Description

The experts at Digital Traction have created a superbly detailed and accurate Bulleid Rebuilt Light Pacific in British Railways Brunswick green livery along with four Maunsell coaches and a set of four carefully crafted scenarios exclusive to Just Trains.

The Digital Traction Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific features fully working headcodes, a selection of name plates, switchable electric cab lighting, a fully detailed and accurate cab, accurate physics and a high quality sound set.

In 1943 Oliver Bulleid started to plan for the post-war engine requirements for the poorly maintained lines. Something lighter than the Merchant Navy Class was required, and so the Light Pacific Class was born.

Bulleid decided to include the now infamous chain-driven valve gear but it was unreliable and caused many problems. The design also featured the ‘air-smoothed’ streamlined design that gave the engine its distinctive ‘slab-sided’ appearance.

The cab featured electric lighting powered by a steam-driven generator, The gauges were lit by ultra-violet light for better night vision and to eliminate light blindness and so help the crew see track signals better at night.

Despite these advanced design features, the locomotive's unreliability was causing problems and so 60 of the engines were rebuilt, starting in 1957. The chain gear was removed, along with the streamlining, and the engine was made more conventional all round. Despite this, the steam era was coming to an end and many of the engines were scrapped soon after being rebuilt.