Table of contents for October 2025 in Model Rail

Just before we closed for press, Hornby’s Class ‘J13’ 0-6-0ST No. 1257 arrived, resplendent in GNR lined green livery. Following on from the all-new LNER ‘J52’ release a couple of months ago (see full review in MR342), the ‘J13’ features a number of tooling tweaks to suit the pre-Grouping period. Rapido’s SECR Class ‘O1’ 0-6-0 was another last-minute, with our sample depicting No. A7 in black livery with Egyptian-style Southern Railway lettering. Also arriving at the very last moment (and in a very big box!) were Heljan’s Class 121 and 122 railcars, along with a three-car Class 117 DMU, in ‘O’ gauge. • Look out for full reviews of all these models in the November issue of Model Rail, on sale October 23.…

Back in the day, locomotive crews would occasionally compete to work a particular engine. Here we see youthful passed cleaners Pete and Dud having a kneeling competition with the first to blink missing out on the opportunity to fire such a fine steed. Meanwhile, seasoned drivers Derek and Clive are simply tossing a coin for the pleasure (their aged joints not being up to the kneel-off). Though secretly they’d much rather be driving a ‘Jubilee’ or ‘Royal Scot’, rather than a grubby old ‘Super D’.…

Locomotion – initially known as Active – was not the only locomotive delivered to the Stockton & Darlington in 1825. There was also No. 2 Hope, and this pair was followed by a further three Robert Stephenson & Company engines in 1826: Nos. 3 Black Diamond, 4 Diligence and 6 Experiment. All were four-wheelers. Also delivered in 1826 was an engine built by Robert Wilson and Company, and nicknamed ‘Chittaprat’. This was not considered a success and was rebuilt in 1827 into the six-wheeled Royal George. Further engines came from Robert Stephenson & Company in the latter part of the decade, although one locomotive, the six-wheeler Victory, was built directly at Shildon, emerging in 1829. Such machines were at the cutting edge of technology at the time, and could be…

We have seen a steady growth of ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge models based on prototypes from the 1820s and 1830s. Hornby led the way, with the groundbreaking (and totally unexpected) release of Stephenson’s Rocket in 2020, along with a modest range of Liverpool & Manchester Railway carriages. There have been a few editions of Rocket since, along with a few extra items of rolling stock appearing in the past few years, including more freight wagons, while the addition of the 0-4-2s Lion and Tiger brought extra excitement. Rapido’s version of Lion (and The Titfield Thunderbolt version), also brought more attention to the prospects of modelling Britain’s early railways. To coincide with this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, Hornby launched a fabulous rendition of Stephenson’s Locomotion (reviewed in the February issue) and, although…

Back in the January 2024 issue of Model Rail (MR321), I wrote a short article describing how I built a row of Victorian terraced houses using components created on my own laser cutting machine. Here I describe how and why I built a Class 02 diesel hydraulic shunter, again using the laser cutter. I’ve always wanted to build my own locomotives, but until recently I lacked the skills and motivation. However, since I’ve learned how to design and build things with the AUFERO 2 Laser Engraver (purchased on eBay for just over £200), I thought I would see if that has now changed. But why a Class 02? Well, ever since I was a young lad hanging around the ends of platforms back in the 1970s, I have always been…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Rapido Trains UK 951008 Class 44XX 2-6-2T No. 4401 BR black, early crest (DC/silent) ◆ PRICE £172.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Rapido stockists Web www.rapidotrains.co.uk “The look of a typical ‘Swindon’ chassis has been well captured, too, with blackened metal rods, crossheads and slidebars, the coupling rods being characteristically slender” Back in the mid-1960s, I was captivated by the fine old station at Much Wenlock and built a layout loosely based on the Much Wenlock branch. One of the most distinguishing factors in modelling the branch was the right motive power, and that meant pannier tanks and ‘Small ‘Prairies’. Fortunately, there was a K’s kit for the ‘44XX’ 2-6-2T, perfect for the branch. Since the demise of the K’s kit, the only readily available ‘Small Prairie’ has…

