The EFE Rail range Class 74, first announced in January, and the ex LBSC Isle of Wight coaches announced in March have now started to arrive at retailers. I have been responsible for developing both these new tooled models in my role with Kernow Model Rail Centre).
EFE Rail Class 74
Ten locomotives were rebuilt into the Class 74 (Pre-TOPS designation HB) Bo-Bo Electro Diesel, during 1967/8 from the earlier 24 strong all electric class 71.
Rebuilding took place at Crewe works and included the original Class 71 booster set (a motor-generator and flywheel combination) to overcome the problem of gapping; however, the separate auxiliary generator and pantograph were removed and a 650hp Paxman 6YJXL ‘Ventura’ diesel engine fitted.
Buckeye couplers and high-level control & brake jumpers were fitted to facilitate working with other EMU EP stock, especially TC units in push-pull mode and any Blue Star fitted mainline diesel locomotive. Also, air horns were mounted on the cab roof, replacing the original air operated whistle. Like the Class 71s, some members of the Class 74s had additional cab ventilators on the front corner window pillars.
Class 74 locomotives operated regular daytime passenger turns including Waterloo–Weymouth services as far as Bournemouth. Subsequently, their only regular non-freight workings were on night mail and newspaper trains to and from Bournemouth, the Weymouth boat trains, and Southampton ‘Ocean Liner Specials’. These trains ran to/from both Southampton Western and Eastern Docks. They were regular visitors to the London area, often running on London Midland Region and Western Region tracks. In the early half of the 1970s, the made regular appearances on milk trains for the Southern Region working as far as Acton Yard, requiring diesel power from Clapham Junction through Kensington and onto the Western Region mainline.
Originally, they were numbered E6101–E6110. Later they were renumbered 74001–74010. All members of the class were withdrawn by December 1977. The versions released by EFE Rail are as follows:
- E82007 Class 74 Electro-Diesel Number E6104 BR Blue with data panel as running between 1968 and December 1973
- E82008 Class 74 Electro-Diesel Number 74 007 BR Blue as running between February 1974 and withdrawal in December 1977
- E82009 Class 74 Electro-Diesel Number 74 010 BR Blue as running between February 1974 and withdrawal in December 1977, with window ‘A’ pillar vents.
- E82010 Class 74 Electro-Diesel Number 74 009 BR Blue (weathered) as running between January 1974 and withdrawal in December 1977
The EFE Rail models have a highly detailed body shell with a number of separate components including: etched metal grilles, metal handrails, lamp irons, windscreen wipers and cab-end jumper cables. Sprung buffers are fitted and a full set of bufferbeam pipework is included with every model. Detailing continues inside the cab where seats, control desks, controls and dials are all depicted and decorated authentically.
Powered by a high-quality coreless motor, drive is provided to both bogies and every axle, and electrical all wheel pickup. DCC provision is with 21 pin decoder socket whilst there is space for a speaker to be fitted. Cab lighting is available to both analogue and DCC users, along with illuminated blinds at each end, for which a selection of interchangeable route blinds are provided. The lighting features can be switched on/off via DCC, whilst analogue users can use the chassis-mounted switches to turn the cab lights on/off, and a second switch allows the illuminated blinds to be turned off at the trailing end.
EFE Rail ex LBSC Isle of Wight coaches
Between 1936 and 1939 sixty ex LBSC coaches were rebuilt on to 54ft chassis and made up into 4 or 6 coach sets numbered 485 to 507. Sets 490 to 499 and 502/3 however included coaches of older and subsequently later origins. These coaches had many variations especially with respect to the Brake Thirds that totalled ten different diagrams, ranging from 4 compartment to 7 compartment styles. Most coaches arrived on the Island as fully panelled, although some had additional steel sheeting and all the original LBSC Guards ducket positions were steel panelled from the outset.
Post nationalisation 52 ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) coaches were modified and arrived on the Island between 1948 and 1949. These initially formed larger sets, however later many of the started to be mixed with coaches of other origins such as the ex LBSC type in their formation. The end of loco hauled passenger trains on the Isle of Wight was in 1966, however three of the ex-LBSCR coaches, including Composite No. 6349 and Third No. 2416, were saved and today operate on the preserved Isle of Wight Steam Railway and are available in a two coach SR Malachite green pack exclusively from the railway’s shop.
The new EFE Rail Isle of Wight coaches have been released as four coach packs comprising of a 6 compartment Brake Third to Diagram 210, 9 compartment Third to Diagram 90, 8 compartment Composite to Diagram 373 and a 7 compartment Brake Third to Diagram 211.
The four EFE Rail Isle of Wight coach packs are as follows:
- E86021 Isle of Wight ex LBSC four coach set 486 – SR Lined Olive Green. Comprising D210 4152, D90 2416, D373 6354, D211 4158
- E86022 Isle of Wight ex LBSC four coach set 485 – SR Malachite Green. Comprising D210 4151, D90 2415, D373 6353, D211 4157
- E86023 Isle of Wight ex LBSC four coach set 488 – BR Crimson. Comprising D210 s4154, D90 s2414, D373 s6356, D211 s4160
- E86024 Isle of Wight ex LBSC four coach set 487 – BR Green. Comprising D210 s4152, D90 s2416, D373 s6354, D211 s4158 (note this set formation is a slight compromise as by this time it was mixed with ex SECR stock that arrived on the island between 1948/9)
The BR Crimson and BR(S) Green livery version arrived first with the SR malachite and lined olive green arriving quickly after.
Each model sports a high level of detail including fine panel engraving and intricately moulded ventilators, doors stops and door handles. Separately fitted items include: ornate metal door handrails, etched brass end steps, lamp irons, air pipework and the emergency brake gear. Interior detailing including seating and compartment partitions.
Beneath the solebars two styles of truss rod are modelled, the queen-post type found on the Brake Thirds and Third and the cross I Beam type as featured on the Composite. Battery boxes are added individually along with the dynamo and brake equipment, complete with metal wire piping between the various components.
The bogies are fitted with turned metal wheelsets and standard tension lock couplings are employed, attached via a chassis-mounted close coupling mechanism.
Decoration includes period-appropriate ‘smoking’ and ‘no smoking’ signage on the windows and with set numbers applied to each brake vehicle at the outer ends and on the solebars of the four individual coaches.
I thank Mike King and Gerry Bixley for their valued help and assistance with these coaches .
You can of course order both the EFE Rail Class 74s and Isle of Wight coaches at retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre here.
Two most welcomed models.
The IoW coaches look particularly superb!
Hi Graham. Loving the Class 74. After building one from a kit this is most welcome. After receiving mine I did Notice one small issue that perhaps you might want to look at in future batches.
The Headcode light box has two SMDs in it at each end, when you change direction, one SMD goes out and the other comes on. I feel perhaps that one of these SMDs should have been red instead of both displaying a white light. I’m aware that there are red and white blind inserts in the accessory bag, if you were to put a ‘white’ blind insert in both ends you would have a red and white directional lighting when running solo.
Still a great model.
Kelly.