Rapido 982501 Caledonian Railway No. 123 CR Blue Railtour Condition DCC Sound Fitted

Product Description

Rapido 982501 Caledonian Railway No. 123 CR Blue Railtour Condition DCC Sound Fitted

No.123 was originally conceived as a display locomotive, to be shown off as the Caledonian Railways best at the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art in Edinburgh. However, CR No.123 was more than just a pretty face.

This unique locomotive was less a pinnacle of all that could be achieved and more of a respectful tribute to the designs of a bygone era. The true reason for her designer, Mr Dugald Drummond’s decision to use the single-wheeled design is yet to be discovered, but when Neilson & Co. built CR No.123 in 1886 it became a beautiful sunset moment for the single-wheeler concept.

Despite being the Caledonian’s flagship loco, it wouldn’t be unjust to describe CR No.123 as dated technology, even by the standards of the day. With multiple-driving wheeled locomotives proving their worth and exceeding performance standards across the country, the once glorified ‘Single Wheeler’ design was sadly becoming a thing of the past as they were outpaced by their modern counterparts.

CR No.123 entered service on the Caledonian Railway shortly after the conclusion of the Exhibition. As a fully working locomotive, it was only logical to utilise it for more than just a publicity stunt.

It would be used primarily for working Inspectors and Directors’ trains with short rakes of saloon coaches; but would also be utilised as the pilot loco for Royal Trains heading to Balmoral Castle. This involved running slightly ahead of Royal Trains, clearing the line, and ensuring it was safe.

Although ‘Single Wheelers’ were a dated idea CR No.123 was still a vessel for the builders to demonstrate engineering innovations and make it something special. She was fitted with a newly developed sanding system, which used compressed air supplied from the main reservoir of the Westinghouse air brakes. This made CR No.123 the ideal candidate to conquer the climbs of Beattock and Shotts Summits while maintaining a respectable average speed.

With the Race to the North of 1888 becoming a highly promoted event by the British press, CR No.123 would be chosen to haul the Carlisle to Edinburgh leg of this non-official race, gaining it further national fame.

In the late 1950s, she was restored by British Railways and returned to steam. This last hurrah involved CR No.123 participating in a variety of railtours. She toured much of Scotland heading the Scottish Rambler, and even found her way as far South as the Bluebell Railway in 1963 with the Blue Belle railtour.

Specifications:

• Caledonian Railway Single 4-2-2
• Caledonian Railway Blue No.123 ? Railtour Condition
• Suitable for operation on 2nd Radius curves (438mm or greater)
• Working dynamic firebox flicker
• Loksound V5 21-pin DCC Sound Decoder Fitted
• MoPower stay-alive capacitors
• 2 factory-fitted speakers in all models
• Sprung buffers
• Museum quality paint finish
• Smooth & powerful mechanism
• Highly detailed
• NEM coupler pockets