Once again Revolution Trains will be attending The International N Gauge Show at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre this weekend (12/13 September 2026), and we will have many of our upcoming sample models on display, plus some sought-after models available for visitors to purchase. In addition we will be announcing an all-new model at the show.
As ever, you can find us in the corner immediately to your right as you enter the hall, and we will have our prominent display cabinets plus a sales table with limited stocks of some sold out models available to purchase on the day.
Something to see…
On display will be all our latest samples in N.
You can ask us about progress on models in development such as the class 377 and 387 Electrostars, class 120 DMU or our new models, and get the latest on models currently in production such as our popular K-type Pullman cars, PTA box wagons and JSA steel carriers, third run class 66s and class 175 and 180 units.
Something new…
With the Class 313 models almost here, and having delivered numerous models over the last 12 months including the second run Class 66s, Alcan PCA tanks, 1938 stock London Underground trains and WIA car carriers we feel the time is right to announce our next powered models, and these will be unveiled on Saturday morning.
Something for the weekend…?
In addition, we will have stocks on hand to sell including a small number of hard-to-find or sold out models, and these will be available to buy on the day.
They will include first run Class 66s, the last few class 128 diesel parcels cars, Heidelberg Class 59s, wagons and coaches plus and both London Underground 1938 stock sets and Isle of Wight class 483 tube train packs in most liveries (a small quantity of 1938 sets will also go on sale on our website at the same time (1000) on Saturday 12 September for customers who can’t make it to TINGS).
There is also a small chance our currently incoming Class 313 and 314 units will have arrived in time to get to the show – please keep an eye on our social media for the latest on this.
The third batch of our Class 66 is going into production with delivery expected late 2026 – early 2027. The third batch features new tooling enabling previously unavailable variants to be offered. Our extensive tooling suite allows:
original EWS, BMAC 3-part, 2-part or Bug-eye lights,
original or low emission bodyshells,
original or reinforced cab windows,
low or high lashing loops,
US and Canadian-built bodyshells,
different bogie types for both UK spec or imported European specifications
For batch 3 we have added more new tooling to allow for the increasing numbers of the fleet with updated 2-aspect BMAC lights and plated-over NRN roof pods.
New tooling variation: 2-aspect BMAC lights and plated-over NRN roof pod
66301 – GBRf/Drax: back by popular demand is our very own “Goldie looking train” – 66301 ‘Drax Power Station 50’ in its unique gold livery. This model – licensed exclusively to Revolution Trains – sold incredibly quickly in the first batch of 66s and helped raise valuable funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Sales of 66301 and 66050 will continue to help raise funds for Martin House.
A very limited quantity are available to pre-order now for £164.95.
It will feature our usual refinements including accurate bodyshell, correct light units, bufferbeam details, photo-etched nameplates and has the ESU E24 Nano DCC interface. It has been produced with the full co-operation of GBRf and Drax.
66050 – DB: the next part of our “Drax collection” is 66050 ‘Yorkshire Rose’. 66050 was the other loco used on the Drax rail tour when 66190 was named after Martin House Children’s Hospice (we have a small number of models of 66190 left – available in our Shop).
66050 appears in bulled up condition, revised BMAC lights and Drax 50 logo. Sales of 66050 will also contribute to a donation to Martin House.
Please note that sales of 66301 and 66050 will be exclusive to the Revolution website so that we can maximise the donation to Martin House Children’s Hospice. To date sales of our Drax Collection of locos and wagons have helped to raise over £15,000 for Martin House.
66044 – DB: the previous batch of DB red 66s came with the revised BMAC lighting. This loco features the original BMAC lights. This 66 was painted at Marcroft in Stoke (rather than Toton) and features the DB logo in a different location.
66743 and 66746 – GBRf Royal Scotsman: this much requested pair of locos are in a striking Royal Scotsman maroon livery but are used much more widely than just the luxury train. Both locos are regularly seen across the country including on the Alcan PCA workings up the West Highland line.
66743 and 66746 feature bug-eye lights, original windows and GB Railfreight branding.
66605 – Freightliner orange: this features new tooling with revised BMAC lights and removed NRN pod.
66505 – Freightliner green: 66505 features original BMAC lighting and the early tie-down loops.
Exclusives
As well as the standard releases above the following releases are being produced:
Railway Icons (Locomotion Models / Rails of Sheffield)
Previously announced are the GBRf Rail 200 pair of ‘standard’ 66710 with replacement strengthened cabside windows and ‘low emission’ 66719 incorporating the disctinctive extended cooler group grilles and additional 5th door.
