Exceptional museum quality model locomotives for modellers, enthusiasts and collectors
70XX 'Castles'
The swansong of the magnificent ‘Castle’ class 4-6-0s was marked by the production of the 70XX series, built at Swindon between 1946 and 1950. The very fact that a design that first appeared in 1923 – with its DNA going back to Churchward’s ‘Stars’ of 1906 – should still have been in production in British Railways days is extraordinary, but even more remarkable is that the type was still turning in performances that outshone much later designs. As the engines got older and were modified so their performance improved.
These final ‘Castles’ embodied many refinements that had been introduced over the years, but it was following the introduction of revised draughting, double chimneys, reprofiled outside steam pipes and four-row superheaters that they really attained their ultimate form. They truly were the ‘Super Castles’.
To complement the earlier 50XX ‘Castles’ already produced by Masterpiece Models, we commissioned a strictly limited run of 108 models of 70XX ‘Castles’ (and a few 50XX Castles all with double chimneys) covering the engines in GWR and BR guises where applicable as single and double chimney variants. It must be stressed that this is a COMPLETELY NEW model and sets standards hitherto unseen on any RTR GWR 4-6-0. Split axles, hornblock pickups, fully enclosed gearbox with ball bearings on all shafts and a state of the art aerospace grade Swiss coreless motor were unique features of these locomotives.
Ten of these models were built as the Davies and Metcalfe valveless mechanical lubricator double chimney engines with an oil tank reservoir fitted on the smokebox side. These engines included 7014 Caerhays Castle, 7013 Bristol Castle, 5084 Reading Abbey, 4088 Dartmouth Castle and 4087 Cardigan Castle. Despite naysayers predicting that nobody would want this configuration, these engines were in high demand and sold out immediately!
All the models have now been made and nearly all have already been purchased. The availability of what is left is very limited with no double chimney engines. We have a very limited choice of single chimney engines and can provide some name changes where required, subject to the configuration of the engine being authentic to what we have in stock. Current stock at the end of September 2026 is only 6 locomotives:
7000 Viscount Portal Hawksworth Tender GWR Lining BRITISH RAILWAYS Early Condition OFS
7005 Sir Edward Elgar Collett Tender BR Late Condition Totem OFS
7005 Sir Edward Elgar Collett Tender BR Late Condition Totem S7 Superwheels
7013 Bristol Castle Collett Tender BR Early Condition Lion over Wheel OFS
4082 Windsor Castle Collett Tender BR Late Condition Totem OFS
7032 Denbigh Castle Collett Tender BR Early Condition Lion over Wheel OFS
OFS = O gauge finescale S7 = Scaleseven (33mm gauge).
Superwheels are special UK-made machined 360 degree spokes for ultimate fidelity.
It is still possible to switch locomotive wheelsets to different gauges.
Cost: UK £3432 collected, £3432 + applicable delivery cost
Non-UK £2860 + applicable delivery cost.
Superwheels locomotives are £4000 + applicable delivery cost
If you are interested in a particular locomotive, please let us know your requirement and we will try to match your needs from the available stock or second-hand. As all the models are now ready to deliver we only take payments in full. EU Customers can enquire about paying in Euros.
If a particular engine is of interest and you would like help on its specification (early or late steam pipes, type and position of mechanical lubricator, buffer type etc.) please email or telephone and we will be happy to give you all the details and see if we can provide it for you. Please note that no new 50XX engine are currently available and that all the other engines will only cover the late Castles 5098 to 7037. These models were reviewed in Model Rail magazine and received an outstanding recommendation “If you buy a model like this if you want the very best.” What more can we say?
Double chimneys
As a result of the draughting experiments in the 1950s some members of the ‘Castle’ class were fited with double chimneys, including many in the 70XX series. The dates of fitting are shown here:
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