George S. Gibb, the North Eastern Railway’s General Manager, visited the USA in 1901 at the behest of its Chief Engineer Wilson Worsdell, who had himself been apprenticed in America between 1867-71, taking in many of the prevailing ideas and practices. Gibb returned from the States with a zeal for increasing the length of the NER’s freight trains in the interests of greater efficiency. More powerful motive power was needed, leading Worsdell to develop the existing ‘P1’ 0-6-0 (later LNER ‘J25’) design with a larger boiler, firebox and chassis frames. The new locomotive design was known as the ‘P2’ (‘J26’), and 50 were built between 1904-05, with work split between Gateshead (20) and Darlington (30). Various modifications were carried out by the NER, the most prominent change being the adoption…

I’ve been using Iwata airbrushes for 20 years, and they have never let me down. The only issues I’ve ever encountered have been down to my own carelessness and, while many other brands have been road-tested – and a few have shone – I always seem to revert to ‘old faithful’ – my very first Iwata airbrush that is still my go-to general purpose tool. In part, that’s due to familiarity, but mostly it’s down to the fact that it’s as good now as it was in 2005. Still crafted to the highest standards in Japan, the Iwata range offers general purpose and specialist airbrushes that are ideal for those intending to paint all manner of models, from rolling stock to buildings and scenic work. One of the latest products…

We were excited to receive the first painted samples of our exclusive BR ‘Flatrol MJ’ atomic flask-carrying wagons, just days before this issue closed for press. In partnership with Revolution Trains, we’re producing both the original six-axle version of the ‘Flatrol MJ’, which will feature a bauxite body and choice of yellow or white flasks, plus the later refurbished four-axle wagons, with air brakes. The rebuilt wagons are presented in black livery, with both the XKB and FNA TOPS versions included. Ten individual versions are under development, each based on prototype images to discern the location and content of the various warning and data panels, which varied slightly between vehicles over time. All wagons come with the distinctive sun shrouds, adorned with matching wagon numbers, while the flasks also feature…

Rapido has certainly been living up to its name recently, with a rapid succession of announcements introducing five new steam engines, a third batch of pre-Grouping style ‘Project Evolution’ coaches, and an unusual pair of brake vans. The new locomotives span from northern Scotland to the English south coast. In ‘OO’ gauge, a Highland Railway ‘Loch’ class 4-4-0 will be joined by a London and North Eastern Railway (ex-Great North of Scotland Railway) ‘D40’ 4-4-0 while southern England modellers will be treated to a South Eastern & Chatham Railway ‘G’ class 4-4-0 and a Southern Railway ‘U’ 2-6-0. Rapido collaborated with the Highland Railway Society to research and develop its 4mm models. Eight versions are promised; five in variations of HR lined and unlined green, two under London, Midland and…

The International N Gauge Show (TINGS) packed layouts, dealers and enthusiasts into the Warwickshire Event Centre over the weekend of September 13-14 – and brought a host of new product announcements too. The small-scale showcase was busy throughout its two days, with its large crowds showing that interest in ‘N’ gauge remains strong. The sheer versatility of 2mm was highlighted by the ‘Castle Rise’ layout of the West Sussex ‘N’ Gauge Model Railway Club, measuring 28 feet long, contrasting with others that fitted into suitcases and even brie cheese and music boxes, plus plenty in between. Major manufacturers Bachmann (Graham Farish), Dapol, Revolution Trains and Kato were in attendance along with smaller specialist suppliers and stockists. Revolution Trains took the opportunity to unveil its ex-works condition Class 66 No. 66190…

What makes this layout great? “A true father and son collaboration, ‘Braeside’ is a tribute to the modelling skills of both Brian McCulloch Junior and Senior. It showcases the individualistic architecture and railway infrastructure around Aberdeen in an imaginative way and also allows plenty of operating potential, from shunting and stabling to just watching trains pass by.” “It’s a bit of a medley of scenes and locations,” says Brian McCulloch about ‘Braeside’. “It all started with dad; it’s a hobby we shared over the years since my early school days. But there was always a nod towards Scotland because dad (also called Brian) was an Aberdonian who’d come south with the army and stayed. But whenever we went back to Scotland, I just fell in love with the Scottish railways.”…

