Revolution has received EP1 samples of its upcoming OO gauge four-car class 321 and three-car class 320 units for checking and testing.
We are grateful to Thetford and District MRC for allowing us to test the models on their impressive ‘Tidmarsh’ display layout.
321417 in London Midland livery at Milton Keynes, 320318 in Scotrail Saltire at Coatbridge. Photo: Tom Smith.
Revolution is offering the Class 321/4 – comprising DTCO-PMSO-TSOL-DTSO and the Class 320 comprising DTSO-PMSO-DTSO cars. We are offering versions incorporating the original light clusters with rectangular markers, revised clusters with round markers and latest versions with combined marker lights and tail lights.
All models feature directional, destination blind, driver controls and interior lighting and are also available in DCC/Sound with controllable operating pantographs and side door lock lights. The outer cars are fitted with working representations of the Tightlock coupler on the prototypes, while the inner cars have 14-pin connectors to allow the whole train to be controlled by a single DCC decoder fitted in the underside of the pantograph car.
The EP1 is primarily designed to test the quality and fit of the mouldings, and to give us an early idea of running characteristics and any areas requiring improvement.
We have already identified areas for improvement including the fit of some smaller parts incuding the front lower fairing, radio roof pods, the bogie yaw dampers and roof airconditioning units (not all versions) and the clarity of the glazed components. Running tests identified some light leakage in the front clusters. These will be corrected.
The Class 321/4 units were built by BREL at York and introduced between 1989 and 1990 with Network Southeast for suburban services from London Euston and Liverpool Street. Following privatisation they transferred to Silverlink, London MIdland, Great Eastern, then First Capital Connect, Great Northern and finally some were converted to three car sets and moved to Scotland to join the similar Class 320 units that had been in service since 1990 too.
Top left, image right: 321426 at South Kenton in 1998, 320318 at Partick in 1995. Both Matt Taylor/Creative Commons. Bottom left: 320436 at Euston in 2009. Hugh Llewelyn/Creative Commons.
In 2022 Varamis Rail acquired a handful of Class 321/3 and 321/4 units and converted them for express parcels use between Scotland, the Midlands and London. These units have had the passenger seats removed and racking introduced for secure storage of parcels.
The models are being extensively tested to identify any further issues and check the DCC functionality.
The next step is for decorated samples to be prepared, and these are anticipated some time in early summer, though as ever this is an estimate and timings can change.