Description
The Class 41 ‘Warship’ locomotives (known originally as the D600s) were pioneers, being the first British mainline diesel-hydraulic locomotive and the first Type 4 diesel locomotive completed for BR when the class leader, No. D600, was delivered in late-1957. More than sixty years since the real locomotives first entered traffic, it is finally possible to enjoy N scale models of these western pioneers thanks to this new EFE Rail model.
A class of just five locomotives, not only did the Class 41s break new ground as the first Type 4 diesels built for BR, but in June 1958 No. D601 became the first diesel locomotive to haul the Cornish Riviera Express non-stop from Paddington to Plymouth. Complemented by many of the models found in the Graham Farish N scale range, from locomotives like the Castle Class steam locomotives and the Class 42 ‘Warships’, to the array of rolling stock suited to Western operations including Hawksworth and Mk1 Coaches, freight, and parcels stock, these new ‘Warships’ expand the Western options even further.
Developed from the rails up for Bachmann’s EFE Rail, the Class 41s employ a high fidelity bodyshell, with options to model the locomotives in their original form – with disc headcodes – or in later years when split headcode boxes were fitted in their place. The modified bodyside grilles can also be modelled, with their vertical vanes rather than the original horizontal vanes fitted to the main fan grilles at each end of the loco.
Powered by a coreless motor and with true A1A-A1A gearing, the EFE Rail model is a smooth and powerful performer. Directional lighting is fitted, along with cab lights which shine a spotlight on the detailed cab interiors. Switches are provided on the circuit board to allow analogue users to control both the cab and tail lights. When used on DCC, the directional lights can be controlled by DCC functions, with the ability to turn the tail lights off independently, and the cab lights too, using dedicated function buttons. The DCC interface is Next18 and space has been made available within the battery box moulding for anyone wishing to fit a speaker and add sound to their model.