Earlier this year, just prior to his retirement, Model Rail’s Chris Leigh was having something of a clear-out of unwanted models, and he very kindly gave me a couple of boxed Lledo Vanguard 1:43 scale die-cast vans. A discussion was had about how nice these models were, while also musing on how they could be made to look more at home on a detailed layout. The Austin A40 and Ford Transit both featured showroom-style gloss finishes, which would be rare or commercial vehicles in everyday use. And so, my brain began to ponder what should do with them… I have quite a love for the Mk 1 Ford Transit, which remained a common sight throughout my youth, especially in those archetypal guises that seem to enjoy uncommonly long working lives…

This month we begin a layout building series based loosely on Ponts Mill in Cornwall. The layout has been built in ‘OO’ gauge as a partial representation of the china clay drying and loading facilities that existed at this location, inspired chiefly by a layout plan in James Hilton’s Small Layout Design Handbook, published by Wild Swan. Over the next few months, we’ll look at how the loading sheds were built, along with the small stream that passes by, and I’ll also explain how the various trees and vegetation was created. In this first instalment, however, I’ll explain the creation of the simple foam baseboard and the inglenook-style track plan. But first, a little background. Ponts Mill is a hamlet in Cornwall, lying a mile north of St Blazey, a…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Accurascale/Rails of Sheffield ACC2281 BR Class 89 89001, BR InterCity Executive livery ◆ PRICE £229.99 (DCC-ready), £329.99 (DCC sound) ◆ AVAILABILITY Rails of Sheffield Web www.railsofsheffield.com The striking Class 89 was built at the behest of British Rail during a fascinating period for the national operator. While many lessons were learned from the design, it was essentially redundant by the time it was completed, but the single prototype has remained popular with enthusiasts. This joint venture, between Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield, was first announced five years ago. It offers the unique Co-Co in ready-to-run form for the first time, with modellers having been served by various kits over the years. It’s a rare occurrence these days for a BR main line locomotive type to…

In the early years of the 20th Century, Churchward produced a range of locomotive types which would be adopted as ‘standard’ classes, subsequently modified, developed and built in quantity. His 1904 prototype small-wheeled 2-6-2T No. 115 was a reduced-size version of No. 99, the first of the ‘Large Prairie’ 2-6-2Ts. The latter had proved very powerful, and this attribute was continued in the first of the ‘Small Prairies’, No. 115, the use of small (4ft 1½in) diameter driving wheels restricted its usefulness a little but provided good acceleration and prodigious hill-climbing ability. Though the prototype was built at Swindon and the follow-on order for 10 were due to be built there, they were in fact built at Wolverhampton. They were numbered 4401-10 and No. 115 was renumbered 4400. When built…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Dapol Black Label GWR Q13 Inspection saloon • W80943 WR chocolate/cream • ADW80970 BR blue/grey • DW80975 BR InterCity ◆ PRICE £149.95 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Rails of Sheffield Web www.railsofsheffield.com Once the preserve of etched brass or cast resin kits, ready-to-run inspection saloons have proven highly popular in recent years, beginning with Bachmann’s excellent rendition of the LMS 50ft version in 2014. Revolution Trains’ Southern Region manager’s saloon, released two years ago, raised the bar in terms of overall detail (exterior and interior). Providing an ideal, single-car train that can realistically operate on virtually any layout, inspection saloons often travelled to the outer reaches of the network, ferrying engineers and managers. Hauled or propelled by an interesting array of motive power, they offer something a…

Having already installed the optional detail fittings supplied with the newly tooled Heljan Class 26, as described in the previous issue, attention soon turned to giving my model a suitably weathered finish. The body, which simply unclips from the chassis, was treated first, with work beginning with a coat of enamel washes. I’ve yet to find a perfect shade for ‘general railway locomotive grime’, but blending a generic ‘Dark’ with a hint of ‘Brown’ seems to do the trick. It’s subjective, of course. Livery shades also play a role, with light base colours needing more subtle tones, for instance. This can be quite an involved subject and – excuse the shameless plug – those interested in the nitty gritty of locomotive weathering may want to check out one of my…

