Railway Models UK

Accurascale has revealed two exclusive Class 37 models in advance of Model Rail Scotland in Glasgow. The releases have been produced in partnership with the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and Rainbow Railways.

Livery details

The first model represents 37403 Ben Cruachan in the nostalgic British Railways green livery that was applied in February 1994 to celebrate the West Highland Line’s centenary.

Produced with the SRPS, this locomotive is one of the most recognisable Scottish Class 37s in a celebrated livery.

The second model, created with Rainbow Railways, features 37716 in Direct Rail Services’ blue Compass “fade” livery, depicting the Class 37/7 in its later UK era after being repatriated from Spain and restored for DRS service.

Both models arrive in bespoke branded packaging; 37403 also comes with a complete set of etched nameplates and plaques as well as printed versions.

Features and specification

The pair build on the upgraded tooling standard introduced in Accurascale’s previous third run of Class 37s, and include:

Roof fan that synchronises with the DCC sound file and functions under DC
Refined bonnet‑top doors
Improved glazing
Upgraded grilles
All‑wheel drive
695‑g locomotive weight

Accurascale notes that the combination of substantial mass and all‑wheel drive is intended to give smooth running, strong haulage capability and secure road holding.

37716 incorporates new tooling to replicate the prototype’s distinctive heavy‑weight specification, featuring the following:

Plated engine‑room window
Two‑piece cantrail grilles

These details correspond with the locomotive’s origins in the Darlington‑built batch constructed by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd.

Prototype background

37403 Ben Cruachan
The locomotive, originally numbered D6607, was built at Vulcan Foundry in October 1965. It was repainted into original British Railways green by Trainload Freight West (later Transrail) in February 1994 to commemorate the West Highland Line’s centenary. The repaint also reinstated its original D6607 number and Eastfield plaques, while the name Ben Cruachan was transferred from 37404.

After its Scottish years it worked for EWS on passenger services such as Cardiff–Weymouth, North Wales Coast routes and sleeper trains, before being transferred to Toton in 2000 and withdrawn in March that year.

In 2008 the locomotive was acquired by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and moved to the Bo ness & Kinneil Railway. After eight years of restoration it returned to the main line in July 2016.

37716
This locomotive was built in 1963 as D6794 and later renumbered 37094 under TOPS. In the late 1980s it was rebuilt for BR Railfreight use, with extra ballast added to the engine room to improve traction for heavy trains run by Trainload Metals from Thornaby, a change that led to its 37/7 designation.

After privatisation it operated with EWS until 2001 when it was exported to Spain for high‑speed line construction work. It was stored overseas before being repatriated to the UK. By 2011, six of the surviving Class 37/7s, including 37716, had been returned. Following fifteen months of restoration it re‑entered service with DRS, undertaking a range of duties that included nuclear flask traffic, infrastructure runs, charters and locomotive‑hauled services.

It was placed into storage in 2024 and subsequently sold to HNRC, now Swietelsky UK, where it remains operational.

Pricing and pre‑orders

Accurascale confirms that the prices for the two new releases are unchanged from the previous run: