Accucraft UK Ltd

Welcome to our September update.  Firstly, we’d like to apologise for further delays to the delivery of stock.  A combination of lockdowns in China and shipping issues continue to dog the progress of our projects and we thank you for your collective patience – as soon as we have definite news of arrival dates we will publish them here.  Secondly, we are afraid to say that the recent falls in the value of Sterling will have an impact on future retail prices and although the current batch of ‘Lawleys’ will be sent out in the third week of September at their RRP of £2995.00 the next batch is likely to carry a UK RRP of £3250.00.  Finally the office will be closed for the Llanfair Show and annual holidays from 2nd September until 20th September, email will be monitored but the ‘phone will remain unanswered.

‘Lawley’ images

With the first batch of ‘Lawleys’ now complete, we can share some factory images of the three liveries.

Another new dealer joins the Accucraft ‘family’!

We’d like to welcome Footplate Models of Kidderminster to our growing list of dealers. The shop has been established for over ten years now and continues to grow – going from strength to strength. The business is run by the father and son team of Derek and Richard – both having extensive knowledge of the hobby and the real thing!  Just down the hill from the Severn Valley Railway’s terminus, the premises is perfectly located for anyone visiting the railway.

Footplate Models
101 Comberton Hill
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY10 1QH

01562 750076

G1MRA 75th Anniversary Show at Bicester

With just a month to go until the Gauge Model Railway Association’s 75th Anniversary Show at Bicester Heritage the list of attractions and exhibitors continues to grow.  You can see full details and to book tickets here.  One of the highlights is the Gauge 2 layout being exhibited for the first time in public.  We will be bring some Gauge 1 stock to sell, mainly end of line items that will not be repeated.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Second-hand items

We have recently been offered several collections of both narrow gauge and Gauge 1 stock, among which are many sought-after locomotives and items of rolling stock, particularly older Aster models.  If you have specific needs or gaps in your collection that need filling, please let us know and we will prioritise your bids.

With only a week to go before the Llanfair Garden Railway Show and the associated gala on the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway we thought it might be timely to announce that we will be bringing a large number of items for sale.  Apart from ‘Open Box’ examples of recent production items (mainly for exhibition display or photographic purposes) we will also be carrying items of second-hand locomotives and rolling stock that we are selling, some of them rare and hard to obtain.  Here are a few tasters!

Welcome to our August update.  We have some good news for the Gauge 1 fraternity this month, ahead of their upcoming 75th Anniversary show in October as well as some welcome photographs of the ‘Lawleys’ in production.

New 1:32 Scale 14T oil tankers

We were delighted to have been asked by the Gauge 1 Model Railway Association to produce a commemorative vehicle for the association’s 75th Anniversary and are pleased to back this up by supporting their ever-expanding plans for a show at Bicester Heritage over the first weekend in October.  The new versions of these popular wagons will be available this summer at a projected UK RRP of £85.00.

The G1MRA tanker will be built in strictly limited numbers and demand is expected to be high. Priced at £85.00 they represent excellent value for money and can either be delivered or picked up at Bicester in October. Please follow this link to register your interest.

We will also be releasing the tank wagons in liveried black for the first time, Esso and Shell/BP, we will also be producing plain black versions.  Make sure you place your reservation with your local dealer – this will be a strictly limited run.

‘Lawleys’ in production

We were very pleased with the reception that the engineering sample of this locomotive was given at the National Garden Railway Show in June and running trials in North Wales have shown it to be a smooth and capable engine to drive.  Here are some photos from the factory to whet your appetite.  Please note that there are only a few in the initial UK shipment that are not spoken for, so order yours now to avoid a delay of several months before the next batch.

Llanfair Garden Railway Show – 3rd & 4th September

We will be attending this show as usual but this year we will be bringing a selection of narrow gauge ‘end of line’ items to clear the decks a bit.  There will be some terrific bargains to be had (both locomotives and rolling stock) so make sure you come by our stand.