The models are available individually and can be ordered from Locomotion Models or Rails of Sheffield.
Rails of Sheffield
66501 and 66601 – Freightliner 60: as part of its 60th anniversary Freightliner produced two unique liveries in green and orange.
66501 and 66601 both feature new tooling to incorporate the revised BMAC lighting.
The Freightliner 60 locos are available individually (with or without sound) or as a twin pack – all can be ordered exclusively from Rails of Sheffield.
Prices have been held at the same price as batch 1 and 2 and are: £254.95 (DCC Sound) and £159.95 (DC Silent) (except for the charity locos).
The second batch of popular N gauge Class 66s have already been produced and will be available shortly from your preferred retailer.
We focussed on “standard” workhorse liveries in batch 2 to complement the batch 1 locos with many of batch 1 already sold out.
EWS 66006: 66006 was one of the first 66s in the UK. Presented here with the later driver mirrors, original BMAC lights and swinghead couplers.
DRS 66401: 66401 in DRS compass livery with bug eye lights.
Team GBRf
Team GBRf: 66302, 66701, 66770 and 66798
GBRf 66302: the eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed a sample of this model that sneaked into a batch 1 image. 66302 was taken on by GBRf following it being off lease from DRS. It was quickly stripped of DRS logos and adorned with large GBRf lettering. It entered service with Fastline in 2008, before being acquired by Eversholt and leased to DRS, receiving DRS blue livery, before being passed on to GBRf in 2022.
GBRf 66701 ‘Whitemoor’: appears in original GBRf format as one of the small batch of 7 originally introduced by GBRf but with the cabside and front ‘First’ branding applied in 2004.
GBRf Europorte 66770: part of the final batch of locos built at Muncie, Indiana with revised details including cab front recess and extended sandboxes.
GBRf 66798: one of a pair of locos with 66795 (produced as part of Batch 1) repatriated from Germany with ‘Euro’ details including extended horn grille, UIC cab interior and rectangular buffers.
Colas 66849‘Wylam Dilly’: appears with Colas’s diamond logos and bugeye lights.
Freightliner 66615: 66615 in Freightliner’s green livery with ‘bugeye’ lights represents one of the lower-geared 66/6 versions as used by Freightliner Heavy Haul.
Revolution Bespoke
If you ordered any of the above from our Bespoke offerings you will receive a full factory-finished model and a refund of the Bespoke charge.
Prices, Availability and DCC compatibility
The prices have been held at the same price as batch 1 with the MSRP of £159.95 for DC/DCC ready models and £254.95 for DCC sound fitted models.
All models have been produced in limited quantities in both DC/DCC ready and DCC sound fitted versions. As per batch 1, the 66s require a E24 decoder. DCC silent E24 decoders are available from our webshop pre-programmed for full functionality.
What’s next?
The previously announced GBRf Rail 200 pair available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield and Locomotion Models will form part of batch 3 due later this year. The remainder of batch 3 will be announced shortly!
Revoliution Trains is delighted to have teamed up with Rainbow Railways and The Model Centre to offer our highly regarded N gauge Class 66 locomotive in the striking blue DB Maritime livery.
Seven locomotives have received the attractive blue colour scheme, and all are available to order from Rainbow and TMC from today.
66047 Maritime Intermodal Two at Eastleigh. Foulger Rail Photos/Creative Commons.
As can be seen from the images below, while Maritime Transport Ltd is an intermodal business, the reliveried locomotives are used on a variety of traffic with numerous wagons already offered by Revolution including Drax biomass IIA-D hoppers, WIA articulated car carriers, IHA covered steel wagons, and MMA or JNA box wagons.
Photos from top: Foulger Rail Photos, Johjn Turner, Train Photos, Steve Knight, John Ray all used under Creative Commons.
The seven fully licenced models – 66005 Maritime Intermodal One, 66047 Maritime Intermodal Two, 66142 Maritime Intermodal Three, 66051 Maritime Intermodal Four, 66162 Maritime Intermodal Five, 66090 Maritime Intermodal Six and 66148 Maritime Intermodal Seven – cover the entire DB Maritime fleet and are all supplied with photo-etched nameplates and detailing accessories.
The models are fully factory painted and finished, with the exception of the numbers and nameplates which are added in the UK.
