Hello again folks! I'm back with another couple reviews today, both from the UK - an unusual diesel and a shiny tanker.
Without further ado, let's get started...
GE "PowerHaul" PH37ACmi / Class 70 History: A very modern diesel class built by General Electric in Erie, PA and exported to the UK, these locomotives are equipped with GE's P616 3,700hp, V16 engine, and a GTA series alternator, which powers two three axle bogies (C-C arrangement) through 6 5GEB30 traction motors. The "Powerhaul" series comprises a few different models with differing specs to meet the needs of various countries - so far including the UK, Turkey, South Korea, and Australia, along with operating in various European countries. But today we're focusing on the so-called Class 70, which is the "TOPS" (Total Operations Processing System) term used by the UK operators, but the official GE model is PH37ACmi. I'm not even going to pretend to understand the nomenclature here, but PH is most likely PowerHaul, 37 is the HP, and AC is presumably Alternating Currrent (traction motors), but the "mi" are a mystery. Anyway, 37 were built between 2008 and 2017. They were originally ordered by Freightliner (the freight company, not truck manufacturer) and were designed in a collaborative effort between FL and GE, under FL's Project Genesis scheme (put simply, a plan by FL to get some good locos). Currently, Freightliner and Colas Rail operate them in the UK. Interestingly, while one of the Freightliner units, 70012, was being unloaded at Newport Dock, it was dropped due to crane rigging failure and fell back into the ship's hold. It was severely damaged, sent back to GE, and they salvaged what they could and cobbled a shop switcher together from the leftovers. Also, they do not have a particularly flattering reputation amongst UK railfans due to their very unusual appearance - I always like the oddballs though.😃
70811 History: It was built in 2014, and is currently having a succesful, and uneventful, career hauling freight around the UK. Not much info or history here - it's such a new loco, and it's thankfully had no serious issues or accidents, as far as I could tell.
Anyway, review!
Box info.
The cab ends are the main point for the unflattering railfan opinion - it's certainly unusual. But the design was based around crash-worthiness, not aesthetics - as it should be. Form follows function.
Good: We'll start with weight, which is a decent 15.7oz. The paint and details are overall very impressive, no issues or complaints there. Also, it's very sturdy all around, feels well constructed and not fragile at all. It sounds really nice, and the DCC works just as it should.
Bad: A very slight hesitation before moving. I always set my models' acceleration and deceleration CV codes to 0, because I like instant response. Start moving quickly and stop the same. Models react differently to that sometimes - some, like this one, will have that hesitation before moving.
Overall: It's a really nice model of a unique prototype. Looks good, sounds good, runs good - can't ask for more than that! Definitely one I'd recommend,
And the tanker!
Ooh, shiny.😎
A very nice model, with an amazing finish. I typically don't do rolling stock reviews, but this one was especially impressive with the chrome finish. And it handles in a train perfectly well, too.
It's a little light on fine details, though, but I don't care about that - it looks good enough, and operates well. Most of the detail/decoration budget probably went into the finish, anyway!
Nice cheerful paint scheme and the chrome tanker is def one of the top pieces of rolling stock I’ve ever seen.