Description
Between 1971 and 1975, 24 Class 31s were upgraded with electric train heating capability (ETH) courtesy of a 320kW Brush BL100-30 alternator, the same as fitted to the similarly modified Class 45/1 ‘Peaks’ and Class 47/4s. Powered directly from the engine, this provided an impressive ETH index rating of 66, perfect for their expected duties shuttling empty coaching stock (ECS) in and out of King’s Cross, Paddington and St. Pancras as well as portions of ‘air-con’ trains around the Leeds/Doncaster area.
An oddity within the new sub class was 31418, the former D5522 of 30A, which was from the lower geared 80mph batch delivered in 1959 and also the only disc headcode or ‘skinhead’ machine to be converted until a second series of Class 31/4s was undertaken in the mid 1980s. In 1978, having swapped North London for Gateshead via a spell at Finsbury Park, it saw its connecting doors plated over, which resulted in the loss of its centre pair of discs. It retained this basic appearance for the next nine years before being ‘refurbished’ at Doncaster in October 1987, which saw it lose its steam generator, bufferbeam cowls and bodyside banding.
The ETH receptacle was also resited to the driver’s side corner of the cab front. Within days of release it was unofficially named Boadicea and received white painted ‘discs’ the following year, both customisations surviving to its withdrawal from Springs Branch with engine failure in October 1995. With minor celebrity status it was quickly purchased for preservation at the Great Central Railway, before joining A1A Locomotive Ltd’s fleet in 2002. Over the last two decades it has been slowly restored to 1970-80s condition at the group’s base at Swanwick Junction and is expected to be completed within the next few years.
Common Features
Highly-detailed OO gauge model, 1:76.2 scale on 16.5mm track
Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track)
Heavy Die-cast metal chassis
One truck (bogie) styles with separate footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder and end brake rigging
RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels
Brake blocks on bogies in line with wheels
Scale width wire handrails
Etched metal/plastic detail parts, incl. grab handles, steps, wipers, etc.
Etched metal roof grille
Etched metal pre-painted nameplates, plaques and arrows (if applicable)
Accurate high-fidelity miniature snowploughs, chassis fitted
Full underbody battery box/air tank detail with pipework
Extra cab front details for Network Rail locomotives
Fully sprung buffers, multiple pipework variations and screw couplings
Kinetic NEM coupler mounts at correct height with mini-tension-lock couplers
Deluxe Features
All models feature a fully working, scale speed roof fan, that will run on DC and DCC., On DCC control, the fan speed is fully programmed to simulate accurate motion
All models feature PowerPack supercapacitor Stay-Alive system for uninterrupted power and flicker free lighting and uninterruptible sound (works on DCC)
DCC Features
DCC ready [21-Pin MTX Socket]
Factory-Installed DCC Sound available with ESU LokSound V5 fitted with large speaker and sugarcube style speaker, with large sound capsules for best possible sound (DCC Sound models only)
Wheel flange squeal sensor on DCC sound fitted locomotives for automatic flange squeal on sound programme
High Performance traction features;
High quality 5-pole motor with two large flywheels
Helical Gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running
Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 90 mph (145 km/h)
Outer axles on bogies are driven (sprung dummy centre axle) and all wheel pickup
Fully detailed Lighting Pack features:
Directional lighting, DC and DCC
Lighting clusters with appropriate day and night-time settings
Switchable Red and white marker lights (red can be switched individual lights or both on)
Separately switched cab lighting and illuminated, driver’s desk with auto/off on movement
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