Prototype

The British Rail Class 88 is a type of mainline mixed traffic electro-diesel locomotive manufactured by Stadler Rail for Direct Rail Services (DRS) in the United Kingdom. The locomotive is part of the Stadler Euro Dual family. It is the first dual-mode locomotive in the UK to use the 25 kV AC electrification.

Amid the fulfillment of DRS' order for the Class 68, Stadler's team proposed the development of a dual-mode locomotive that could be alternatively powered by an onboard diesel engine or via electricity supplied from overhead lines (OHLE). Having been impressed by the concept, DRS opted to place an order for ten Class 88s during September 2013. Having been developed alongside the Class 68, considerable similarities are shared between the two locomotives, amounting to roughly 70 percent of all components being shared.

Features Include: 

• Finely moulded body with many separately fitted fine details
• Authentic liveries
• Printed nameplates with etched plates supplied separately - where appropriate
• Sprung buffers
• Heavy Diecast chassis and all wheel pick up and all-wheel drive
• Smooth 5-pole motor
• Twin flywheels
• Cast wheels with fine relief and appropriate colouring 
• NEM coupling pockets as standard 
• Latest Plux22 decoder socket
• Comprehensive lighting:
• White marker/headlights
• Red tail lights
• Halo lights (DCC only)
• Cab lights
• Lighting independently controllable in DCC
• Lighting independently switchable in DC
• Servo controlled pantograph (DCC only)
• Pantograph posable in DC
• DCC fitted option
• Sound-fitted option using authentic sound obtained with cooperation from DRS
• Both electric and diesel sounds, switchable by function key.