Welcome to the Accucraft UK July update, it was good to catch up with so many of you at the National Garden Railway Show in Peterborough.  This month we are delighted to be able to report significant progress on production of both the 1:19 scale ‘Lawleys’ and the 1:32 scale GWR 43XX with estimated delivery dates of late August and late September respectively so get your wallets out!  We can also report further developments with the forthcoming Shay.

1:19 Scale ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0

They say a picture is worth a thousand words……

We only have a limited number of unallocated ‘Lawleys’ in the first batch so don’t hesitate if you’d like one!

1:32 Scale GWR 43XX 2-6-0

The factory is making good progress on assembling the batch of GWR Moguls with most of the brasswork done and machined components being finished.

1:20.3 Scale 13T Shay

We are pleased to be able to offer the cute little 13T Shay with a further livery variation, adding the planished iron boiler to the two other options.  Planished or ‘Russian’ iron was popular among 19th Century locomotive builders, particularly in the USA.  The name is applied to sheet iron with a very highly polished or glazed surface. It is used for protecting the lagging of engines and boilers and for other uses where a non-corroding black iron of finished surface is desired.

These sheets are made by piling together about fifty pickled sheets of soft steel with powdered charcoal sprinkled between adjacent sheets. The pile is wrapped in old sheets, wired and heated in a furnace to a cherry-red heat for about six hours. Upon cooling, each sheet is swept free of loose charcoal and is then sprayed with steam to form a thin oxide. Again the sheets are piled together, heated and then placed on the hammer table, several in a bundle, and pounded with a steam hammer. This brings about a grinding action which grinds the carbon and oxide on the surface down to a highly polished coating.

The 13-2 Class A straight boiler Shay locomotive was one of Lima’s industrial success stories, with virtually identical examples built for US and international industry and plantations lines. Orders were built for New York, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington State, Minnesota and Hawaii. In addition, exports were built for Queensland Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico and more. Despite its small stature, the design was built for a wide variety of gauges including 50cm, 24”, 30” 36”, 42” and standard gauge. The 13-2 Class A is a 2 cylinder, 13 Ton conventional straight boiler design, and differs from other 13 Ton ‘T’ boiler and tapered boiler designs.  Today there is only one known survivor of this design of 13-2 Class A, as built for Queensland, Australia which is now preserved at the Nambour Museum in beautifully restored, non-operational condition.

At long last, a gorgeous little Shay that is gauge-adjustable!  Perfect for the 16mm brigade!

The model will be gauge-adjustable for 32mm and 45mm and will come with two types of stack as typically supplied by Lima when built.  Supplied in either black or green and now planished (Russian) iron, UK RRP £2145.00 RTR, £1995.00 Kit, available direct from Accucraft UK, due for release Q4 2022.  Our thanks to David Fletcher for the superb illustrations.

Specifications:

1:20.3 Scale – 45 mm Gauge/32mm Gauge (adjustable)
Brass, Copper & Stainless Steel Construction
48 in. (1.2 M) Mini. Radius
Length: 16.8 in. (427 mm)
Width: 4.5 in. (116 mm)
Height: 6.6 in. (168 mm)

Features:

Butane fired
Two truck, two cylinders
Simulated Stephenson valve gear,
Two Safety valves
Lubricator
Water level gauge, Goodall valve
Blowdown valve
Superheater

Welcome to the Accucraft UK June update.  On this Jubilee Holiday weekend  we would like to congratulate our monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, on her 70 year reign.  Members of The Royal Family have always been enthusiastic users of railways, both large and small, long may it continue!

This month we have some good news!  After many delays, the 1:19 (16mm scale) Beira ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0s are in production and we are now confident that we will have a sample model at the National Garden Railway Show on 25th June and we look forward to seeing you there.  We can also report that we have some additions to the Clearing House.

