The Clayton Equipment CBD80/90 is an 80/90 tonne Bo-Bo battery-diesel hybrid-power shunting locomotive. Its batteries are charged from a 3-phase supply or the on-board, low-emission diesel engine. These locos are capable of moving 2,500 tonnes and are the largest locomotives built in the UK for over 20 years.

In 2019 Tata Steel UK placed an initial order for three CBD90 locomotives for its Port Talbot works in Wales, two further locomotives were delivered in July 2021 and two more in August 2023.

Variants of the Tata design have subsequently been ordered by Beacon Rail (15) and the lighter CBD80 by Sellafield Ltd (2).

This print represents the Beacon/Sellafield versions.

Some prototype photographs can be found on Flickr: https://flic.kr/y/3JaL2F2

These body-shells are designed to fit the Kato 11-105(or 106/107) chassis and are a snug fit, so some careful filing might be required to sit it properly on the chassis.

CHASSIS

• Cut the rounded box moulding removed from the bottom of the chassis.

• Remove the Kato motor cover which can be discarded.

Fix the motor and brown Printed Circuit Board in place with epoxy adhesive eg Araldite, taking care to avoid getting adhesive on the copper contact strips.

Cut down the chassis side walls and hooks to footplate level. (See photograph)

BOGIES For CBD80 (Sellafield) examples, use the Kato bogies unchanged with the extended couplings provided.

Detail should be cut from the faces of the Kato bogies, reducing their overall width to 15mm so that printed bogie side plates hang flush, straight and vertical.

Assemble the printed bogie fronts and sides then slide them onto to the Kato bogies.

Once a good fit is established, add the back beams and secure the assembled structures to the Kato bogies with epoxy adhesive. (See photograph)

The T-shaped ends of the long couplings supplied might need careful filing to insert and operate smoothly in the Kato coupling pockets. Removing ~1mm from the ends of the spring-locating pegs within the coupling pockets will make fitting simpler.

Adding 15-25 grams of additional weight to this model will greatly improve its traction.

https://youtu.be/NfsSjkuSEUQ