Sonic Models S4103-09

Class D34 ‘Glen’ Twin Pack - BBC Film Special May 1959

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

Prototype Eras
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

Available Exclusively from Rails of Sheffield

Included:

62496 “Glen Loy” BR Lined Black Early Emblem (1948-1961)
62471 “Glen Falloch” BR Lined Black Late Crest (1956-1960)

This pack represents the two D34 locomotives that featured on the BBC’s ‘Railway Roundabout’ TV series in 1959, having been specially cleaned and embellished for filming, which took place on the West Highland line between Glasgow and Fort William.

Model Specification

• DCC Ready - 21 pin socket.
• Finescale wheels to RP25 profile.
• NEM couplings.
• Pre-fitted speaker for DCC sound.
• Smooth 12V powerful motor with flywheel.
• Detailed cab interior with illuminated Firebox Glow.
• Driving wheels and tender wheel pickup.
• Cosmetic internal motion between the frames under the boiler.
• Detailing pack including optional snowplough, lamps & fireirons.

Detail Variations

• NBR smokebox wing plates.
• Internal motion between the frames under the boiler.
• Equalised bogie and Helical Spring bogie frames.
• Westinghouse and Vacuum brake rigging.
• NBR and LNER tender variations including option for enclosed tender cab.

History

A familiar locomotive to fans of Scottish Railways, the North British Railway Class ‘K’ (later LNER D34) 4-4-0 is available for the first time as a highly detailed OO gauge model.

Introduced from 1913, the ‘Glens’ were the final development of similar locomotives designed by William Reid for the North British Railway from 1905. Built at their works in Cowlairs, Springburn, they were designed to be suited to mixed traffic duties, being as much at home on passenger or freight duties on all parts of the NBR network.

All thirty-two locomotives were named after Scottish Glens, mainly located along the West Highland route to Fort William and Mallaig, with which they became associated with for most of their lives. The challenging conditions of this particular route provided little issue for the ‘Glen’ class which took it in their stride until replacement by more modern locomotives in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Away from the West Highland, the locomotives served destinations such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and the parts of the Waverley route, being based at either Eastfield, St. Margarets or Thornton sheds. Their reliability and suitability to these workings meant that only five of the class had been withdrawn by 1950. With modernisation spreading across Scotland’s railway network, removal from service restarted in 1958 and took three years to complete.

No.62469 ‘Glen Douglas’ enjoyed a reprieve, being restored to service in its original NBR livery in 1959. Running alongside three other Scottish pre-grouping locomotives similarly treated (including the famous ‘Caledonian Single’), the reborn No.256 worked a series of enthusiast railtours across Scotland until 1966, and now survives as the sole NBR K Class on display in the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Sonic Models has released a limited edition twin pack of OO gauge Class D34 'Glen' locomotives, available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield. The pack includes two models, 62496 'Glen Loy' and 62471 'Glen Falloch', which were featured in the BBC's 'Railway Roundabout' TV series in May 1959.

The models are based on the North British Railway Class K (later LNER D34) 4-4-0 locomotives, which were built from 1913 and were designed by William Reid for mixed traffic duties on the North British Railway network. All thirty-two locomotives were named after Scottish Glens, with the majority serving the West Highland route to Fort William and Mallaig.

The models feature a range of detailing options, including NBR smokebox wing plates, internal motion between the frames under the boiler, and equalised bogie and Helical Spring bogie frames. They also feature a pre-fitted speaker for DCC sound and a detailed cab interior with illuminated firebox glow. The models are DCC ready, with a 21 pin socket, and feature finescale wheels to RP25 profile and NEM couplings.

The Class D34 'Glen' locomotives were introduced in 1913 and were used for mixed traffic duties, including passenger and freight services, across the North British Railway network. They were eventually replaced by more modern locomotives in the late 1940s and 1950s, with the last one being withdrawn in 1962. However, one locomotive, No.62469 'Glen Douglas', was restored to service in its original NBR livery in 1959 and continued to operate until 1966.