Photos courtesy The Model Centre.
The models are fully licenced by Maritime Transport Ltd and the stylish blue livery has not been available ready-to-run in N gauge before now.
Rainbow’s Colin Rae said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Revolution Trains on a range of bespoke Class 66 models and equally pleased to be teaming up with The Model Centre to bring these attractive Maritime Intermodal models to market.
“This collaboration allows modellers to choose from standard, sound-fitted and professionally weathered options, making this a really special release.”
Alex Yates, from The Model Centre, added: “Through this low-number model collaboration with Rainbow Railways and Revolution Trains, we’re bringing exclusivity to N gauge model collectors.
“With Revolution’s Class 66 platform a proven success, it seemed the obvious choice to create these strictly limited-edition models.”
These models are available in limited numbers and only available from The Model Centre or Rainbow Railways.
Revolution Trains is continuing its association with Martin House Children’s Hospice in Yorkshire by offering a limited edition version of 66190 Martin House Children’s Hospice – depicted in fully ‘bulled-up’ condition as it appeared at its naming in Summer 2023.
The model depicts the locomotive as it was superbly turned out with pristine finish, white-rimmed wheels and a newly fitted, untarnished exhaust silencer unit. The nameplates are printed on, but the model is also supplied with fine photo-etched versions for those who wish to fit them.
Bottom image courtesy Martin Elsey/Creative Commons
In common with all our 66s it features prototypically correct lights – in this case updated BMAC lighting clusters with outer headlights and and inner combined marker/red tail lights – along with driver rear view side mirrors and 66/0 style bodyshell, bogies and swinghead buckeye coupler fittings.
Remember – it’s N gauge!
Martin House Children’s Hospice
Martin House is a registered charity providing family-led hospice care for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses across North, East and West Yorkshire.
It opened in 1987 and at the time was only the UK’s second dedicated children’s hospice. It has specialist bedrooms, family rooms and play rooms as well as landscaped gardens at its six acre site near Wetherby, and providing these services costs around £9m per year
DB’s 66190 was named Martin House Children’s Hospice in recognition of the incredible work done by the rail industry in raising more than £200,000 for the charity.
Revolution is delighted to have played a small part in that, through sales of our popular IIA-D biomass hoppers in association with Rails of Sheffield, and as a result Mike and Ben were invited to the naming ceremony back in 2023.
Mark Gibbens (Drax) and Rosie Mellor-Silvester (Martin House Hospice) with Revolution’s Mike Hale and Ben Ando with a commemorative pack of Drax IIA-D biomass hopper wagons
The beautifully pristine appearance of 66190 on the day made it an obvious candidate for a model, and now our 66 is here we are proud to unveil it.
The Revolution Drax Collection
66190 will join the 66301 in its eyecatching Drax gold livery and our previously released Drax IIA-D biomass hoppers in raising funds for Martin House, enabling us to give even more with your support.
This limited edition models are available exclusively from Revolution Trains, and only 100 have been produced in both DC Silent and DCC Sound versions.
Photos top to bottom courtesy Drax, Ian Broadhead, Gareth Pearson
66190 is one of the very first batch of 250 Class 66s built for English, Welsh and Scottish Railways (EWS); entering service in early 2000.
A year later it received the swinghead buckeye coupler that became almost universal on EWS locomotives, then in 2007 was assigned to Euro Cargo Rail and sent through the Channel Tunnel to France.
66190 operating in France in 2017. Note the relative height of the wagons. Photo: Yael Flament.
The locomotive did not return to Britain (other than briefly for maintenance) until 2021, when it was converted back to UK specification, receiving updated BMAC light clusters, but retaining its EWS livery, albeit debranded, until 2023 when it was given a full repaint into DB red and fitted with the colourful Martin House Children’s Hospice nameplates.
Some of you may have seen our update on our Project overview about the delivery of the 66s being split into two batches. Due to the sheer quantity of 66s we’ve agreed with the factory to ship them in two batches:
Batch 1 (Colas, DRS, Freightliner, part of the GBRf liveries (Drax 50, Locomotion 15 and Trains4U twin pack)
Batch 2 (remainder)
Batch 1 was due to be ready to ship in early July therefore we sent out balance invoices. However in our final production checks we noticed a couple of minor errors which we asked the factory to correct and which have taken longer than expected.
