Need advise please. Best Class 37 with Sound/DCC available ?

retica · February 25, 2025, 01:45:23 AM

Hello, my name is Steve and I am a train-o-holic

I am new to British N scale and need some advice before I buy. I am interested to buy a Class 37 with Sound/DCC. Which manufacturer offers the best model so far ? Which model has the deepest growling sound ? And last but not least which reseller is recommended and will send overseas to NZ ? Thank you all in advance for your help.

Cheers,
steve

jpendle · February 25, 2025, 01:56:55 AM

Hi,

The only CL37 is by Graham Farish, but most places are out of stock. AFAIK it was only ever released as a DCC ready loco with a 6 pin socket.

To get one sound fitted, you'd need to buy one and then send it to someone like YouChoos or DC kits to get a sound conversion done.

Regards,

John P

bigdawgks · February 25, 2025, 05:39:24 AM

I am patiently hoping that Bachmann will update the 37 to have speakers and a N18 interface in their next run, whenever that may be. It can't be too far off I imagine, as surely lots of people are waiting for one (including me).

njee20 · February 25, 2025, 11:30:01 AM

It's a screamingly obvious candidate for a chassis upgrade to support sound.

The Zimo MX660 was a great option, fitted well on top of the chassis block with a Sugar Curve speaker. However that's been discontinued. I don't know if any of the newest Zimo decoders fit in the 6-pin socket? There's quite a bit of room.

eddief83 · February 25, 2025, 01:26:55 PM

Quote from: bigdawgks on February 25, 2025, 05:39:24 AMI am patiently hoping that Bachmann will update the 37 to have speakers and a N18 interface in their next run, whenever that may be. It can't be too far off I imagine, as surely lots of people are waiting for one (including me).

Add me to the list as well, given the life span and variety in the class a sound upgrade makes sense as it could repay itself several times over if the right options are done (green, blue, large logo, railfreight, EWS)

retica · February 26, 2025, 04:54:03 AM

Thank you.

I see, that explains why I couldn't find anything, there's nothing available.

Decision made. Change of scale, change of model

I just place a pre-order @ Rails of Sheffield for a OO scale

Hornby EE Dublo DP-1 Deltic

Bealman · February 26, 2025, 05:28:14 AM

Well you won't be able to run that on N gauge track, that's for sure!

retica · February 26, 2025, 08:22:41 AM

Quote from: Bealman on February 26, 2025, 05:28:14 AMWell you won't be able to run that on N gauge track, that's for sure!

And just like that I am new to British OO scale instead

and don't need to bother with yet another N scale (European 1:160 and Swiss RhB 1:150 are enough)

And Accurascale has a very nice Class 37

Cheers,
steve w.

njee20 · February 26, 2025, 11:29:20 AM

They do! Although ironically my N gauge one has sound and the OO gauge one is a shelf queen!

eddief83 · February 26, 2025, 01:22:54 PM

I think we can say a sound 37 WILL appear from a manufacturer at some point - will it be Farish or someone else is the question?

We only have to look at the Crewe Cut 47 from Farish to know a sound version can be worked on in secret and given they have a OO model in the Bachmann range the sound recordings are done so they won't be spotted recording the sounds for them.

Hopefully this year will see a quarterly announcement video feature an upgraded 37 like the Ivatt 2Mt and Standard 5's did

Roy L S · February 26, 2025, 01:40:40 PM

Yep, I have a sound fitted one too, Jamie Goodman sound-file, it sounds epic!

njee20 · February 26, 2025, 03:10:16 PM

I can't see anyone other than Farish picking it up, particularly with their short delivery timelines now. It's a decent model. The gap betwixt bogies and body could be smaller, but adding a next-18 decoder socket and a speaker would make it a great model IMO.

There are a load of variants they could offer, as with so many Farish models they seem to make some slightly curious choices on liveries.

Suffolk Rob · February 26, 2025, 03:23:38 PM

Quote from: njee20 on February 26, 2025, 03:10:16 PMI can't see anyone other than Farish picking it up, particularly with their short delivery timelines now. It's a decent model. The gap betwixt bogies and body could be smaller, but adding a next-18 decoder socket and a speaker would make it a great model IMO.

There are a load of variants they could offer, as with so many Farish models they seem to make some slightly curious choices on liveries.

It does seem so obvious that the only question should be when. Just don't see anyone else taking the risk.

Although I only have the sound version, I'm told that the sound upgrade to the chassis for the 31 did also improve the body/bogie gap so there is always the hope that the same will happen with the 37.

Can easily see this being announced in one of the remaining 2025 quarters, however I did say the same last year.

When it does finally come, I guess it will be similar potluck as to whether any of our preferred liveries are included as with the 47. For me that's blue, or LL, Intercity, EWS or DRS. Even better if the missing nose variations get covered too

jpendle · February 26, 2025, 03:28:18 PM

If the market can support 3 CL66's I'm pretty sure that it could support 2 37's, and 2 47's come to that.

Regards,

John P

njee20 · February 26, 2025, 03:43:26 PM

Yeah, fair enough! I can't see Revolution taking on it though, and I'd have thought it a risk for Dapol.