905508 WSL Rapido Class 28 Diesel 97 281 BR RTC Red and Blue

905508 Rapido Class 28 Diesel number 97 281 in BR RTC Red and Blue livery - "Spoof" livery - DCC Sound

Rapido say "Following the success of our ‘OO’ gauge APT-E in ‘what might have been’ liveries, we’re pleased to announce a new scheme for our ‘N’ gauge Class 28: Railway Technical Centre red/blue.

The Railway Technical Centre acquired Class 28 D5705 in 1968 and used the Co-Bo to haul its Tribometer Train. It retained its BR green until it was transferred to the Western Region in the 1970s. Subsequent RTC locomotives carried this distinctive livery and a new 97XXX TOPS number… so we thought the Class 28 needed this scheme too."

Known as ‘Metrovicks’, ‘Crossleys’ or ‘Co-Bos’, the 20 locomotives built by Metropolitan Vickers incorporated a number of unusual features. The Crossley diesel engine was a two-stroke and it had an unusual wheel arrangement of five driving axles (three under the No. 1 end and two under the No. 2 end). Wrap around windows were also fitted to the driver’s cabs.

Originally, all 20 were allocated to the Midland Division of BR’s London Midland Region. Pairs were used on the London-Glasgow ‘Condor’ express freight service. However, the Crossley engines were problematic from the outset and suffered from regular failures, unacceptable levels of exhaust fumes and vibration issues. The latter issue combined with poor design resulted in the drivers windows working loose. By 1961, the locomotives were returned to Metropolitan Vickers for remedial work, that included new flat cab windows. Locomotives were subsequently based at Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle Upperby.

However, this work did not resolve the Type 2’s problems. Given that the rest of the locomotive’s components were reliable, BR considered replacing the engines. However, this was not to be and the class was withdrawn from service between 1967 and 1968 with only one surviving into preservation.

The Rapido model will represent the locomotives after their 1961 works visit with later style cab windows.

Specifications:

• Post-1961 flat screen version
• Next18 decoder socket
• High quality motor and drive systems
• Directional lighting
• Wealth of separately fitted and highly detailed parts
• DCC Sound option
• NEM coupler pockets