Accucraft UK Ltd
This month we have news of the imminent arrival of the terrific Whitcomb diesels and the first Lynton & Barnstaple coaches, confirmation that we will produce ‘Lew’ in electric form and even better news for those of you who have been awaiting the next batch of Welshpool & Llanfair open wagons.
Last call for the Whitcomb diesels!
These handsome 3′ gauge diesels are rolling off the production line now and there are still as few available to be shipped in June / July. Contact your local dealer right now to make your reservation for one of these great value diesels.
Between October 1942 and September 1945 the Whitcomb Locomotive Works produced 37 type 45DE27b locomotives at their Rochelle Illinois plant. This designation, 45DE27b, indicates a 45 ton (45) diesel electric locomotive (DE) of design 27, variant b. All of these locomotives were ordered for use by the military or war related critical industries. Six 45DE27b’s were built for the U.S. Navy’s “District Rail Transportation Coordinator” (DRTC) located at Pearl Harbor Hawaii and were 36 inch gauge. These six locomotives joined the DRTC “pool” and although used primarily by the Navy, some were occasionally leased to the Oahu Railway and Land Company to supplement their war time operations. Following the end of World War Two four of these locomotives were assigned to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Lualualei, Hawaii and two to Naval Ammunition Station, West Loch, Hawaii. In 1948 one locomotive was sold to the Kahuku Plantation on the North Shore of Oahu. The remaining five stayed in service at Lualualei and West Loch until the end of the Navy’s rail operations in 1974. Three of the now surplus locomotives were purchased by Dulien Steel Inc. of Seattle Washington and two were donated by the Navy to the Hawaiian Railway Society where they remain in operation.
The Whitcomb 45DE27b is 25 feet 6 inches long over the end sills, 9 feet wide and 11 feet 6 inches high at the cab roof. They are powered by two HBI 600 Cummins 150 HP diesel engines driving Westinghouse 189-R7 230 volt direct current generators. There is one Westinghouse 1443-A traction motor per truck with power being transmitted by side rods to the unpowered axle. Electrical control is Westinghouse. Locomotive and train brakes are Westinghouse Air Brake Co. and supplied by two Quincy 30 CFM belt driven air compressors located in the cab.
Specifications:
- Scale: 1:20.3
- Gauge: 45mm
- Minimum Radius: 1.2 M, 48 in.
- Power: 0-24V DC
- Construction: Brass
- Full underbody design, Constant lighting, Operating couplers
Colours available, subject to production batch:
AC78-531 Whitcomb 45T Side Rod DieselGrey, Unlettered
AC78-532 Whitcomb 45T Side Rod Diesel Caterpillar Yellow, Unlettered
AC78-533 Whitcomb 45T Side Rod Diesel Blue, Unlettered
AC78-534 Whitcomb 45T Side Rod Diesel Green, Unlettered
The model is due for release now with an RRP of £875. The full specification can be downloaded as a PDF file WHITCOMB 45T SIDE ROD DIESEL
Lynton & Barnstaple coaches
The first tranche of these gorgeous coaches are due to land in early June and your local retailer should have stock by the middle of the month. Initially we are shipping the all third and the brake composite. With the larger portion of the batch pre-sold we expect demand to be high so make sure you have yours ordered today!
The Lynton & Barnstaple brake composite coach
‘Lew’ – electric version confirmed
Following our announcement that we were looking at producing a limited run of ‘Lew’ in electric form last month, sufficient interest has been shown to encourage us to make a small number. Because there is limited demand this will be a very small batch and these are sure to become rare and sought after models. Contact your local dealer to reserve one soon. We are aiming at a target RRP of £1275.00 and will offer the model in the following liveries:
E19-17 L & B ‘Lew’ in Southern Green
E19-18 L & B ‘Lew’ in plain black
Welshpool & Llanfair open wagons
We have now commissioned a further run of these popular wagons and the good news is that they will carry different running numbers to the first versions we released which means you can have a rake of eight W & L or GWR liveried wagons with individual running numbers. The W & L light grey wagons will now carry numbers 15, 16, 17 & 18, the GWR set will have numbers 34161, 34163, 34168 & 34170. Please remember that this batch will also include the limited run of ‘Peate’ private owner wagons which will be exclusively available from Trackshack on the Isle of Man.
