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5700 Class - L94 - London Transport Maroon

SKU ACC2880-EXL
Availability:
On Pre Order
Original price $255.00 - Original price $255.00
Original price
$255.00
$255.00 - $255.00
Current price $255.00

Pre Order Item

This item is on Pre Order, with an expected delivery date of Quarter 1, 2025

London Transport’s railway network is well known for being electrified and “underground” but there had always been a small fleet of steam locomotives retained for working infrastructure trains on the surface lines. By the 1950s, these older locomotives were well past their prime and London Transport began to look for replacements. Diesel locomotives were considered, as was a small fleet of ex GNR J52 steam locomotives but their trial was unsuccessful. In 1956, the solution came in recently withdrawn ex GWR 57xx pannier tanks.

Modifications were required to the cab roofs to allow for tighter clearances which involved removing the protruding roof section and placing a new rainstrip higher on the roof. Modifications were also required to fit the locomotives with “trip cocks” to be compatible with LT’s signalling system. These cocks would contact a ramp which was raised at red signals causing a loss of vacuum brake and stopping the train. Extra brackets were fitted on the running plate, and the cocks were fitted to these. Steam heat was not a requirement for the engineering trains so this was removed. In total 13 locomotives were bought by LT although only 11 ever ran at once.


Steam on the LT system lasted until 1971, 3 years after the big “final day” on BR. During this period, the “Red Panniers” gained quite a following as they were still mainline type locomotives doing real work, unlike the industrial systems which struggled to find favour with many enthusiasts. This 3 year window also allowed many of the LT panniers to find homes in preservation following their withdrawal. Fledgling preservation schemes were face with having to purchase either industrial or scrapyard condition locomotives so the opportunity to purchase a working mainline locomotive was not passed up. L95 was even steamed the day it arrived on the Severn Valley Railway!

L94 was one of these locomotives. After hauling the last steam service on the underground, it was sold from service to “7029 Clun Castle ltd” and moved to Tyseley in Birmingham. It has been seen in both its LT guise as L94 or repainted in to GWR or BR condition as its original number 7752. A product of Glasgow, dating from 1930, L94/7752 has to be seen as one of preservations hardest working panniers as during 2011, it was fitted with equipment to run on the mainline. Still retaining the LT “cut cab” but having lost the trip cock brackets, it now gained new modifications. A GWR style speedometer drive was fitted to the rear wheel under the driver’s side and two electrical equipment boxes were fitted under the running plate to house electronics for modern mainline signalling. Also evident are slightly more polished areas than it would have had during squadron service as well as the mandatory OHLE warning flashes on the step areas. L94 was seen working frequently with classmate 9600, either top and tail, double heading or even used as a pair for banking duties on some of Vintage Trains’ railtours as well as spending periods on hire to preserved railways around the country. L94 has most recently been repainted into Great Western Green livery and is carrying the original number of 7752.

Detailed Specification

  • Highly detailed 0-6-0PT 00 gauge model, 1:76.2 scale on 16.5mm track
  • Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd radius set track)
  • RP25-110 profile 00 gauge wheels
  • Coreless motor with flywheel geared for maximum performance and slow speed running
  • Die-cast metal chassis and pickups to all wheels.
  • Next18 DCC ready or ESU LokSound V5 sound fitted, slot mounted in smokebox
  • PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power
  • Two quality sugar cube speakers contained in sound capsule located for best possible sound.
  • Small, flexible neck NEM coupler mounts set at correct height, with mini-tension-lock couplers.
  • Brake rigging factory fitted
  • Brake blocks aligned with wheels
  • Scale width wire handrails and sand pipes
  • Fully detailed cab interior with twin LED pulsing/steady Firebox glow
  • Etched metal/plastic detail parts, including grab handles, steps, buffer pipework, lamp irons etc.
  • Turned brass whistles etched whistle shields (where fitted)
  • Sliding roof ventilator
  • Etched metal pre-painted number plates and works plates.
  • Fully sprung metal buffers, factory-installed pipework and screw/3 link couplings
  • Magnetically removable smoke box door

Lighting and DCC Specifics