Accurascale O Scale R&H 88DS 408493

Ruston 408493 was built new for British Railways Western Region, for use at the Signalling and Telecommunications Department workshops at Reading and was delivered on 19th January 1957. Taking the Departmental number 20, the locomotive spent its entire lifetime at Reading, housed under the Vastern Road bridge when not in use. Renumbered in 1973 under TOPS, to 97020, withdrawal came in April 1981 and the shunter was disposed of at Reading by Cartrights of Tipton in August 1982, being replaced by a Barclay Class 06 No. 06003, which was transferred to Reading from the Scottish Region.

Common Features:

• Die-cast metal chassis, body frame and footplate, with plastic cab and engine panels.
• A scale length of 143.8mm over buffers, 54.85mm wide and height over the cab of 70mm.
• Wheelbase of 40.54mm, for all vehicles, allowing operation over a minimum radius of 1020mm (2nd radius set-track).
• Choice of metal 3-link, or screw couplings for prototypical coupling.
• Brake blocks fitted and aligned with wheel centres for 0 Gauge, ensuring that they do not rub on wheel rims.
• A single style of 21mm solid wheel, correctly profiled both on the inside and outside and chemically blackened, set in blackened brass bearings or contact strips and conforming to Accurascale standards of 29.2mm back-to-back, on 4.763mm diameter axles.
• Fully detailed die-cast underframe with all cylinders, linkages and piping applied separately
• Eroded metal, plastic and wire detail parts, including (but not limited to) handrails, door handles, lamp brackets, brake gear, brake discs, draw gear, vents, louvres, radiator grilles and builders’ plates.
• Prism-free flush glazing.
• Easily removable cab roof, to allow access to cab interior for customer detailing.
• Sprung metal buffers, and draw hooks.
• Authentic livery, markings and numbers, accurate to the time period modelled, achieved by the use of part painting and pad printing.

High-performance traction and mechanism, including:

• Centrally mounted, best quality 5-pole skew-wound motor, with flywheel, driving both axles.
• All-wheel pickup.
• Helical gearbox for maximum performance and slow-speed running.
• Gearing is arranged so the locomotive can achieve a scale maximum top speed of 15.4 mph (24.78 kmh), with a load of 1.1kg.
• DCC ready with PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power, or a similar stay-alive arrangement.

Lighting and DCC features:

• Designed around PluX22 ESU Decoders with easy access to the decoder via removable bonnet.
• Switchable shunting lights. Directional lighting & interior lighting.
• Full cab interior lighting, set at the correct colour temperature.
• Permanently fitted speakers.