Pre-production model of Colas 66848
We’re happy to report that batch 1 has now shipped and has arrived with us (29/8/25). Batch 2 should be ready to ship in September and will also be airfreighted in when ready. Batch 1 locos will start to be sent out from 1 September.
If you haven’t paid your balance invoice(s) then please do so as quickly as possible so that we can send out your models as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thanks!
Revolution Trains is offering Class 66 66301 Drax Power Station 50 in its striking GBRf/Drax Power 50th anniversary gold livery in N gauge.
L-R GBRf’s John Smith, Drax employees Anita Curtis, Claire Malton and Bruce Heppenstall, Drax plant director.
The announcement was made to coincide with the formal naming of the locomotive this afternoon (August 18th 2024) in a ceremony at the plant, near Selby in North Yorkshire, in commemoration of five decades of operation.
66301 Drax Power Station 50 in N gauge
This model – licensed exclusively to Revolution Trains – is a last-minute addition to the extensive range of Class 66 locomotives now in production.
It is available to pre-order now for £164.95.
It will feature our usual refinements including accurate bodyshell, correct light units, bufferbeam details, photo-etched nameplates and has the ESU E24 Nano DCC interface. It has been produced with the full co-operation of GBRf and Drax.
The Gold Hopper
The Drax 50 celebrations also included the wrapping of one of the company’s huge biomass wagons in a version of the gold colour scheme, and a commemorative run with the loco, gold wagon and a full biomass train from Drax to Tyne Dock via the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle and Carlisle line.
The gold wagon is number 001 of a fleet that currently stands at 255. This wagon was the first of a new design of IIA-D built by W H Davis of Langwith Junction in Nottinghamshire and designed to maximise capacity for relatively light biomass. By mid-2024 the wagons had covered a total of 137million miles, removing 250,000 HGV journeys off the roads every year.
Photo T Everitt/N Gauge News
Revolution was delighted to be asked to produce these in model form to help Drax celebrate this proud occasion, and a limited number were made available for general sale.
More help for Martin House Hospice
For every Drax locomotive and wagon sold a donation will be made to Martin House Hospice, one of several charities supported by Drax and GBRf.
Last year sales of the standard livery biomass hoppers raised £2000 for Martin House, and we are hoping that proceeds from the gold locomotives and wagons will enable us to smash through that amount!
Mark Gibbens of Drax Power Ltd and Rosie Mellor Silvester from Martin House Hospice with Revolution’s Mike Hale and Ben Ando in June 2023.
The celebratory 50th anniversary weekend featured other rail tours organised by the Branch Line Society and, combined with raffles to which Revolution donated prizes, raised a total of £35,000 for Martin House Hospice.
The Drax Story
Drax is the UK’s largest power station and generates 11% of the UK’s renewable electricity, or enough to power five million homes. It opened in 1974 and after many years of being coal-powered has now fully switched over to renewable biomass for energy production.
By switching to biomass Drax power station has reduced its carbon emissions by around 80%. Drax is also leading the way in Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and is an important employer, creating around 700 jobs in North Yorkshire.
Our N gauge model of 66301 is expected in early 2025.
As you may be aware with the launch of our forthcoming N gauge Class 66 we also announced a new option to allow customers to tailor their models – Revolution Bespoke. Working with our friends at Rainbow Railways we can take factory finished bodyshells and apply individually-tailored livery details (numbers, additional branding or livery elements and nameplates) onto our base liveries.
So far we have offered the following Class 66 sub-classes for bespoke livery application:
Colas 66/8 (early bird ended)
DRS or GBRf 66/3 (early bird ends 29/02/2024)
DRS or GBRf 66/4 (early bird ends 29/02/2024)
GBRf ‘original’ livery 66/7 (early bird ended)
DB 66/0 (early bird ends 08/03/2024)
Freightliner Genesee & Wyoming orange – there will be no bespoke option for as 66623 is currently the only Freightliner 66 in that livery with those lights and body details.
Freightliner green 66/5s and 66/6s (early bird ends 20/03/2024)
The final batch to upload are the EWS 66s. We have been through thousands of images of 66s to match the livery variations with the body shell details that we’re offering in our first run of 66s (so that you don’t have to!). Having said which we’re sure that we will have missed some combinations – if you find a version that you would like and that we’re not offering please let us know and if we have the correct combination of details we will add it.
Early bird pricing
As we’re releasing the bespoke options in a rolling programme we guarantee that there will be at least 4 weeks of early-bird pricing for each version – starting from when the bespoke option is published and ending as noted above. We will update the list above as we publish new livery options.
