Ruston 262997 was built new for the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority, leaving Boultham Works on 27 January 1949 for the Birchills Power Station in Walsall. Birchills came under the control of the WMJEA in 1925 and in 1944 it was decided that a new Station, Birchills B, should be constructed. The new power station, called 'Walsall B', officially opened on 30th September, 1949, and 262997 was responsible for shunting at the new Power Station, still carrying its WMJEA legend despite nationalisation of the industry in 1948, where Birchills became part of the Midlands Region of the Central Electricity Generating Board. Birchalls burned ‘slack’ coal, a mixture of coal and coal dust which was delivered by road, rail, and canal. Located to the south of the former Midland Railway’s Wolverhampton to Walsall (Ryecroft Junction) line, the railway sidings and coal storage areas could be accessed from both east and west directions. The Power Station closed in October 1982 and the stub of railway serving it was closed at the same time.

DESIGN SPECIFICATION and CONSIDERATIONS

• Die-cast metal chassis, body frame and footplate, with plastic cab and engine panels. Target weight of 475g.
• Scale length of 143.8mm over buffers, 54.85mm wide and height over cab of 70mm.
• Wheelbase of 40.54mm, for all vehicles, allowing operation over a minimum radius of 1020mm (2nd radius set-track).
• Choice of metal 3-link, or screw couplings for prototypical coupling.
• Brake blocks fitted and aligned with wheel centres for 0 Gauge, ensuring that they do not rub on wheel rims.
• Single style of 21mm solid wheel, correctly profiled both on the inside and outside and chemically blackened, set in blackened brass bearings or contact strips and conforming to Accurascale standards of 29.2mm back-to-back, on 4.763mm diameter axles.
• Fully detailed die-cast underframe with all cylinders, linkages and piping applied separately
• Eroded metal, plastic and wire detail parts, including (but not limited to) handrails, door handles, lamp brackets, brake gear, brake discs, draw gear, vents, louvres, radiator grilles and builders’ plates.
• Prism free flush glazing.
• Easily removable cab roof, to allow access to cab interior for customer detailing.
• Sprung metal buffers, and draw hooks.
• Authentic livery, markings and numbers, accurate to time period modelled, achieved by use of part painting and pad printing.

HIGH PERFORMANCE TRACTION and MECHANISM, TO INCLUDE:

• Centrally mounted, best quality 5-pole skew-wound motor, with flywheel, driving both axles.
• All-wheel pickup.
• Helical gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running.
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale maximum top speed of 15.4 mph (24.78 kmh), with a load of 1.1kg.
• DCC ready with PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power, or similar stay alive arrangement.

LIGHTING and DCC FEATURES, TO INCLUDE:

• Deigned around PluX22 ESU Decoders with easy access to decoder via removable bonnet.
• Switchable shunting lights.
• Full cab interior lighting, set at correct colour temperature.
• Permanently fitted speakers.