Class 59 - A brief look at the different types

[RedRich]

Have 14 class 59 locos.Kind of fond of them myself!!

 

I prefer them to the 66's myself.

 

Rich,

[Warbonnet]

I prefer them to the 66's myself.

 

Rich,

 

+1. Don't mind 66s too much myself but they did do away with a lot of variety. 59s had some better liveries and their underframe is more interesting. Great locos overall.

 

I have a Lima one buried somewhere but will celebrate with the credit card when a new generation top spec model is released. Here's hoping Bachmann sort me out.

[Blaine]

Ive a Bachmann 66 chassis along with a spare Lima 59 chassis, so some spare time will prove useful

[Warbonnet]

Ive a Bachmann 66 chassis along with a spare Lima 59 chassis, so some spare time will prove useful

 

I trust you've seen this Ed? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=123&start=600 Turned out to be a beauty.

[RedRich]

I trust you've seen this Ed? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=123&start=600 Turned out to be a beauty.

 

I followed that myself Fran from the beginning. I don't think that Martin would do it again in a hurry though. His other skills in weathering and painting makes him one of the very best out there.

 

Rich,

[Blaine]

I trust you've seen this Ed? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=123&start=600 Turned out to be a beauty.

 

I have, classic case of 'no matter how good you are, there is always someone even better'. A lot of patience for the lines under the chassis alone, never mind the rest

[Warbonnet]

I have, classic case of 'no matter how good you are, there is always someone even better'. A lot of patience for the lines under the chassis alone, never mind the rest

 

Indeed, a savage job. Great guide for material and inspiration.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Warbonnet

[wexfordloco10]

Hi

I have just noticed some of you wanted pics of class 59

Hope these will help as for other classes just ask as I have a large

collection

Happy Xmas to All

David Wexford

[Blaine]

To bring things up to date 59003 is back home with GBRF

 

And Dapol have announced a OO gauge model, after another manufacturer announced and then had to retract their model

[hurricanemk1c]

Who had announced the 59? Knew Dapol were doing one in N gauge for a good while now

[Robert Davies]

Who had announced the 59? Knew Dapol were doing one in N gauge for a good while now

 

DJ Models, or DJM (Dave Jones formerly of Dapol) announced it in OO, however the owners of the 1:1 locos and their livery rights, proved uncooperative, causing Dave to have to take the decision to cancel the model. There are still rumours of Dapol themselves doing a OO 59 swirling about, but if I were you, I would not hold my breath.

[Blaine]

DJ Models, or DJM (Dave Jones formerly of Dapol) announced it in OO, however the owners of the 1:1 locos and their livery rights, proved uncooperative, causing Dave to have to take the decision to cancel the model. There are still rumours of Dapol themselves doing a OO 59 swirling about, but if I were you, I would not hold my breath.

 

I'm breathing normally as Dapol have confirmed their model. They do an N gauge version too so they already have the livery rights. The Dapol model is advertised as being fitted with a smoke generator which will be interesting

[Robert Davies]

I'm breathing normally as Dapol have confirmed their model. They do an N gauge version too so they already have the livery rights. The Dapol model is advertised as being fitted with a smoke generator which will be interesting

 

Confirmed by Dapol? ALRIGHT!!

 

Smoke gens, in diesel models. Hmmm. I'm not over enthused. ESU fit them to their HO Class 66 and Class 77s (among others). Search youtube for 'ESU Class 66' - it looks wrong to me, smoke does not 'scale' very well.

 

Anyway, I'm off to save my money for the Dapol 59, got to collect 'em all!

[Warbonnet]

Confirmed by Dapol? ALRIGHT!!

 

Smoke gens, in diesel models. Hmmm. I'm not over enthused. ESU fit them to their HO Class 66 and Class 77s (among others). Search youtube for 'ESU Class 66' - it looks wrong to me, smoke does not 'scale' very well.

 

 

Agreed. It'll look AWFUL. But at least you should be able to turn them off via DCC.