First glance – Lawley 4-4-0 sample

The factory has kindly supplied us with an early image of the sample model of the forthcoming Beira Railway ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0, albeit with a few last details still to be added, and we have to say we are delighted.  Between 1895 and 1898, the Beira Railway ordered 42 Falcon type F2 and F4 4-4-0 tender locomotives, supplied in six batches by Falcon Engine and Car Works Limited in England and the Glasgow Railway Engineering Company in Scotland. In service, these locomotives were soon nicknamed ‘Lawleys’, after the Beira Railway construction subcontractor.

The museum quality model is internally gas fired and is gauge adjustable for either 32mm (‘0’ gauge) or 45mm (‘1’ gauge) – all the parts for this are supplied with the model. This operation can be undertaken by the owner and only takes a few minutes. The cab roof lifts up to give access to the water filler. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge, pressure gauge and the lubricators are set on the running board, the gas tank is in a water bath in the tender. The model is fitted with slide valves, functioning Stephenson valve gear and is built from stainless steel, copper and brass.  Estimated UK RRP £2995.00 inc. VAT. for pre-ordered models.  You can find full details on this website.

Don’t forget that Resurgam Rolling Stock make a great range of suitable vehicles to run with your Lawley!

Some additions to the Clearing House

Electric

Accucraft 1:29 scale PRR K4 (electric) – required trailing vehicle for battery pack – £1250.00

Live Steam

Accucraft 1:20.3 scale K28 live steam (butane) + four Accucraft San Juan coaches – £6000.00

Accucraft 1:32 scale Radial Tank 4-4-2T in BR Black (late crest) + four L&SWR coaches (BR Green) – £4495.00

Accucraft H8 Allegheny Virginian Mallet 2-6-6-6 live steam (butane) – £6500.00

Welcome to our May update.  Rolling Covid-19 lockdowns in China are hampering operations at the factory and our ability to ship goods by air.  However, we have managed to obtain what may be the last batch of RTR Pecketts and these are now in stock at your dealers – don’t miss out!  The kits will be along shortly as well.  As soon as we have firm delivery dates for our other projects we will be sure to advise about them here.

Progress with Diana

One piece of good news is that we are able to share some images of the stainless steel metalwork for Diana’s bodywork.  Due for delivery this autumn we are taking pre-orders now, be sure to be on the list!

Diana was built in 1909 by Kerr Stuart as part of an order for six 2′ 5 1⁄2″ gauge locomotives for Mauritius. Although several of the locomotives in the order were sent to Mauritius, Diana wasn’t delivered and stayed at Kerr Stuart’s factory in Stoke on Trent. In 1917, the locomotive was purchased by the Home Grown Timber Committee of the Board of Trade for use on the Kerry Tramway, near Newtown, Powys in Mid Wales. It was rebuilt to 2′ gauge and delivered to Kerry, Powys.

The Kerry Tramway closed in 1922, though a short length was retained and worked by an unknown locomotive. In 1925, Diana was sold to the Oakeley Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, where it worked for the next twenty years. In 1945, it was sold on to the Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry in the Nantlle Valley, where it and worked until its boiler was condemned in 1950.

Diana was purchased for preservation in 1964 and passed through the hands of a variety of owners and moved to a number of different locations including the Llanberis Lake Railway, the Brecon Mountain Railway and Alan Keef’s in Ross on Wye although its restoration was never fully completed until it passed into the hands of Phil Mason, a Talyllyn Railway volunteer, who finished the work at the Vale of Rheidol Railway before setting the engine to work on the Bala Lake Railway.

The planned release of our model was pushed back six months by the Covid-19 outbreak but we anticipate a 2021 delivery. The model is gas-fired and fitted with a water top up valve, water gauge, miniature pressure gauge and lubricator; constructed of stainless steel and etched brass with a copper boiler, the locomotive has an enhanced level of detail made possible by this scale including a brake stand / gas control valve, dummy water gauges and sliding cab-sheet doors.  It is gauge-adjustable between 45mm and 32mm gauges.  The gas tank is concealed in the left hand side tank with the filler hidden under a dummy coal load, the Goodall top-up valve is hidden in the dummy sand pot on the boiler.  The estimated UK pre-order is £1695.00 and the model will be available direct from us or through our dealers.  Our thanks to Phil Mason for giving us unlimited access to the locomotive and David Fletcher for producing the superb drawings.

