Common Features:
- Highly detailed OO scale model, 1:76.2
- Heavy die-cast metal chassis
- Accurate tumbleholme, nose, cab roof and cantrail curves taken from 3D Laser scan and extensive surveys
- Timeframe specific details, including but not limited to;
- Bogies (Fabricated and three variations of Cast)
- Fuel tanks (As built and with later smooth-sided long range fuel tank)
- Early Class 37/0 features frost grille, boiler filler panel and access steps
- Early Class 37/0 features illuminated split headcode displays with a selection of different four-character headcodes
- Class 37/6 have operational WIPAC light clusters and top headlight and numerous different nose slides all including multiple working socket
- Three styles of buffer: large round Oleo, oval and squared oval
- Three styles of nose grilles: as built, refurbished ‘split’ and refurbished ‘single piece’
- Boiler exhaust, and two styles of plated boiler panel
- With or without bufferbeam skirts
- With or without cab roof vents and bodyside windows
- Nose and roof aerials and antennas (where applicable)
- Three styles of windscreen: standard, centre toughened and all toughened
- Three styles of cab interior: as built, refurbished and modern DRS locos
- Four bufferbeam variations with different piping configurations
- Door kickplates where applicable
- Multiple body and nose slides to accurately represent almost every member of the class, including three variations of cantrail grille: early EE (for D6700-D6704), later EE and RSH
- Four roof styles: Original double riveted, single riveted, welded and welded with antennas
- Separately applied etched metal and high fidelity plastic detail parts, including grab handles, aerials, steps, wipers, nameplates, crests and more.
- Etched metal door kickplates (where applicable), ‘frost’ grille (where applicable) & super fine etched metal roof grille
- Scale width wire handrails
- Turned brass roof-mounted horns on centre headcode examples
- Full underbody tank detail with brackets and pipework
- Bogies feature separate footsteps, etched footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder, end brake rigging and very fine brake chain
- Brake blocks on trucks (bogies) in line with wheels (can be moved for EM/P4 gauges)
- Numerous other locomotive-specific details yet to be revealed!
- RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels with fine scale ‘drop in’ EM (18.2mm gauge) and P4 (18.83mm gauge) wheels available separately
- Accurate high-fidelity miniature snowploughs
- Fully sprung metal buffers, extra-fine factory-installed pipework and screw couplings
- Correct height mini-tension-lock couplers with NEM socket as well as a fully detailed bufferbeam
- Provided DCC ready [21Pin MTX Socket] or Factory DCC Sound Fitted [ESU LokSound 5]
- Every model includes PowerPack / Backup Power Capacitor Bank for up to ten seconds of power free running, flicker free lighting and continuous sound
- DCC Sound Versions include:
- ESU LokSound V5 DCC Chip
- Customised Dual-Speaker Technology with;
- Large EM2 Style Bass Speaker
- Smaller 'iphone' style cube for higher frequencies
- High Performance traction, to include:
- High-quality five-pole motor with two flywheels
- Metal Helical Gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running
- Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h)
- DCC ready with PowerPack Super-capacitor for uninterrupted power and super low speed running
- All wheel drive and all wheel pickup
- Fully detailed Lighting Pack, including:
- Directional lighting on DC and DCC
- Fully functional Headlights per prototype
- Engine Bay Lighting (with visible Prime Mover)
- WIPAC light clusters where appropriate with day and night-time settings
- Separately switched cab lighting and illuminated, details driver’s console, auto off on movement
- Switchable red tail lights
- RP25-110 wheels OO wheels with provision for re-gauging to p4 and EM gauge
- Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track)
The unlikely story of the return to glory of 37716 and four of its compatriots from European exile and almost certain scrapping is still remarkable almost a decade a half since they were repatriated in August 2012. 14 ‘Heavyweights’ were exported to Spain in mid 2001 for use with Continental Rail (GIF) for construction of the AVE (Alta Velocidad España) high speed network, all gaining a light blue/dark blue livery in the same style as the maroon/gold English Welsh & Scottish Railway scheme applied to other Class 37s.
By 2011 there were just nine survivors, all out of use, and new owner DB Schenker returned six to the UK for sale while the remaining three were cut up on site. All six found buyers, Direct Rail Services taking 37703/714/716/718, while Europhoenix rescued 37800/884 from almost certain destruction at Kingsbury scrap yard.
While 37703/714 were quickly re-activated for what turned out to be short-lived shunt duties at Daventry, a little more effort was expended on 37716. After 15 months of work at RVEL Derby the Class 37/7 made its debut for DRS in the middle of the Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT) season, notably swapping its newly applied ‘Compass’ vinyls for the revised full body ‘fade’ graphics before it re-entered traffic.
37718, which had donated spares to its recovery, was scrapped the following July.
With 37703/714 loaned out to preservationists, the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns-built former D6794 and 37094 became popular with enthusiasts as the sole DRS ‘Heavyweight’ in service and found itself employed on a wide range of the operator’s duties. These included nuclear flasks, Network Rail test trains, infrastructure trains, charters, and even the Cumbrian and East Anglian loco-hauled. In 2018 it was also hired to Victa Railfreight for Peak Forest shunting work.
37716 lasted right to the end of DRS Class 37 operation, being stored in February 2024. It was quickly sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company and lost its brandings. HNRC became Swietelsky UK in 2025 and while the locomotive is operational, it has not yet returned to the main line.