Holy Duck - An AccuraPannier!
Following the recent success and reaction to our GWR 78xx Manor Class locomotives, and the feedback following the launch of our GER Buckjumpers, we thought we would combine the love for GWR prototypes, with our new found knowledge of tank engines.
This delicious recipe will bring you the ultimate model of one of the most iconic tank locomotives of them all, the GWR 57xx, 67xx and 8750 Class Pannier Tanks!
The Accurascale pannier range is the product of several years of hard work and research. In order to select the variants we wanted to model, we had to look at all variations over the history of the class.
However by doing this we soon realised that we would in fact do all of them!
Where Our Pannier Differs
Before anyone says the 'D' word (and we don't mean Duck!), we need to explain where our Pannier Tanks differ to what has gone before.
Like our class 37 project, amongst others, we have done our Panniers in "The Accurascale Way", with lots of variations and detail differences. We have started by ‘filling the gaps’ and cover variants never before offered in ready-to-run format. This means locomotives with backplate feed (not top feed fitted) feature heavily in our launch range. Another striking variation amongst the contractor built locomotives was the use of rivets for constructing the tanks. Later modifications like the large “8750” cab is also included as is the 67xx sub class that were built without steam heat or vacuum brakes – with relevant pipes and equipment missing from the model as per prototype.
One smaller but no less important change is around the cab area. When built the 57xx class didn’t have an external front handrail or bunker steps. The handrail was flush with the cab side and built into the beading, the steps were also a later addition which we have recreated on our model.
It's not just big variations we have included. Smaller features like the whistles with or without a whistle guard, types of water filler which can either be screw down or clip down, position and number of spare lamp irons, cast or fabricated brake hangers, couplings were either screw link or 3 link and right down to the route of the injector overflow pipe, whether it ran through the running plate or around the outside, has been catered for. A vast suite of tools allows us the option to mix and match early and late features on the same locomotive, enabling a wide variety of prototypes to be recreated in faithful detail.
Need to find out more? Check out our launch video as pannier Project Manager Steve Purves takes an indepth look at the real thing!
Now with that explained, let's look at each model in our initial launch range!
5754. Great Western livery
5754 was the 4th member of the 57xx class to be built at Swindon. Outshopped in 1929, the locomotive represents a standard pannier from this early period. New to Old Oak Common shed and not relocating until the war years, it lasted just over 30 years in service. 5754 was withdrawn from Stourbridge shed and scrapped in 1960.
Features: No top feed, early style cab handrails, no bunker steps, Injector overflow routed through running plate
6743. Great Western livery
The 67xx was a subclass of panniers built without steam heat or vacuum brakes. The first 25 were built by Bagnall’s of Stafford but this one, from the second batch of 25, was outshopped from the Yorkshire Engine Company, Sheffield, in 1930. Initially allocated to Ebbw Junction, this loco spent its entire working life in South Wales before being withdrawn from Newport Pill shed in 1959
Features: No top feed, rivetted tanks, early cab style handrails, no bunker steps, Injector overflow routed through running plate
7755. GWR Shirt button Livery
7755 was a loco from the “Work Creation” orders. This engine was built in 1930 by North British Locomotive Co. at Queens Park works in Glasgow and was new to Neath shed. By the late 1930’s, 7755 gained the then new “shirt button” GWR logo and was transferred to Llanelly shed. A South Wales engine for its entire life, it was withdrawn from Aberbeeg shed in 1962 and scrapped.
Features: No top feed, early cab style handrails, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed through running plate
5741. GWR Livery
From the initial order of 50 locomotives from the North British Locomotive Works, 5741 emerged from Queens Park works, Glasgow in 1929. Initially allocated to Aberbeeg but transferred to Ebbw Junction whilst in the condition represented here. A relatively early withdrawal came in 1957 from Newport Pill Shed. It is reputed that 5741 was the inspiration for (and number carried by) “Duck” in the Rev. Awdry’s Railway Series.
Features: No top feed, late cab style handrails, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed through running plate
9741. British Railways Green Livery
With the introduction of what became the “8750” variations, this 1935 built locomotive emerged from Swindon works carrying a new enlarged cab but still retained some of the earlier style parts such as water fillers and backplate feed. Its initial allocation was Stafford Road shed (Wolverhampton) and can be seen here as it was outshopped in the early British Railways livery lettered livery with GWR "Egyptian" typeface. It was withdrawn from Wellington shed in 1962 before being scrapped
Features: No top feed, 8750 style cab, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed through running plate.
