaust silencer.

It was named "Ironbridge Power Station" in September 1986 after the power station in Shropshire and also carried cast Railfreight plaques on its cab fronts.

Repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding in 1991, it continued to work the Midlands MGR circuits but was also used on railtours, including workings into Kent. In 1995, the Coal Sector branding briefly gave way to Mainline logos before a full repaint into Mainline's Aircraft Blue livery.

It retained its Ironbridge nameplates for a short period before being renamed "Petrolea", whose nameplates had previously migrated from 47374 to 37888 before finally finding a home on 58042.

Following periods in and out of traffic, the locomotive was finally stored on 12 April 2002. After several years in storage, it was reactivated for export to France, where it worked before ultimately being cut up at Alizay in 2023.

58046 - Mainline Freight Blue 

58046 was handed over to BR during October 1986. Nearing the end of the Class 58 build programme, it incorporated all of the later modifications from new.

Initially unnamed, it received the name "Thoresby Colliery" on 7 July 1991 and was outshopped in gleaming Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding. The naming took place at the High Marnham Power Station open day, not far from the colliery after which it was named.

Coal Sector branding was removed in 1994 and, during 1995, the locomotive emerged in Mainline Freight's Aircraft Blue livery. In September 1996 it was renamed "Asfordby Mine", becoming the only locomotive to carry the RJB Mining logo on its nameplates.

It also worked the famous "Worksop Aberdonian" railtour alongside 58002. Unusually, no headboard was carried; instead, one cab on each locomotive displayed the tour title in vinyl on the cab front. These remained in place until withdrawal in September 2000.

58046 would be another locomotive to enjoy a second career in France before being disposed of at Alizay in 2023.

Accurascale Class 58 Model Specification:

Model details
• Narrow, experimental (58040 only) or wide exhaust silencer
• Bodysides with or without door handles
• CP3 or CP3A bogie variations
• Cabs with or without side air vents
• Deep or shallow rear cab corner profiles
• Three types of cab door handrail/baffle arrangement
• Cab roofs with or without NRN radio pods
• Era-correct cooler group designs visible behind bodyside grilles (three styles)
• Windscreen washer fillers with or without protective guards

General details
• Fully detailed cab interior with full-depth floor and separate fittings
• Separately fitted handrails and bogie pipework
• CP3A bogies feature clear sandbox covers
• Ribbed light lenses as per the prototype
• Finely detailed bufferbeam equipment
• Etched windscreen wipers and horn grilles
• Optional bogie retaining wires for operation on tighter-radius curves
• Separately fitted etched roof lifting eyes
• Detailed traction motors fitted beneath the bogies

Mechanical and electrical details
• Powerful five-pole motor with twin flywheels providing all-wheel drive
• All-wheel pick-up and integrated stay-alive system
• Hall sensors on bogies for automatic flange squeal activation
• Comprehensive lighting suite with independently controlled running, cab and desk lights
• Twin motorised working radiator fans
• Removable roof panel providing easy access to decoder and DC lighting switches

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR CLASS 58s TODAY EXCLUSIVELY FROM ACCURASCALE

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[Georgeconna]

Remember seeing these for the 1st time in the Hornby Catalog and going Ugh!! Ugly as hell but looking at the effort put into this model it certainly puts it into the Wow Category, especially the grey and red Largo logo one.

However checked it never ran in the 1960's SR so sadly not for myself.