It's no April fool's joke – Hornby has just revealed an exciting new train set for TT:120, pairing its new Class 37/7 tooling with three HFA 'Merry-Go-Round' hopper wagons. An exciting entry to this rapidly-developing scale, the new Coalfield Freight set is available to pre-order from us now in analogue (DC) form (TT1008M), and digital (DCC sound-fitted) form (TT1008TXSM).

Pre-order yours from us today and select an optional customisation from us too for that authentic grubby hard-worked locomotive look! 

What’s in the Set

  • Class 37/7 37799 Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed in BR Trainload coal livery
  • Three HFA ‘Merry-Go-Round’ hopper wagons
  • Available as DCC Ready (£179.99) or DCC Sound-Fitted (£224.99)
  • Optional TMC weathering available for a realistic, hard-worked look

Bring the power and history of British heavy freight to your TT:120 layout – pre-order your Coalfield Freight Train Set at TMC today!

 

Why it’s special

The Class 37/7s were a freight-focused rebuild of the Class 37, created during the 1980s refurbishment programme of the Class. A total of 44 locomotives were converted, primarily for heavy coal and metals traffic, particularly in South Wales.

Class 37/7 37799 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' passes through Wem station on July 1, 1994 with a Cawoods containerised coal train. The train of two-axle PFA container 'flats' ran between South Wales and Ellesmere Port. Howard Smith (TS collection).

Very similar to the Class 37/5, the 37/7s were distinguished by the plating over of a bodyside window and the addition of extra ballast and modified traction motor gearing, increasing their tractive effort for demanding freight duties. Two main batches were produced from earlier Class 37/0s, with differences in front-end design and horn placement, while a small sub-batch (37796–37803) trialled alternative Brush electrical equipment.

 

In service, the fleet became synonymous with South Wales coal and steel traffic, working heavy trains between collieries, docks, and steelworks such as Llanwern and Port Talbot. They frequently hauled long 'Merry-Go-Round' (MGR) coal trains to power stations like Aberthaw and were well-suited to steeply graded branch lines around Cardiff and Swansea.

 

Their role declined with the displacement of more powerful locomotives such as Class 56s and the arrival of the Class 60s. The introduction of the Class 66 put an end to their use in the UK, however a number were exported for infrastructure work in Europe, many later returning before being stored, sold or scrapped.

 

Pre-order your Coalfield Freight Train Set at TMC today!