How to order?
Revolution Bespoke will only be available direct from Revolution (standard range items are available to all our retailers). Use the dropdowns on the relevant model page to select the livery variation, number and DC/DCC ready or DCC sound (plus in some cases named or un-named) – once you select all the options the image will update to the relevant livery variation so that you can see what you will get.
DB red 66 with We are the future brandingDB red 66 with DB Schenker branding and Highland stagDB red 66 with DB Schenker brandingDB red 66 with small DB logoSome of the variations of DB red 66 that we can offer with Revolution Bespoke
Please note that once production has started we can’t cancel or change your loco as these will be bespoke models produced to order (statutory rights still apply).
How it works?
The list of available variations all represent real combinations of livery and details (we have been through a lot of research to enable this!). The base livery will be factory finished, but the final touches eg the side numbers and changes to logos or additional logos will be printed by Rainbow Railways along with any finishing touches eg etched nameplates.
When will I receive my model?
The Revolution Bespoke models will finished by Rainbow Railways once the models arrive so will arrive with customers later than the standard versions to allow time for customisation. We are aiming to start production of the 66s in April 2024 with the models currently due to arrive late-Summer-Autumn 2024.
Popular Peterborough-based retailer Trains4U has commissioned Revolution Trains to produce an exclusive twin pack featuring the two GBRf ‘military’ Class 66 locomtives – 66723 ‘Chinook’ and 66775 ‘HMS Argyll’ in N gauge.
The models will be sold as a pair in an exclusive presentation box and every sale will include a donation to charities linked to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
66723 was named ‘Chinook’ in 2008 in honour of the RAF’s 7, 18 and 27 squadrons, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, which is the home of the Royal Air Force’s Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter.
When named the locomotive was fitted with cast nameplates which also featured the three squadron crests and an outline of the Chinook, and was in the First livery.
66723 Nameplate. Photo courtesy Rob Reedman/Creative Commons
In 2017 the locomotive was repainted into GBRf livery, retaining the name but gaining the large number ZA723 and a large orange Chinook silhouette on the bodyside, along with the RAF Ensign on the left cabside.
Photo courtesy Mick Page.
66723 was built in 2006, and was one of the first batch of GBRf Tier 1 (low emission) 5-door locomotives. Revolution’s Class 66 tooling allows for this variant, with the combination of bug-eye headlights, extended cooler group grilles, revised bogie with lifeguard deformation cut-outs and a smaller fuel tank.
Revolution 66723 CAD variation
66775 (F321) HMS Argyll
66775 was built in 2015 and is one of the very last batch of Class 66 locomitives built at Muncie, Indiana.
66775 at market Harborough. Photo courtesy David Page/Creative Commons.
66775 at Eastleigh in 2017. Photo courtesy Dave Kirwin.
In 2017 in a ceremony at HM Naval Base Devonport the locomotive was named after the Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll. Along with the cast nameplate the locomotive was adorned with the ship’s number, F321, and a replica of her funnel crest on each side of the no. 1 end cab.
Photo courtesy Steve Knight/Creative Commons.
Like 66723, 66775 is a Tier 1 5-door locomotive, however having been built in the United States, not Canada, it has significant variations including the revised cab vent position, front panel seam and revised 2-part repositioned BMAC lights.
Revolution 66775 CAD variation.
Like all Revolution’s forthcoming Class 66 models, these will feature the ESU E24 Nano decoder interface, allowing for fully authentic light and sound features.
Although not available in DCC Sound form, all models incorporate a factory-fitted speaker, allowing for a simple plug-and-play sound upgrade.
Revolution’s Ben Ando said: “Revolution has previously supported the Royal British Legion, through sales of its ‘Poppy Pendolino’, and we are delighted to be able to do the same for other important charities in the military family.”
Trains4U owner Gareth Helliwell said: “GBRf has a major presence in Peterborough and I am delighted to be able to offer these locomotives which are a familiar sight across the network. In addition I am keen to recognise our debt to the armed forces and we are guaranteeing a minimum donation of at least £1500 to each of these good causes.”
Each twin pack retails at £325.00 and can be ordered exclusively from Trains4U, with delivery expected Q3/4. We hope to have decorated samples to show in the coming weeks.
Revolution Trains, Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield are joining forces to offer 66788 Locomotion 15 as an N gauge exclusive model.
