HISTORY
In 1943 Oliver Bulleid started to plan for the post-war engine requirements for the poorly maintained lines. Something lighter than the Merchant Navy Class was required, and so the Light Pacific Class was born.
Bulleid decided to include the now infamous chain-driven valve gear but it was unreliable and caused many problems. The design also featured the ‘air-smoothed’ streamlined design that gave the engine its distinctive ‘slab-sided’ appearance.
The cab featured electric lighting powered by a steam-driven generator, The gauges were lit by ultra-violet light for better night vision and to eliminate light blindness and so help the crew see track signals better at night.
Despite these advanced design features, the locomotive's unreliability was causing problems and so 60 of the engines were rebuilt, starting in 1957. The chain gear was removed, along with the streamlining, and the engine was made more conventional all round. Despite this, the steam era was coming to an end and many of the engines were scrapped soon after being rebuilt.
FEATURES
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Highly detailed Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific model with 10 unique nameplates
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Four Maunsell coaches in the appropriate livery
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Four fully featured scenarios
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Real-time selectable headcode system
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Additional light controls for cab
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Sand, safety valve and whistle particle effects
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Changeable numbers and shed plates
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Opening cab windows
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Fully functioning headcode system, with both discs and electric headlamps present
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The safety valves visibly emit steam in synchronisation with the boiler pressure
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Switchable electric cab lighting.
COACHES
Four Maunsell coaches are included, all in British Railway (S) Green livery:
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Maunsell Brake coach
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Maunsell Composite coach
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Maunsell Third brake coach
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Maunsell Third coach
LIVERIES
The locomotive is supplied in British Railways Brunswick green livery.
There are ten names available to use on the locomotive; these are activated when you enter their number correctly when setting up scenarios. If you do not enter one of the numbers below, no nameplate will be shown:
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34001 Exeter
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34016 Bodmin
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34022 Exmoor
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34026 Yes Tor
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34027 Taw Valley
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34039 Boscastle
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34046 Braunton
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34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair
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34062 17 Squadron
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34101 Hartland
SCENARIOS
Bath Green to Templecombe route
Extra Load
Take wagons from Templecombe as far as Evercreech, where you collect more goods, before climbing over the Mendips to Radstock.
Date: Feb 1959
Rating: Medium
Duration: 60 minutes
Start time: 10:12
Season: Winter
Start Location: Templecombe
Over the Top
Put one of the new Rebuilt Light Pacifics through its paces over the heavily graded S&DJR. Start at Bath and travel as far as Evercreech Junction.
Date: August 1957
Rating: Medium
Duration: 50 minutes
Start time: 09:30
Season: Summer
Start location: Bath Green Park
Southern in the Snow
Drive a stopping local train from Templecombe to Evercreech Junction in the evening winter snow, with a rake of old Maunsell coaches.
Date: December 1960
Rating: Easy
Duration: 20 minutes
Start time: 16:12
Season: Winter
Start location: Templecombe
Newcastle to York route
Southern Interloper
Drive a steam special from Newcastle to Darlington during the 1980s. Start from Newcastle, taking a special as far as Darlington.
Date: July 1980
Rating: Medium
Duration: 40 minutes
Start time: 13:00
Season: Summer
Start location: Newcastle