Rapido Trains UK announce New LNER D40 4-4-0 (GNoSR Class V & F) 4-4-0 in 00 Gauge

Contributed by: Graham Muspratt

11 Sep 2025 00:00am

Rapido Trains UK announce New LNER D40 4-4-0 (GNoSR Class V & F) 4-4-0 in 00 Gauge.

The Great North of Scotland Railway served all the major towns and cities Northeast of the Cairngorms. So, despite its grandiose name, the railway covered a rather modest area of Scotland when compared to the other major Scottish pre-grouping companies.
Despite the original order being for 10 Class V locomotives, when the GNSR took delivery of the first five in 1899, they decided that the remaining five locos were surplus to requirements as they were struggling financially.
T.E. Heywood, requested additional locos to replace
old stock at the end of the Great War; however, these otherwise similar locos would have superheated boilers, and they were classified as the F Class. A total of eight F Class locos were built, and unlike the V Class, these engines were given names.
Upon the grouping of the railways, the LNER inherited both the V and F Class locos and due to their similarities combined them into the Class designation of D40.
These Scottish-built locos would continue to serve Britain's railways for many years, and with only three being withdrawn by the LNER, 18 would pass to British Railways.
British Railways would condemn the surviving locos throughout the 50s, with the last being withdrawn in 1958.
BR retained a sole superheated survivor, which was reserved for railtours and was earmarked for eventual preservation. This locomotive, No.62277, better known as Gordon Highlander, was restored
at Inverurie Works. Even though this was not a livery that it would have carried during its pre-grouping days, it was renumbered as No.49 and repainted in the eye-catching early GNSR Green livery.

The range features a selection of detailing variants, including different chimneys, whistles, running plates, tender spring dampers, tender coal rails, smoke boxes and smoke box doors.
Other small detail variants include different lubricators, wash-out plugs, and lamp iron positioning. Different models are then fitted with clack valves, snifting valves, steam heat and vacuum pipe valances, and boiler side ejector pipes. For that finishing touch, all models have cosmetic inside valve gear.
Twelve different versions, in both DCC ready and DCC Sound Fitted variants, are being produced as per the image above, and can be pre ordered, due for delivery during late 2026 / early 2027 here>>>

Subject to alteration.

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