66788 Locomotion 15 at Rivenhall End in 2022. Photograph courtesy David Smith.
The locomotive was named in September 2019 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the opening of Locomotion in Shildon, partner museum to the National Railway Museum in York and home to a large number of historic items from the national collection.
Locomotion has a particular role in highlighting the vital role the railways have had in moving freight, and naming the locomotive in its honour is especially appropriate.
GBRf engineering director Bob Tiller and Head of Locomotion Sarah Price at 66788’s naming ceremony at Shildon.
Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, said “The naming of ‘Locomotion 15’ in 2019 was a wonderful way to celebrate the museum on our 15th anniversary, so I am looking forward to seeing the engine brought to life in miniature.”
The locomotive will join the Railway Icons range, a joint initiative between Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield.
Stuart Brown of Locomotion said: “We are thrilled to be working with Revolution Trains for the first time on the first N-Gauge model in the Railway Icons range.”
Revolution’s new Class 66 locomotive will feature the very latest in detailing, light and sound features, and the tooling allows for 66788 to be correctly depicted as the former EWS locomotive 66238 acquired by GBRf in 2018.
The model will feature accurate details including swinghead buckeye coupler and control lever, loco location beacon on the horn grille and original BMAC design lights. It will not have the distinctive driver cab mirrors as these have been removed by GBRf.
The model can be preordered now from either Locomotion Model or Rails of Sheffield and is priced at £159.95 (DC Silent) or £254.95 (DCC Sound.)
Revolution Trains is offering the Class 66 as its next diesel in N gauge. In a departure from our normal practice, the model has been tooled and samples have been tested and approved with decorated samples imminent.
In addition, we have created Revolution Bespoke – which will allow you to specify your own individually numbered loco when ordering!
This is a test sample and has some details not yet engraved or combined unprototypically for illustrative purposes.
The models are being offered in both original 4-door tier 0 (UIC 1) and low emission 5-door tier 1 (UIC 2) versions, and our tooling suite allows for prototypical variations in bodyshells, underframes, bogies, horn grilles, marker lights, tie-down loops, sandboxes, light clusters, buffers and couplers.
This means that we can offer not only the ‘standard’ EWS, Freightliner and GBRf versions but some of the more interesting variants including those repatriated from Europe, with UIC standard features, and the last batch built at Muncie, Indiana, with distinctive cab end recesses.
The prototype
The Class 66 revolutionised railfreight in Britain when it entered service a quarter of a century ago, and there are more than 500 of the type in service. On their introduction in 1998 they rapidly became known as the ‘red death’ as their power and reliability led to the rapid withdrawal of numerous older British Rail types.
The Red Death begins: 66001 at Toton TMD in 1998. Photo: Tim Horn, Creative Commons.
After acquiring Britain’s railfreight businesses in the 1996 rail privatisation, Wisconsin Central’s Ed Burkhardt’s quickly realised that large numbers of powerful, reliable new locomotives were needed if he was to make a success of the fledgling English, Welsh and Scottish Railway.
Having examined the US-built Class 59s, with their unparallelled levels of reliability, he placed an order with EMD for 250 locomotives to a similar design.
Designated Class 66 under TOPS, the new locomotives were faster than the 59s, had a greater range, and were supplied with radial (self-steering) bogies, for reduced track wear. To speed things up the Class 59 ‘outline’ was used as it was known to conform to the British loading gauge – a factor that would significantly reduce the time needed for UK approval and certification.
Since then the design’s versatility and reliability have seen it ordered by most other UK freight operators.
Photos clockwise from top left: Colin Brooks, Steve Knight, Sim0n Trains, John Ray (all Creative Commons), Mick Page, Dave MacAlone.
The model
Like the locos ordered by Ed Burkhardt, Revolution’s model builds on our successful Class 59 with many shared chassis parts and a similar specification. This includes photo etched grilles all round, numerous separate body and detail parts and a plethora of tooling options to allow prototypical variations in bodyshell, bogies, lighting arrangements, horn grilles, cab windows, cab interiors and underframes.
Revolution Class 66 sample on ‘Chirk’ by Allen Pearson.
Of more than 500 Class 66s in service in Britain there are only a handful that we cannot offer, and while we are not attempting to produce every version immediately over the coming years, we do look forward to filling the gaps in the options available to N gauge enthusiasts.
