With our second production run of our award-winning Class 66 locomotives now delivered and finding their way into traffic on layouts across the land, it's time to reveal what will consist of our next run of these staples of the current railway scene.
As ever, there will be a whole host of locomotives in the main range, but we are kicking off with our Accurascale Exclusives, which consist of a fine pair of GBRf machines in eye-catching London Underground-inspired liveries, officially licensed from Transport for London!
Welcome to 66718 and 66721!
The Prototypes
66718
66718 arrived at Newport Docks on board the MV Jumbo Challenger on 9 April 2006 and was one of five locomotives (66718–66722) liveried in First GBRf/Metronet colours that were ordered in connection with the upgrading of the London Transport sub-surface lines.
It was named “Gwyneth Dunwoody” at Euston on 26 January 2007. Gwyneth was the Labour MP for Crewe and also the Transport Minister at the time.
On 5 November 2013 it emerged from Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in what could only be described as a striking new livery. It was one of a pair unveiled that day in conjunction with the London Transport Museum. 66718 carried black bodywork covered in brightly coloured logos associated with London Transport.
At this time it also gained a new name and was rechristened “Sir Peter Hendy CBE”, who was the Commissioner for Transport for London at the time.
It carried this livery for the next ten years until it returned to Eastleigh for a refresh. It emerged sporting a slightly revised version of the previous livery, with differences in the application of the warning yellow on the ends, and also gained another new (ish) name on Wednesday 24 May 2023.
The name was updated to “Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, of Imber in the County of Wiltshire” to reflect Lord Hendy’s recent appointment to the House of Lords and his position as Chair of Network Rail.
The new name, at 57 characters long (not including commas), must be one of the longest ever affixed to a locomotive in the UK.
66721
This locomotive also arrived at Newport Docks on board the MV Jumbo Challenger on 9 April 2006 as part of the same shipment as 66718 above, initially in First GBRf/Metronet livery.
It was named “Harry Beck” on 26 January 2007 at London Euston station by GBRf Managing Director John Smith. Harry Beck was the creator of the first version of what we now recognise as the Tube Map. The locomotive carried a small rendition of his map, engraved on a brass plaque alongside the nameplate.
It was selected to join 66718 in receiving a special livery and was unveiled on the same day. The livery was different on each side and on each end, with one side representing the 1933 Harry Beck original Tube map (with the corresponding No. 1 end being yellower), while the other side wore the current (2013) Tube map, with its corresponding end (No. 2) being white.
While 66718 received a refresh in 2023, 66721 is still running in its original vinyl, albeit with the Europorte portion of the GBRf logo removed. The locomotive has also since gained a small Wi-Fi pod above the No. 2 cab.
Our pre-production model is currently cream on both sides, but you can rest assured that this will be corrected for production!
The Best Just Got Better
Never ones for merely resting on our laurels, we have gone through our wonderful Class 66s again with a fine-tooth comb and brought our models bang up to date with a series of fine tweaks.
It can be difficult to improve on such an excellent model, but we did find some additional improvements! These consist of a newly tooled exhaust silencer, which features an improved profile and a lip around the exhaust port. We also have new handbrake linkages, which are now moulded in the off position, and an etched middle handrail bracket on the cab fronts to replicate the locomotives that sport them in real life.
With the Class 66 working on the real railway, they are always evolving, and it's important to capture new features on our models to ensure they replicate the prototypes running today. We have now added roof-mounted Wi-Fi pods on locomotives that feature them. We have also replicated the modifications Freightliner has been making to its fleet by removing the top cab door handles. There is also now the ability to produce locomotives with BMAC-replaced bug-eye lights.
On top of that, we have also added a couple of new buffer-plate combinations that allow us to produce certain prototypes we couldn't previously offer.
Excellent Value, As Ever!
These slight tweaks and additions to the range add up to keep our 66 the leading shed in the neighbourhood.
With this exciting pair previewing an epic main range to come in the near future, along with improvements to the tooling, you might be expecting a price rise… right?
Well never fear, because Accurascale has got you! Our price remains the same as Run 2, priced at just £179.95 for DC/DCC Ready and £279.95 for DCC Sound Fitted. When you throw in free UK postage and packaging, and 3% cashback in the form of loyalty points, it really shows just what a bargain these beauties are! Both locomotives are available to buy globally and both available in both DC/DCC Ready and DCC Sound fitted configurations.
We will have a more precise delivery date when we reveal the main range in the coming weeks, but we expect these will arrive in stock in Mid 2027.
Pre-order your exclusive below, available direct only via our website. As ever with Accurascale Exclusives, special presentation packaging will finish off this very exclusive pair beautifully.
Pre-Order Your Exclusive Class 66 Here!
