Page updated ... January 24

New collectors club

DAPOL is to launch a new collectors' club from January 31, which will embrace N, OO and O gauge modellers. New members packs will include the first quarterly newsletter of the year, along with a folder to file and store them, as well as a collectable free gift.

Members paying the £25 annual subscription will have the opportunity to take advantage of special club offers, which will include one limited edition locomotive and three limited edition wagons for all gauges.

Past products listed

BACHMANN has published what it believes is a 'complete' listing of every Branchline model produced since the range was launched up to the end of 2012. It does not include items that are advertised in advance or have yet to be released.

The aim is to periodically update the list adding the models released from previous years catalogues, but 2013 items will not be included yet. CLICK HERE to download it. A similar download is available for N gauge.

New limited edition vans

BURNHAM and District Model Railway Club is to add to its range of limited edition OO gauge models in February with four new ventilated van designs, the first of 30 vehicles planned for 2014.

They are Coates Cider of Nailsea, to complement the tanker issued in December, Matthews Brewery of Gillingham (Dorset) with distinctive logo, Gibbs Mew brewery of Salisbury with hop pocket logo on doors, and Priory Tea of London with Merry Monk Logo on doors.

The club report that to date they have raised £25,553.40 in support of local community organisations, including Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Tenovus Cancer Care of Cardiff (also see Clubscene).

Class 40s on way...

BACHMANN have received production samples of the Class 40 in OO scale, with retailers likely to receive stocks sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Three nose front styles are being produced and the new models benefit from an upgraded body profile with enhanced detail and directional lighting with on/off tail and cab options.

Three versions will initially be available: No.40141 in BR Blue (32-475DC), No.D211 'Mauretania' in BR Green (32-480) and No.D369 in BR Green(32-481).

The firm's new Class 101 two-car DMU sets (see earlier news item) are now expected in June or July.

Hall gets new chassis

COMET Models have updated their frames for the GWR Hall, LF25, designed to fit the current Bachmann Hall model. Manufactured in the firm's new format in nickel silver, the chassis will be included in all new versions of the LCP25 chassis pack.

Hornby releases for 2014

HIGHLIGHT'S of Hornby's new 2014 range include five new steam locomotives and an electric multiple unit, along with a selection of new MK 1 coaches, including a tourist open second (TSO) and a parcels coach.

There is a distinctly eastern flavour to the newcomers—an LNER/BR J15 0-6-0, a D16/3 Super Claud 4-4-0 and a return of the LNER K1 mogul. Southern enthusiast are not neglected and will no doubt welcome the introduction of both a Class 700 'Black Motor' 0-6-0 (in Southern Railway and late BR liveries) and a 2-HAL/BR Class 402, the latter complementing last year's 2-BIL.

An unusual addition to the RailRoad range is a Crosti boilered version of the BR Standard 9F 2-10-0, while there are seven new items of rolling stock—three Mk1 coaches, three variants of the BR Mk2e and an LNER Extra Long CCT Van (also available in BR livery).

New switch from Peco

A NEW 'Smartswitch' servo system is being introduced by Peco early in 2014 as part of its range of electronic components for railway modellers. The servo-controlled mechanism, which can be mounted vertically, above or below the baseboard, can be used with both DC and DCC systems.

Designed for switching turnouts, it can be used equally effectively for motorising semaphore signals or level crossing gates.

A number of other complementary components, including a 'SmartFrog' unit, will also be available.