CAD images showing detail variations including (clockwise from top left) Muncie-build cab front with deeper sandboxes and tier 1 bogie cut-outs plus option of unique bell on last-built 66779, low emission extended roof and side grilles, additional plough on EWS locos used in Europe, EWS original cab interior, swinghead coupler and driver mirrors, Euro interior in GBRf imports combined with UIC horn housing, rectangular buffers and duplicate air pipes.
Like our Class 59, all Revolution Trains Class 66 locomotives will be supplied with one end superdetailed with full air dam and cosmetic couplers/air pipes at one end and slotted air dam with standard N coupler in NEM pocket at the other, however all models are supplied with duplicate parts so you can configure your model with superdetailing or working couplers at both ends should you prefer.
Liveries
Revolution is offering a selection of locomotives in our standard range including all the main operators. Named locomotives will come with the name printed on the bodyside at 95% size plus photo-etched nameplates for the customer to fit.
66083 – EWS
‘Standard’ EWS version with original BMAC lights, swinghead buckeye couplers and driver cab mirrors. 66083 is still carrying this livery in 2023.
66538 – original Freightliner
With ‘bug’eye’ lights representing second batch ordered by Freightliner. 66538 is still carrying this livery in 2023.
66704 – orginal GBRf
As first batch of seven delivered to GBRf with early logo and BMAC lights. Cab colour golden yellow.
66404 – DRS ‘Compass’
Represents first batch delivered to DRS in 2003 with bug-eye lights.
66128 – DB red with large logo
Depicted in 2016+ condition with revised BMAC lights.
66848 – Colas Rail Freight
With bug-eye lights is one of the locos acquired by Colas from Freightliner.
66795 – GBRf
Ex-Euro loco repatriated from Germany with ‘Euro’ details including extended horn grille, UIC cab interior and rectangular buffers. Supplied with Bescot LDC nameplates. Cab colour bright orange.
66303 – DRS plain blue
Low emission locomotive with modified BMAC lights.
66720 ‘Wascosa’ – GBRf
Low emission version with bug-eye lights and Wascosa branding. Supplied with ‘Wascosa’ nameplates.
66623 – Freightliner Genessee & Wyoming livery
Early G&W repaint from mid-2019, with revised BMAC lights.
66752 ‘The Hoosier State’ – GBRf Europorte livery
First of the last batch of locos built at Muncie, Indiana (which is nicknamed the Hoosier state) with revised details including cab front recess and extended sandboxes.
Please note graphic images are illustrative only.
Introducing ‘Revolution Bespoke…’
In addition Revolution has partnered up with Rainbow Railways to offer a new service so you can order not just the loco you like, but the individual running number you want too.
For a small premium any of our standard livery models can be ordered with your choice of number and, if appropriate, fitted etched nameplates. This work will be carried out by Rainbow Railways after the factory decorated base models are here and you will receive your chosen the locomotive soon after the main production is shipped.
The cost for this is £20 for printed details, £30 for printed details plus fitted photo-etched nameplates.
EWS maroon. Possible numbers: 66004-200. . Can be supplied with DB logo instead of EWS where appropriate.
GBRf blue. Possible numbers 66701-7 GBRf. Can be supplied with original or revised GBRf lettering.
Freightliner original. Possible numbers 66538-81, 66607-22 original Freightliner.
DB red. Possible numbers: 66004-200. Note: model has revised light clusters so is only suitable for refitted locomotives.
Revolution Bespoke also applies to DRS, revised GBRf and Colas versions.
Full options and prices will be available after Warley.
DCC, lights and sound
Like our Class 59, the Class 66 will feature ESU’s new E24 nano decoder. These decoders are smaller than Next 18 but offer significantly more functions, enabling all lights to be individually controlled and enabling us to offer fully prototypical working lights on DCC with directional headlights and marker lights, cab interior lights, two different yard modes for shunting and park mode.
With a nod to the prototype, the DCC decoder socket, and DC lighting switches, are accessed by removing the centre engine panel.
As with our other powered models Revolution is offering DC Silent and DCC Sound versions, with different sound files for the original locomotives and the low emission variants.
Prices and timelines
Because we have already reached the EP sample stage with this model the duration of the pre-order period will be significantly reduced, and we expect to put these models into production soon after Chinese New Year in late February, with delivery expected in late summer/early autumn 2024.
The standard models are available to order until 31 January 2024 at a discounted Earlybird price of £144.95 DC Silent and £239.95 for DCC Sound, after which the price will rise to the MSRP of £159.95 DC Silent or £254.95 for DCC Sound.