8763. British Railways Lined black livery, with Early Emblem
This locomotive was built at Swindon in 1933 and allocated to Old Oak Common where it spent its entire working life. By the early 1950s many panniers were fitted with top feed boilers. In contrast to the more common plain black livery, 8763 was treated to full mixed traffic lining as its duties included working empty coaching stock in and out of London Paddington. It was withdrawn in 1962.
Features: Top feed boiler, 8750 style cab, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed outside running plate.
9681. British Railways Black Livery, Late Crest
9681 was one of the last pannier tanks to be built. Emerging from Swindon Works in 1949 under the ownership of British Railways it was part of the penultimate lot of 10 locomotives. Initially allocated to Tondu in South Wales, it spent periods at Oswestry and Hereford before being withdrawn from Cardiff East Dock after a 16 year working life. Luckily it was bought by scrap merchant Dai Woodham and spent a number of years languishing before being moved to the Dean Forest Railway and returned to steam in 1984.
Features: Top feed boiler, 8750 style cab, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed outside running plate
7714. British Railways Black Livery, Early Emblem
7714 was an early “contractor” built locomotive, in this case, it was built by Kerr Stuart in Stoke on Trent in 1930. Initial allocation was to Tyseley but was soon sent North to Birkenhead. Withdrawn in 1959 it was purchased by the NCB and was sent to work at Penallta Colliery in South Wales. It worked here until it was purchased by the Severn Valley Railway in 1973. It was returned to steam and has been in service on and off ever since.
Features: No top feed, Rivetted tanks, Injector overflow routed through running plate
7754. NCB Green Livery
Another product of the North British Locomotive Company was 7754. Outshopped in 1930 it was allocated to Reading where it would be seen working all manner of trains. Following periods at Old Oak Common and Wellington it was withdrawn from service in 1959. Purchased by the NCB for use in South Wales, it went first to Talywain Colliery before being transferred to the new Mountain Ash system where it worked until 1975. Despite interest from many private individuals, the NCB donated it to the National Museum of Wales who placed it on permanent loan to the Llangollen Railway where it was restored to steam in 1994. It has just returned from a major overhaul and can be seen still working serviced on the Llangollen Railway
Features: Top feed boiler, Bunker steps fitted, Injector overflow routed outside running plate, Toolbox and steam heat removed by NCB
The Model
Inside the model you will find our powerful coreless motor suitably geared to allow the pannier to perform just like the real thing. There is the usual twin LED firebox flicker arrangement and a pair of sugar cube speakers for authentic sound reproduction on DCC sound fitted models. The DCC decoder is accessed through a magnetically removable smokebox door and pull-out board for trouble free decoder fitting.
As you can see from our lovely pics, the locomotive is now fully tooled, with first samples being on display on our stand at the 2023 Warley MRC Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham this weekend. These samples are currently undergoing testing and evaluation by our technical team before they progress to the decoration and production stages.
It is anticipated that the locomotives will arrive in stock in Q1, 2025. Our Pannier Tanks are priced at £139.95 for DC/DCC Ready models, and £239.95 for DCC Sound Fitted models. Locomotives can be pre-ordered via our website for no money down or via monthly instalments at no extra cost, or via our network of local stockists. A further announcement of an “Accurascale Exclusive” model, available exclusively via the Accurascale website only, will take place in the coming months.
Accurascale would like to thank the Dean Forest Railway, The Great Central Railway and The Severn Valley Railway for their help and assistance in producing this model.
Detailed Specification
- Highly detailed 0-6-0PT 00 gauge model, 1:76.2 scale on 16.5mm track
- Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd radius set track)
- RP25-110 profile 00 gauge wheels
- Coreless motor with flywheel geared for maximum performance and slow speed running
- Die-cast metal chassis and pickups to all wheels.
- Next18 DCC ready or ESU LokSound V5 sound fitted, slot mounted in smokebox
- PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power
- Two quality sugar cube speakers contained in sound capsule located for best possible sound.
- Small, flexible neck NEM coupler mounts set at correct height, with mini-tension-lock couplers.
- Brake rigging factory fitted
- Brake blocks aligned with wheels
- Scale width wire handrails and sand pipes
- Fully detailed cab interior with twin LED pulsing/steady Firebox glow
- Etched metal/plastic detail parts, including grab handles, steps, buffer pipework, lamp irons etc.
- Turned brass whistles etched whistle shields (where fitted)
- Sliding roof ventilator
- Etched metal pre-painted number plates and works plates.
- Fully sprung metal buffers, factory-installed pipework and screw/3 link couplings
- Magnetically removable smoke box door