In addition to the help Phil Mason has given us he has very kindly arranged that every customer who purchases a model of Diana will be entitled to a free footplate ride on the prototype locomotive at the Amerton Railway near Stafford (subject to terms and conditions yet to be finalised) and the opportunity to pose their model with the real thing!  A numbered certificate confirming this will be issued with every model sold.

Specifications:

• Scale: 22.5mm to 1 foot (1:13.7), 7/8ths” to 1 foot
• Gauge: 45mm or 32mm adjustable
• Length: 270mm (over buffer beams)
• Width: 126mm
• Height: 195mm
• Boiler: Centre Flue
• Working Pressure: 60psi
• Weight: TBA
• Minimum Radius: 600mm (2 feet)
• Reversing Gear: Piston type, reverse by lever in the cab
• Valve Gear: Simulated Stephenson’s link
• Fuel: Butane Gas
• Boiler Fittings: Safety valve, pressure gauge, water top-up valve
• Cab Controls: Steam regulator, gas regulator, reverse lever, water gauge

Colours available, subject to production batch:

S78-5A Kerr Stuart ‘Sirdar’ 0-4-0T in lined grey, Diana
S78-5B Kerr Stuart ‘Sirdar’ 0-4-0T in lined black
S78-5C Kerr Stuart ‘Sirdar’ 0-4-0T in lined green
S78-5D Kerr Stuart ‘Sirdar’ 0-4-0T in lined maroon

Welcome to the Accucraft UK April update.  This month we bring you news of a further run of the 1:32 oil tankers including a limited edition version to celebrate G1MRA’s 75th Anniversary this year as well as Esso and Shell/BP versions in black.  We also have some tempting new offers in the ‘Clearing House’.  Please note that the office will be closed for the week 4th – 8th April.

New 1:32 Scale 14T oil tankers

We were delighted to have been asked by the Gauge 1 Model Railway Association to produce a commemorative vehicle for the association’s 75th Anniversary and are pleased to back this up by supporting their ever-expanding plans for a show at Bicester Heritage over the first weekend in October.  The new versions of these popular wagons will be available this summer at a projected UK RRP of £85.00.

The G1MRA tanker will be built in strictly limited numbers and demand is expected to be high. Priced at £85.00 they represent excellent value for money and can either be delivered or picked up at Bicester in October. Please follow this link to register your interest.

Special Edition Jackson & Sharp coaches

D&RGW passenger cars were originally built by the Jackson Sharp company in the early 1880’s. The D&RG rebuilt them over the years with larger windows, and other improvements on an as needed basis. In the 1920’s the coaches went through the car shops again to have more improvements made. This included having the bodies and platforms lowered, under-frame reinforced, and extension side bearings installed. Accucraft’s models are of the later rebuilt cars.  The C&S and RGS all acquired these cars over the years, and the D&RG, and the D&RGW rebuilt these cars so many times that today it can be hard to tell how many changes were done.

The newest SE special edition of these coaches feature a stronger, more secure construction, ball bearing wheels standard, and new LED lights that can be track or battery powered.  Liveries available include Red, Green and Bumble Bee yellow, contact us for availability, the UK RRP is £295.00

Note: New yellow bumble bee coaches are a different shade of yellow compared to previous productions.

In consequence of this new run, the old stock of J&S coaches have been remaindered at a UK RRP of £220.00.  Coaches only are available in C&S green but Combines are still available D&RGW bumble bee yellow, D&RGW red and green, RGS red and unlettered red.  Contact us to confirm availability.

