OR76AR004 30582 BR Late
OR76AR005 East Kent Railway
OR76AR006 Southern 3520
Release of Adams Radial OR76AR001
We've just returned from a great weekend at the Bluebell Railway, custodians of the full size Preserved Adams Radial steam loco. It was a chance to compare our models with the real full sized version!
Work continues apace with the above picture showing a engineering sample which has been tested for running qualities over the last few weeks.
(It's a bit battered after a lot of handling, so please excuse a few knocks and bumps!) The model body is a combination of several tooling options and does not represent a specific loco from the class.
The first examples of the models in the correct body styles for each of the first three versions were received and also on display - they're now being carefully checked by our research team for accuracy and further enhancements.
Whilst we await the pictures of those versions, here is some of the artwork we are working with:
OR76AR001
BR Late 30583
OR76AR002
BR Early 30584
OR76AR003
LSWR 488
For some years the development team at 'Oxford' have been examining the possibilities of producing accurate and detailed models for the UK model railway market and have now decided that the time is right to launch the first model, under the Oxford Rail banner.
The first 00 scale Oxford locomotive will be the much admired Adams Radial 4-4-2T Class 415 of the London and South Western Railway. This new Oxford division will not just release random locomotives, however; a detailed plan of future releases is already in place.
CEO Lyndon Davies explains, "I, along with my development team, have for several years been closely monitoring the model railway field, especially in the UK. I now believe that the time is right for Oxford Rail to enter the market, but I am not interested in just introducing the occasional locomotive model. We have a rolling planned introduction program based on extensive market research, as well as talking to (and listening to) railway modellers. I am determined that Oxford Rail will be judged on the integrity and the quality of our models that we will be offering. Our first exciting model is the Adams Radial, Class 415 designed by William Adams in 1882 for the London and South Western Railway. It continued in service with the Southern Railway and British Railways. Although the intention was to withdraw these locos by 1929, three remained in service on the Lyme Regis branch line until 1962, and one survived on the Bluebell Railway.
More new model railway items will be announced in the near future, not all of them locomotives. First shots of the Adams radial will be available in the first quarter of 2015".
The Oxford Rail website
www.oxfordrail.com is now active, with updates on new introductions and their development. All enthusiasts and modellers will be invited to comment. Oxford Rail products will be available through all good hobby shops and specialist outlets.Further announcements will be made soon, but for now Oxford Rail is now open for business; the business of providing excellent quality models.
