Page 52 - Rail Express - September 2019
P. 52
REVIEW 00 GAUGE 1950- ERA
1963
4mm:1ft
Bulleid’s modern traction
masterpiece
Winner of gold in the
2018 British Model
Railway Awards, Kernow
Model Rail Centre’s ‘OO’
gaugeBulleid diesel
electric locomotivemakes
awelcome return.
OLIVER BULLEID designed alarge
1Co-Co1 diesel electric locomotive KernowModel Rail Centre has responded to customer requests to reissue its
between1945 and1946, with the aim award-winning ‘OO’ gaugeClass D16/2 diesel electric locomotivemodel.
of replacinglargerexpress passenger
steam locomotives on the Southern engine andvariousother improvements
Railway. to the design whichformedthe basisof
It wastobeequipped with English the pilot scheme Class 40s.
Electric engines and traction motors, Nationalisation loomed largeafter
andbuilt withabody profile to match the warwhich sawthe locomotives
Bulleidcoaching stock. Three evaluation completed by British Railwaysinstead of
locomotives were constructed between the Southern Railway. Nonetheless, they
1950 and1954: twoatAshford(Nos. took to Southern metalsfor their first
10201-2 –Class D16/2) and one at few years of serviceafter anumberof
Brighton(No.10203 –sometimes trial runs including turnstoDerby,taking
classified as D16/3). The latter up regularexpress passengerdutieson
locomotiveincorporated an uprated theSouthern RegionWestern Section.
Following atemporary withdrawal
from trafficinlate1952 for
modifications, theyreturned to the The full sizelocomotivewas
Western Section and express passenger profiled to match the coaching stock of
workingsonthe Waterloo-Bournemouth the time. This feature is well captured in the model.
and Exeter routes.
The London Midland Region(LMR) The class worked expresses and
acquired themin1955 forWest Coast certain outer suburban workings
Main Lineduties, being allocated to originating from Euston fora number
Camden shed,during which time the of years,withtheir attractiveblack
chime whistlewas replaced with air and silver livery giving way to BR lined
horns and modifiedcommunication green as applied to the reviewmodel.
doors were fittedtoNos. 10201 and Towardsthe end of theirlives, the
10202. redbufferbeams were supplemented
by small yellow warning panels –
photographic evidence suggests at
FEATURES WE LIKE least No. 10203 received them.
■ Modelled with the correct curved Asnewer locomotives,including
body profile. Class 40s, were introduced, the Class
■ Engine room detail visible through D16/2 locomotives sawdeclining Bogie and bufferbeam detailhas
the side windows. utilisation until1963 when theywere excellentrelief, particularlythe axle box
■ Accuratelymodelled wheels. withdrawnasanon-standarddesign. covers and spring detail.
■ Flat wirehandrails. Sadly, none of them were saved–diesel
■ Removable train reporting discs. preservation didnot have ahigh priority load bearing axle whichspread the
Small details applied to the cab fronts ■ Flush glazing applied to cab at atime when so manysteam classes weight well.The bufferbeam was
include separatelymoulded windscreen windows. were fallingvictim to modernisation. integral to the bogies in the same
wipers and train reporting discs which ■ The relationship between body and It wasaheavy locomotiveat133 manner as Class 40s and‘Peaks’,fitted
maybeswapped with closed ones bogies. tons, riding on 1Co-Co1 bolsterless withround buffers,vacuum brakeand
supplied in the box. bogies fittedwith aleading articulated steam heating hoses.
The featured model is of No. 10201 as operated on the London Midland Region in thelate 1950s.
M20 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller September 2019 Supplement No. 185
