Dapol have revealed decorated samples for their new batch of N Gauge Class 33 diesel locomotives!
Seven new variations are available to pre-order now in a range of BR green, BR blue, Direct Rail Services and Fragonset liveries. Each of these is available either DCC Ready or DCC Fitted, depending on your preference. We currently expect the final models to arrive in stock during Q4 2025.
Dapol have advised the following: Decorated samples are currently being reviewed by the design team and feedback will be sent to the factory in China. Two obvious things that initially stick out are the shades of blue on the DRS model and the presentation of the lining across the grilles, both need some refinement.
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Product Features
Detailed body with etched grills and separately fitted handrails
RP25.72 darkened wheels with pin point bearings
5 pole Super creep motor with huge pulling power and incredible slow running speed
All wheel drive and pick up
Independently controllable directional lighting
Dapol’s low friction mechanism for efficient quiet running
Heavy split frame chassis for excellent running and haulage qualities
Prototype Information
The British Rail Class 33, also known as the BRCW Type 3 or "Crompton", is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives. They were produced as a more powerful Type 3 development of the Class 26. This was achieved, quite simply, by removing the steam heating boiler and fitting a larger 8 cylinder version of the previous 6 cylinder engine. This was possible because of the traffic requirements of the Southern Region; locomotive-hauled passenger traffic depended on seasonal tourist traffic and was heavier in the summer, when carriage heating was not needed. In the winter, their expected use was to be for freight. Thus, they became the most powerful BR Bo-Bo diesel locomotive. The perennially unreliable steam heating boiler could also be avoided. A total of 98 were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) and they were known as "Cromptons" after the Crompton Parkinson electrical equipment installed in them.