[hurricanemk1c]

DJ Models, or DJM (Dave Jones formerly of Dapol) announced it in OO, however the owners of the 1:1 locos and their livery rights, proved uncooperative, causing Dave to have to take the decision to cancel the model. There are still rumours of Dapol themselves doing a OO 59 swirling about, but if I were you, I would not hold my breath.

 

Thanks for that - forgotten about DJ. Probably since Dapol announced the N gauge model a good few years ago (and still waiting), just missed the OO annoucement

[Blaine]

It will be taking up valuble flywheel/ballast space...

[Junctionmad]

just reading the fora, the general view is the class 59s are liked by the drivers but they seem to not like the class 66, which is a body derivative

 

funny too how the control desks are very different in these two classes as well, the 66 almost is a step backwards

 

maybe it was built to a cheaper spec or something

[Warbonnet]

just reading the fora' date=' the general view is the class 59s are liked by the drivers but they seem to not like the class 66, which is a body derivative funny too how the control desks are very different in these two classes as well, the 66 almost is a step backwards maybe it was built to a cheaper spec or something[/quote'] The 59s were built properly by EMD, partly due to real tight guidelines set out by BR to comply with their regulations as they were to be first privately owned locos to operate on BR metals and partly to secure future orders in the UK. The controls were to be the same as those in the 58 when it Came to layout etc. During the 80s EMD quality took a bit of a nose dive and they lost market share domestically to GE and their latest product at the time, the SD50 was a dog. Terrible reliability due to stretching the 645 prime mover beyond its capabilities. They haven't really recovered ground in the US since.

 

The 66 was built to a price, with rugged and dependable prime mover and electrics but withstand tin shed and not much creature comforts for the driver. Drafty, poor seats and shocking vibrations from the motor being bolted directly to the frame. I would wager our 201s would possess similar issues.

[Junctionmad]

The 59s were built properly by EMD, partly due to real tight guidelines set out by BR to comply with their regulations as they were to be first privately owned locos to operate on BR metals and partly to secure future orders in the UK. The controls were to be the same as those in the 58 when it Came to layout etc.

 

During the 80s EMD quality took a bit of a nose dive and they lost market share domestically to GE and their latest product at the time, the SD50 was a dog. Terrible reliability due to stretching the 645 prime mover beyond its a capabilities. They haven't really recovered ground in the US since. The 66 was built to a price, with rugged and dependable prime mover and electrics but withstand tin shed and not much creature comforts for the driver. Drafty, poor seats and shocking vibrations from the motor being bolted directly to the frame. I would wager our 201s would possess similar issues.

 

Thats explains a lot of comments, I wonder how our 201s would pan out if the fleet was in constant use

 

interesting , given the Class 66 success in the UK , its doubly strange that it did succeed, there now seems to be a lot of doubts that they will age well.

[Warbonnet]

I don't think the shareholders in the UK freight companies care much about the drivers who operate their trains and their complaints. At the end of the day they're very reliable and get the job done, unlike the British products of similar vintage. Their biggest black mark would be fuel efficiency of course, hence the small renaissance of the 60s.

 

The mechanicals will keep going, parts support is always going to be first class and the bodywork will always be cheap to mend when it comes to corrosion. Once fuel stays on the cheap side they'll be favoured for a good while yet I reckon.

[Junctionmad]

The mechanicals will keep going,

 

well Big jim on RMweb describes changing ends as walking through pools of oil !

[Warbonnet]

well Big jim on RMweb describes changing ends as walking through pools of oil !

 

Aye, but their miles per casualty is quite high though, might spit oil but they don't fail. It's like over here; the dirtiest ones were the most reliable.

[Blaine]

Dapol 59 progress, with 1st engineering samples along with suggestions being welcomed https://digest.dapol.co.uk/forum/main-forum/diesel-aa/class-59/project-managers-blog-aq/2045-oo-class-59-e-p

[Blaine]

Five years on and we are edging closer finally to the Dapol 59

At least it will sound like a 59 and not like a 66

 

[Blaine]

Finally the Dapol ones are on their way, only took 7 years, but not the longest wait for a RTR loco either