New to the ‘Clearing House’

We are pleased to offer a couple of exciting ‘train sets’ through the ‘Clearing House’.  The first is a rare bird, an Accucraft K-28 in Moffatt green with the Moffatt logo on the tender.  These D&RGW ‘Mikes’ rarely come up for sale and the original run was only a small one.  The locomotive is butane-fired and has been very well cared for.  It comes with four of the equally rare metal ‘San Juan’ coaches, as illustrated here (less one coach).  Priced at £7000.00 for the set we think it represents great value for money.

We also have a complete Southern Region set to sell in 1:32 Scale, comprising an Accucraft Adams Radial Tank 4-4-2T and four L&SWR suburban coaches in BR green – £4495.00

Welcome to our March update!  Despite everything we have continued to progress projects and are delighted to bring you further news about very successful little Peckett saddle tanks – these are now available as kits!  We are also pleased to bring you news of the new Accucraft US Shay, the first to be available as gauge-adjustable between 32mm and 45mm gauge!  In addition the long-awaited 1:29 Scale GP60s are on their way, both as DCC ready and sound-fitted types.  Finally we’d like to issue a last reminder that the Midlands Garden Railway Show is being held over the weekend of the 12th & 13th March and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

Peckett kits!

Having presented the Gauge 1 fraternity with the lovely Adams Radial Tank as both ready to run models and kits we will probably be offering all future production in the latter form as well as RTR.  There can be no doubt that the Radial Tank was well received as a kit and our customers enjoyed the challenge of building them up – now it is the turn of the narrow gauge fraternity!

The next run of Pecketts will be priced at £1650.00 RTR and £1575.00 for the kits.

1:20.3 Scale 13-2 Class A Shay

The 13-2 Class A straight boiler Shay locomotive was one of Lima’s industrial success stories, with virtually identical examples built for US and international industry and plantations lines. Orders were built for New York, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington State, Minnesota and Hawaii. In addition, exports were built for Queensland Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico and more. Despite its small stature, the design was built for a wide variety of gauges including 50cm, 24”, 30” 36”, 42” and standard gauge. The 13-2 Class A is a 2 cylinder, 13 Ton conventional straight boiler design, and differs from other 13 Ton ‘T’ boiler and tapered boiler designs.  Today there is only one known survivor of this design of 13-2 Class A, as built for Queensland, Australia which is now preserved at the Nambour Museum in beautifully restored, non-operational condition.

At long last, a gorgeous little Shay that is gauge-adjustable!  Perfect for the 16mm brigade!

The model will be gauge-adjustable for 32mm and 45mm and will come with two types of stack as typically supplied by Lima when built.  Supplied in either black or green, UK RRP £2145.00 RTR, £1995.00 Kit, available direct from Accucraft UK, due for release Q4 2022.  Our thanks to David Fletcher for the superb illustrations.

Specifications:

1:20.3 Scale – 45 mm Gauge/32mm Gauge (adjustable)
Brass, Copper & Stainless Steel Construction
48 in. (1.2 M) Mini. Radius
Length: 16.8 in. (427 mm)
Width: 4.5 in. (116 mm)
Height: 6.6 in. (168 mm)

Features:

Butane fired
Two truck, two cylinders
Simulated Stephenson valve gear,
Two Safety valves
Lubricator
Water level gauge, Goodall valve
Blowdown valve
Superheater

Now available! 1:29 Scale GP60/GP60M Diesels

The GP60 was EMD’s first engine that was classified as a “third-generation” locomotive. The engine’s on-board microprocessors replaced hundreds of wiring circuits, dozens of relays and all but one module card, making it an improvement among EMD’s engines.  Power was provided by a 16-cylinder 710G3A diesel engine, which could produce 3,800 horsepower (2,800 kW). This locomotive was 59 feet 9 inches long and featured a 3,700-US-gallon (14,000 L) fuel tank. The GP60 series shared the same frame as the GP59. Cabless ‘B’ units of this locomotive model were also built; they were known as GP60B models. Units built with a North American Safety Cab were designated GP60M. These latter two types were purchased exclusively by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. A total of 294 GP60, 23 GP60B and 63 GP60M units were built by EMD. Due to the mainstream focus of railroads on powerful six-axle units, and strict emissions standards, the GP60 was the last new EMD “Geep”.

1:29 Scale, 45mm Gauge
DCC & Sound Ready Option – £595.00
DCC & Sound Fitted Option – £795.00

Road Number Options:

Santa Fe Blue/Yellow: #4022, #4035
Santa Fe Aluminium/Red: #100, #101, #144, #157
Rio Grande: #3154, #3156
Union Pacific: #1994, #2098
Southern Pacific: #9757, #9785
Vermont Railway: #381
Norfolk Southern Black/White & “Operation Lifesaver”: #7100
Norfolk Southern 100th Anniversary: #4610
CSX: #6897, #6899
BNSF “Heritage”: #117, #145
BNSF ” Wedge”: #130, #150

Midlands Garden Railway Show

Welcome to our February update.  We are pleased to say that after various delays, at least three projects are making good progress at the factory.  The 1:32 scale GWR 43XX is coming along and the 1:19 scale ‘Lawley’ is also now in production; in addition to these two, the 1:32 Mk1 coaches are once again back on track and we hope to see all three of these projects within four to six months.

1:19 Scale ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0

The factory has commenced making parts for the eagerly anticipated ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0 and we aim to have the sample with us at Midlands Garden Rail Show. The museum quality model is internally gas fired and is gauge adjustable for either 32mm (‘0’ gauge) or 45mm (‘1’ gauge) – all the parts for this are supplied with the model. This operation can be undertaken by the owner and only takes a few minutes. The cab roof lifts up to give access to the water filler. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge, pressure gauge and the gas tank is in a water bath in the tender (which also has a dry space for fitting radio control). The model is fitted with slide valves, functioning Stephenson valve gear and is built from stainless steel, copper and brass. Estimated UK RRP £2950.00 inc. VAT – don’t miss the pre-order price!

Revisions during the design stage have included the provision of a single-skinned roof only, sliding cabside louvres, twin lubricators and the decision to produce the headlamps as an after-market accessory.

Research has shown that the SAR green livery is close enough to justify using the same colour as that which we applied to our Lynton & Barnstaple locomotives and it would not be too great a stretch of the imagination to envisage one of these plying its trade in North Devon!

S19-36A Lawley NG6 4-4-0 – Beira Railway Green
S19-36B Lawley NG6 4-4-0 – SAR Green
S19-36C Lawley NG6 4-4-0 – SAR Black

1:19 Scale Cranmore Peckett 0-4-0ST

We have been delighted by the reaction of customers who bought the 1:19 (16mm) Cranmore Peckett saddle tanks and are grateful for all your kind words.  It is, indeed, a lovely little locomotive but we omitted to say a couple of things in the instructions!  Firstly, the wheels can be re-gauged in the normal fashion, by carefully inverting the locomotive and slackening off the grub screws in the wheel bosses (using the Allen key provided) and moving the wheels in or out until the alternative dimple in the axle is located at which point the grub screw can be re-tightened.  We appreciate that after runs of “either/or”  locomotives, many customers wanted a truly gauge adjustable one!  Secondly, the cab spectacle glasses are protected on the inside by a film of transparent blue plastic – this can be carefully peeled back with a finger nail.

Please be aware that nearly all the initial delivery has been sold and although we will be taking orders for the second batch, these may not be available until the summer, so, if you are still hesitating, don’t leave it too late!

You can find a short video on YouTube covering the main features of the Peckett (and a couple you may not have discovered yet!).

The Midlands Garden Rail Show

Belated Happy New Year!  2022 has dawned brightly with the gorgeous little Cranmore Pecketts delivered to their new owners.  We are pleased/sorry to say that a rash of new orders has reduced our available free stock to a couple of examples of each livery and we don’t anticipate these staying around long!  With all the parts already made we should be able to produce further batches in due course.  In other news we are delighted to announce our next ‘small’ locomotive in 16mm (1:19) scale, Rheidol, and have further tempting offerings in ‘The Clearing House’.

