Dapol ND099N

British Rail Class 86 86261 English, Welsh & Scottish Railway Maroon & Gold

Contents

Tooling

Dapol introduced its first N gauge model of the British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive in 2010. The Class 86, built between 1965 and 1966, was a key part of British Rail’s AC electric fleet for the West Coast Main Line. Dapol’s tooling aimed to capture the distinctive features of these Bo-Bo locomotives while providing reliable performance and digital readiness for modern layouts.

Tooling Features

  • Body Construction: Finely moulded plastic bodyshell with metal components; chassis combines plastic and metal for strength and weight.
  • Detailing: Factory-fitted separate details including door handles, handrails, jumper cables, etched nameplates (user-fit), roof electrical gear, bufferbeam detail packs, and fully painted cab interiors with glazing and seating.
  • Pantographs: Brecknell Willis high-speed and Stone Faiveley AMBR types, poseable but unpowered.
  • Couplings: NEM pockets with Rapido-style couplers; cosmetic screw-link options included in accessory packs.

Mechanical & Electrical

  • Motor: 5-pole “Super Creep” motor with twin flywheels for smooth, slow-speed control.
  • Drive: All-wheel drive and all-wheel electrical pickup for reliable performance.
  • Lighting: Directional head and tail lights (white/red).
  • Weighting: Internal chassis weighting for improved adhesion.
  • Pantograph: Working cosmetic feature (poseable, not powered).

DCC Capability

  • DCC Ready with a 6-pin socket.
  • No factory provision for sound speaker.

Reviews & Commentary

Enthusiast feedback at the time praised the fine detailing, smooth running qualities, and accurate liveries. The poseable pantograph and etched nameplates were considered strong points. Criticism focused on the delicate nature of some roof fittings and the lack of sound capability. Overall, the model was regarded as a significant step forward for modern N gauge electric locomotives.

Media & Social Media

Retailer showcases and early YouTube reviews highlighted the model’s slow-speed performance and crisp decoration. Forum discussions (RMweb, N Gauge Forum) noted good reliability when properly maintained, though some users reported occasional lighting quirks.

Interesting Notes: The tooling represented multiple sub-classes (86/2, 86/4, and 86/6), allowing Dapol to cover passenger, mixed-traffic, and freight variants. Special commissions included limited-edition BR Blue models for C&M Models.

Class & Prototype

  • Running Number: 86261

The British Rail Class 86 was English Electric's pioneering 25 kV AC electric locomotive for West Coast Main Line electrification, with 100 built 1965-1966. Originally designated AL6, these Bo-Bo locomotives delivered 3,600-4,000 hp and served 56 years hauling express passenger services and freight traffic. Revolutionary flexicoil suspension modifications from 1971 transformed the class from problematic 80 mph freight locomotives into reliable 100 mph express passenger machines. Class 86s worked for BR, InterCity, Virgin Trains, Anglia Railways, and Freightliner until February 2021, with three preserved examples still hauling charter trains. Approximately 32 locomotives were exported to Hungary and Bulgaria where many remain operational.

Operator & Livery

The English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) operated Britain's largest rail freight network from 1996-2007, controlling 90% of the UK freight market. Formed by Wisconsin Central through acquisition of five British Rail freight companies, EWS revolutionised British freight transport with 250 new General Motors Class 66 locomotives and distinctive maroon and gold livery featuring the famous "three beasties" logo. The company was acquired by Deutsche Bahn in 2007, eventually becoming today's DB Cargo UK while maintaining its freight market dominance.

The EWS maroon and gold livery was introduced in April 1996, with the first locomotive to receive the scheme being Class 37 number 37057, which emerged from Toton Depot on 25 April 1996 to coincide with the launch of the English, Welsh & Scottish brand. The colour specification featured maroon bodysides, roofs and ends with black underframes and buffer beams, standard UK yellow warning panels, and a distinctive gold stripe running centrally between the cab ends.

To ensure accurate colour consistency, a sample plate was flown from Wisconsin Central's American operations to Britain, where British paints were mixed to match this standard. Interestingly, when Class 66 and 67 locomotives were later built by General Motors, another sample plate was sent to the manufacturer, resulting in a slightly lighter shade than the original British mix.

The livery evolved through several variations. Early applications from April 1996 featured "EW&S" lettering (including the ampersand) in Arial typeface within the gold band. From January 1997, this was simplified to "EWS" with improved Gill Sans typeface - continuing a tradition established by the LNER in the 1920s and used by British Railways until the 1960s.

The gold band width varied by locomotive class - most received 600mm bands, but Classes 37, 58, and 73 looked better with 550mm bands due to their distinctive body shapes. Company lettering and locomotive numbers appeared in maroon within the gold stripe with 20mm clearance from the band edges, positioned at opposite ends on each side of the locomotive.

For model railway enthusiasts, specialist paint manufacturers like Phoenix Paints produce authentic colour matches, with their E.W.&S. Red (P193) and E.W.&S. Gold (P194) paints matched to original Wisconsin Central colour panels. Alternative options include RailMatch EWS Maroon (1255) which many modellers prefer for value and colour accuracy.

The EWS maroon and gold scheme became one of the most recognisable railway liveries in modern British history, remaining in use until Deutsche Bahn's acquisition in 2007 and the subsequent adoption of DB Schenker corporate red livery from 2009.