The success of the Stockton & Darlington led to its expansion, the company’s network spreading both to the east, and west across the Pennines. With an eventual network covering 200 route miles, it became part of the North Eastern Railway in 1863. The North Eastern had itself been formed in 1854, by the merger of various railways that had sprung up in the years following the Stockton & Darlington’s creation. As for the original route, part of it is still in use, incorporated into the Tees Valley line. This runs from Bishop Auckland to Saltburn, serving Shildon, Heighington and Darlington among others. The Skerne Bridge in Darlington is the oldest continuously-used railway bridge anywhere. Elsewhere, part of the line is accessible to walkers. Shildon is now home to the National…

What makes this layout great? “Bill has captured the charm of a touristy narrow gauge line wonderfully. There’s so much to see and enjoy on ‘Bunkers Lane’ and so many places from which to check out the fine details, with viewing from three sides thanks to the fiddleyard at one end and a central backdrop.” Back in 2019, Bill Flude decided he wanted a new layout. He didn’t need to search far for inspiration; being a volunteer at the Leighton Buzzard Railway, the Bedfordshire narrow gauge line provided plenty to spark his creativity. He also wanted a continuous circuit. “I like watching trains running,” he says. However, there were limitations; for exhibition, everything had to squeeze inside his Ford B-Max. That limited maximum size for the two main boards to…

With its flagship Advanced Passenger Train (APT) project in jeopardy, British Rail entered the 1980s with a sizeable dilemma. Competition from domestic air travel and a modern motorway network meant that fast Anglo-Scottish services were essential to keep rail as a viable transport option for the future. With electrification of the West Coast London-Glasgow route completed in the 1970s, and the East Coast route scheduled to go ‘under the wires’, BR began to consider options for a fast, powerful locomotive design. A tender was placed in 1982 for a one-off 125mph AC electric locomotive, with Brush being awarded the contract the following year. In contrast to the Class 81-87 Bo-Bo types, a Co-Co wheel arrangement was specified, with an eye on greater haulage capacity and higher speeds over the steep…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Oxford Rail OR76J26001 LNER ‘J26’ No. 1057, LNER black ◆ PRICE £129.95 (DCC-ready), £195.45 (DCC sound) ◆ AVAILABILITY Oxford Rail stockists Web www.oxforddie-cast.co.uk First mooted way back in January 2019, the first versions of Oxford Rail’s North Eastern Railway Class P2 (LNER ‘J26’) 0-6-0 have finally arrived. As well as navigating a global pandemic and the resultant production and transport difficulties, Oxford Rail has also had to weather several other significant challenges in recent years, culminating in the manufacturer returning to a family-owned and run concern. Indeed, since being purchased back from Hornby last year, the Oxford team has been moving steadily forward with numerous ongoing ‘OO’ gauge projects. Top of the pile was the ‘J26’, which follows the 2021 production of the similar Worsdell…

◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Heljan 3731 Class 37/0, BR ‘large logo’ blue, un-numbered ◆ PRICE £669.00 ◆ AVAILABILITY Heljan stockists Web www.heljan.co.uk The latest batch of Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge Class 37/0s arrived with stockists during August, offering the centre headcode variant with post-1970s cutaway bufferbeams for the first time. As another bonus, Heljan has also taken the opportunity to improve the body tooling from previous iterations, resulting in much greater definition to the bodyside grilles and superior windscreen glazing. Furthermore, this caters for various minor detail variations, such as standard or Western Region lamp brackets, headboard brackets, working high-intensity headlamps (where appropriate), and the new range also provides versions with cast or fabricated bogie frames. Eight different livery options are available, incorporating a handful of the most requested colour…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Oxford Rail • OR76BAN001B/• 002B/• 003/• 004 GER 10t Banana vans, LNER, BR and ‘patched SR’ liveries ◆ PRICE £19.95 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Oxford Rail stockists Web www.oxforddie‑cast.co.uk We’re in a golden age of high quality ‘OO’ gauge freight rolling stock, with a huge amount of steam- and diesel-era prototypes being produced by all of the key players in the RTR market. Oxford Rail has been among those offering hitherto unavailable prototypes, many of which have originated from pre-Grouping railways, and these latest ex-Great Eastern vans are a prime example. Initially released in early 2022 (and reviewed in MR298), Oxford’s initial batch of models proved popular, thanks to their authentic appearance, attractive level of detail and tempting price point. Featuring a 10ft 6in wheelbase, the…