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Accurascale ACC2395-DCC

BR Class 50 - Large Logo with grey roof - 50046 'Ajax' - DCC Sound

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

Manufacturer description

The mighty Ajax, the son of Telamon, second only to Achilles in the Greek warrior hierarchy, equal of Trojan champion Hector and also the most famous Class 50 that ‘got away’, being scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow, in June 1992. It had donated its low hours power unit to 50007 in December 1991, around five weeks after working its last train, after Sir Edward Elgar had been sidelined with a main generator flashover near Basingstoke in July of the same year. Rewinding to happier days, Laira-based 50046 had been dedicated in October 1978 after the Leander-class Frigate built in 1962. It was invited to Doncaster Works exactly four years later to take part in the refurbishment programme, being outshopped in large logo livery the following March, and arguably never looked better. Two years later in April 1985 it again received the attention of the painters, this time care of its Plymouth home, ahead of its twinning ceremony with HMS Ajax which would see it gain the smaller version of the ship’s crests. Despite their recent heavy overhaul, the four roof exhausts of the English Electric design were notorious for quickly turning the standard Rail grey roof filthy, leading the depot to effectively give up and paint the roof black to hide the oily deposits. 50046 was only the second to be so treated after 50042 Triumph, although the latter was quickly returned to grey following a visit to the ‘Plant’. Laira gave it a full repaint again in May 1987 following an F exam, although it notably did not receive the red bufferbeams that were applied to similar makeovers from the start of 1986. Over the next few years it would be allocated to the parcels and departmental sectors as well as NSE’s Thames and West of England passenger pools before it was officially retired in March 1992. Notably, both cabs survive, the No.1 end with owner Gary Hardings in Cornwall and the No.2 end at the Plym Valley Railway in Devon.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Accurascale has released a new OO gauge model of the Class 50 diesel locomotive, this time featuring the BR Large Logo livery with a grey roof. The model, which represents the period of British Rail Blue, is a continuation of the manufacturer's successful OO gauge Class 50 range.

The locomotive, numbered 50046, was named Ajax after the Greek warrior and Leander-class frigate. It was scrapped in June 1992, but not before its low-hour power unit was donated to 50007. The real-life locomotive had a varied career, being allocated to multiple sectors before being withdrawn in March 1992.

Both cabs of the locomotive have survived and are now owned by separate individuals. The No.1 end is with Gary Hardings in Cornwall, while the No.2 end is at the Plym Valley Railway in Devon.

Accurascale's new model features a number of improvements over its predecessors, including revised packaging and the resolution of issues with self-coloured plastic parts. Spare parts from the first run are available free of charge via the Accurascale website.

The model is a highly detailed OO scale representation, measuring 1:76.2 scale. Key features include a die-cast metal chassis, RP25-110 profile wheels, and a working radiator fan with speed control. The locomotive is DCC Ready or can be upgraded to DCC Sound, with a range of options available.

The model boasts a five-pole motor with twin flywheels for smooth performance, as well as all-wheel drive and pick-up for efficient power transmission. It also features a PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power, directional lighting, and a custom dual-speaker setup with Accurathrash bass.