New for 2022/3 – 16mm (1:19) scale Bagnall 0-4-2T Rheidol

Following the release of the gorgeous little Peckett, we are delighted to announce that our next small locomotive will be the Bagnall 2-4-0T Rheidol. One of Archangel’s most successful models in the early days of 16mm scale, we are sure many associated with the hobby will have soft spot for this engine! Originally named Treze de Maio (Portuguese for 13th May, the date on which slavery was abolished in Brazil), the engine was built by Bagnalls of Stafford for Collier Antunes for a sugar cane plantation in 1896 but never delivered as the order was cancelled, instead the locomotive was re-gauged from 2’ 5 ½” gauge to 2’ 3” gauge when it was sold to the Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway and named Talybont. In 1903, after the failure of that railway, it was purchased for the construction of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, re-gauged to 1’ 11 ¾” and renamed Rheidol. Absorbed by the GWR in 1923 it was numbered it 1198, but it was withdrawn and scrapped the following year, having never carried its GWR number.

The model is gauge-adjustable (32mm and 45mm), gas-fired and fitted with a water top-up valve, water gauge with blow-down valve, lubricator and pressure gauge; constructed of stainless steel and etched brass with a copper boiler, the model will, as usual, be covered by our two-year warranty. The anticipated pre-order RRP is £1695.00 (subject to the usual provisos), available late 2022 or early 2023. Fitted with Accucraft chopper couplings, the model will be supplied with two chimneys, the original balloon stack and the more traditional type. Available in six liveries, full details can be found on the Accucraft UK website. As ever, we’d like to thank David Fletcher for his superb drawings, illustrating the livery options.  You can find full details here.

New Vale of Rheidol book launched

Coincidental with our announcement of the little Bagnall, the Vale of Rheidol Railway has released a new book.

Many years have been spent researching the railway’s own archives and archaeology dating back to the opening of the line in 1902 to produce this sumptuous volume. With the research coupled with detailed measured drawings, the book presents an unrivalled description of the Railway’s history, equipment and infrastructure.

The highly detailed drawings include locomotives, passenger carriages, goods stock, service vehicles, bridges, signalling, trackwork, station buildings, lineside equipment, water columns etc. Also featured are a fascinating selection of photographs, documents and ephemera from the railway’s own archives from opening to the present day. Many of these illustrations are being reproduced for the first time with many in colour. Carefully prepared livery diagrams illustrate the myriad of paint schemes used by the railway, including Brighton Ochre and BR Rail Blue.

In addition to providing a comprehensive record of locomotives, carriages, wagons and buildings, some now long disappeared, aided by primary source information and close examination of surviving equipment, the work brings the record up to date with extensive details of modern developments and equipment. This includes a unique behind-the scenes insight into the engineering and operation of a modern preserved narrow gauge steam railway.

The book will be available, only from the Vale of Rheidol Railway, in January 2022.

Latest ‘Clearing House’ offerings

We often get requests for items that are discontinued and similarly we get offered items to sell by customers or from estate sales.  Thus we are able to keep a list of requirements and available items, some of which are rare or hard to obtain.  We try to match up the two halves of this equation, either directly or via our dealers, with a view providing a useful service that ensures Accucraft and other locomotives and rolling stock find good homes.  Please contact us by ‘phone or email to discuss your requirements.

Here are a few choice items currently available, all for sale on behalf of known and trusted customers.

Accucraft 1:20.3 scale K36 2-8-2 live steam – SOLD

Accucraft Pennsylvania T1 4-4-4-4 live steam (alcohol) – £4750.00

Aster Nickel Plate Road Berkshire 2-8-4 live steam (alcohol) – £4500.00 (with wooden carry-case)

Bowande Pennsylvania G5 4-6-0 live steam (butane) – £1900.00 (brand new, never run) SOLD