which number

[matt-b]

when a manufacture brings out a model, how do they choose the number of it. i know some will be on livery, special name etc but for say a farish ews 66. how did they come up with 66098.

[zwilnik]

For most of that stuff I suspect it's the EM3 formula. (Eeny Meany Miny Mo )

[Claude Dreyfus]

For most of that stuff I suspect it's the EM3 formula. (Eeny Meany Miny Mo )

I'd tend to agree..with the occasional faux pas thrown into the mix...for example:

• When Farish originally produced the class 31, it was released in three liveries; green, blue and RR. The green loco was numbered D5558, the blue 31140 and the RR 31421. The thing was, these were the same locomotive carrying its pre and Post-TOPS identity. I'm sure it was thought to be quite clever, however it turned out to be really rather dumb, as some simple research would have told them that 31140 existed for about four months before ETH conversion and renumbering to 31421. My 31140 was swiftly renumbered to 31162; an example that was still in service at that time carrying blue livery - thus making it suitable for the period 1973/4 - 1992
• Bachmann produced 50037 in all-over blue with a high-intensity marker light. Again simple research would have told them that only 50001, 3, 6, 13, 17, 19 and 47 operated in this condition following refurbishment, and 50050 (D400) for a period towards the end of its career - 50033 also did for a few weeks before withdrawal. Perhaps they got confused with the very short period in the late 1980s that 50037 carried 'Laira Special blue' - the same livery that was applied to 50008 and 50019 later in their lives.
• When Farish first produced the refurbished class 37s, the metals liveried example was numbered as 37906. Sadly, this carried a different roof arrangement to the model...perhaps a quick glance in a railway magazine would have told them that there were other more suitable examples - 37884 for example

For a class like the 66, it is pretty much a case of pick which ever one you fancy. For the record, 66098 is an RETB fitted example, so would be used more on West Highland, or Cambrian Coast trains...