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N Gauge Class 56 Production Sample Update II
May 27, 2026
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N Gauge Class 56 Production Sample Update II
The three outstanding decorated samples have arrived at Dapol and we are delighted to be able to share images of them with you. We strongly encourage you to pre-order with you preferred Dapol stockiest today to avoid the risk of missing out on one of these fantastic models.
Project Update
2D-004-010, 2D-004-011 & 2D-004-014 are expected to arrive with us in the coming weeks. We will keep you updated as we get a clearer date of when we expect them to be in shops.
N Gauge Class 56 Production Sample Update
We have received the first four production samples of the soon to arrive N Gauge Class 56 models and we are please to share images of the currently available samples with you. The remaining three model samples are expected any day now and we will share images of these with you just as soon as we can. We strongly encourage you to pre-order with you preferred Dapol stockiest today to avoid the risk of missing out on one of these fantastic models.
Project Update
2D-004-012, 2D-004-013, 2D-004-015 and 2D-004-016 are expected to arrive in the UK towards the end of May, we would expect these to be be in shops by the beginning of June. 2D-004-010, 2D-004-011 & 2D-004-014 are expected to arrive in shops towards the end of June or possibly just into the beginning of July. Please be mindful that some allowance may have to be made for international affairs and how this may impact shipping routes.
Pre-Order your model at your preferred Dapol stockist today!
N Gauge Class 56 Decorated Sample Update
We are delighted to be able to share images of the Class 56 decorated samples that we have received from one of our partner factories in the Far East. Please note the following images are shown for illustration and are subject to change where our design team feel it necessary.
2D-004-010 Class 56 56302 Fastline
2D-004-011 Class 56 56131 Large BR Logo
2D-004-012 Class 56 56007 Transrail
2D-004-013 Class 56 56059 EWS
2D-004-014 Class 56 56303 DCR
2D-004-015 Class 56 56006 BR Blue
2D-004-016 Class 56 56054 BR Railfreight Coal
Project Update
The design team have finished their reviews of the EP and the decorated samples and feedback has been provided to the factory for any potential improvements. we are currently waiting for a production slot to be made available, at this time we expect to see these models in shops during Q1 2026.
Pre-Order your model at your preferred Dapol stockist
N Gauge Class 56 Update
Prototype
The British Rail Class 56 is a type of Co-Co locomotive designed for heavy freight work and was introduced between 1976 and 1983. In all 135 Class 56s were built, the first 30 by Electroputere in Romania but due to poor quality of construction the remainder were built by BREL at their Doncaster and Crewe works. The Class 56 was considered to be a successful locomotive and had a long service life. However performance and maintenance costs savings made from the deployment of the newly imported Class 66 resulted in most of the fleet of Class 56s being decommissioned or sold on by 2006. Several Class 56s are currently preserved and some class 56s are still in service today with private rail companies hauling freight and for the occasional special service.
The Dapol Class 56
Dapol introduced the much-acclaimed Class 56 diesel-electric locomotive to our range in 2012 and the model has proved popular ever since.
As part of our ongoing improvement program, we are delighted to announce that the Class 56 in being retooled with an all-new bodyshell.
The new tooling will allow for accurate representation of the original Romanian and later UK-built locomotives and feature etched brass grilles.
The changes to the body tooling have pushed the Class 56 release into 2024 but we are sure you will find it worth the wait!
Romanian Built Class 56
Specifications
- Retooled body with improvements to the body shape. cab roof and windows
- Tooling options to accurately reproduce both Romanian and Doncaster bodyshell types
- Etched side and roof grilles in two styles
- RP25.72 darkened wheels with pin point bearings
- 5 pole Super creep motor with controlled pulling power and incredible slow running speed
- All wheel drive and pick up
- Directional lights
- Dapols low friction mechanism for efficient quiet running
- Heavy split frame chassis for excellent running and haulage qualities
- DCC Ready with a NEXT-18 decoder socket
Doncaster Built
Cab Front View
Roof Detail
Grille Detail
Proposed Liveries
The images below are of the provisional artworks and are shown for illustration only - they are subject to change and or correction where necessary.
2D-004-010 Class 56 56302 Fastline
2D-004-011 Class 56 56131 Large BR Logo
2D-004-012 Class 56 56007 Transrail
2D-004-013 Class 56 56059 EWS
2D-004-014 Class 56 56303 DCR
2D-004-015 Class 56 56006 BR Blue
2D-004-016 Class 56 56054 BR Railfreight Coal
Recommended Retail Price
DCC Ready
£156.60
DCC Fitted
£188.99
Project Update
The design team has worked really hard to rework the bodyshell design of this model, the CADS have been signed off and the project is moving along to the tooling room. We expect to see the revised Class 56 in shops Q3-Q4 2024.
Pre-Order your model at your preferred Dapol stockist
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