In a surprise reveal at the International N Gauge Show, Dapol are to produce a brand new tool N Gauge GWR 78xx Manor steam locomotive.
The new Manor is designed from the ground up and will feature a coreless motor in the locomotive complete with flywheel. Like the West Country / Battle of Britain and GWR Mogul, it will also feature firebox glow and a new electrical connector for easy locomotive-tender separation.
The photos above are of the first EP sample which arrived in the UK just before TINGS and is now undergoing evaluation by the Dapol design team with some improvements already identified. Decorated samples are expected toward the end of the year, and Dapol hope to have the model in the shops during Q3 2025.
Model Specifications
Body
Diecast boiler
Diecast footplate
Appropriate Buffer types
Tall vacuum pipe on the tender
Lower vacuum on the locomotive
Smoke box number plate for B.R. period
Highly detailed cab interior
Chassis
Diecast chassis – split frames for live bearing pick-up
Blackened nickel plated diecast driving wheels
Brass bearings
Plastic keeper plate with brake shoe/linkage details
Sprung centre driving wheels
Wheels to NMRA standard
Electrical
Pickup from loco driving wheels and tender
Coreless motor
Tender body to be easily removable
Space for sugar cube speaker in tender
Firebox glow
DCC Ready with provision for a NEXT-18 Decoder in the tender
Locomotive to tender with electrical connections for motor and locomotive pick-up via pin and socket vertically mounted under the cab
Proposed Liveries
2S-001-005 4-6-0 Granville Manor 7818 Green Shirt Button
2S-001-006 4-6-0 Fringford Manor 7814 Green Shirt GWR
2S-001-007 4-6-0 Compton Manor 7807 Green G Crest W
2S-001-008 4-6-0 Torquay Manor 7800 BR Black Large Early Crest
2S-001-009 4-6-0 Draycott Manor 7810 Lined BR Green Small Early Crest
2S-001-010 4-6-0 Erlestoke Manor 7812 Lined BR Green Late Crest
2S-001-011 4-6-0 Cookham Manor 7808 Lined BR Green Late Crest
Pricing
DCC Ready: £190
DCC Fitted: £227.80
DCC Sound: £308.80
Our thanks to Dapol for allowing NGN to photograph the Manor sample on display at TINGS.