N Gauge Schöma/Clayton Diesel/Battery Shunter

London Underground introduced a fleet of 14 Schoma CFL500VR Diesel Locomotives for engineering works in February 1996. Usage was restricted as their diesel emissions prevented them working on the deeper tube lines.

In May 2014 London Underground awarded a contract to Clayton Equipment Limited to convert these diesel  locomotives to battery/3rd/4th rail traction. Battery power was required in order to be independent of the 3rd/4th traction current rails when used for engineering works when the traction current is generally turned off. Batteries are recharged at depots when traction current is not available.

Some prototype photographs of the original and converted locomotives can be found on Flickr and a video of the first battery loco under trial is shown below.

NOTES

• Three different prints are available.
  • Choose SMALL for the original Schoma diesel powered locomotive,
  • or MEDIUM for the Clayton modified, battery/electric locomotive.
  • or LARGE for a pair, one of each design.
• These body-shells are designed to fit the Kato 11-109 chassis. Simply remove the body-retaining hooks from above the steps on each side of the Kato chassis (see photograph).
• The body shell is a snug fit, so some careful filing might be required to sit it properly on the chassis.
• Handrails are printed within the bodyshell at the minimum thickness supported. Etched nickel-silver Guard Rails from N Brass Locos might also be suitable.
• Steps and buffer beams with buffers are printed within the body-shell. Remove the Kato buffer beams and attach the printed buffer beams in their place. The narrower steps should be added at the cab end of the chassis. 
• Join printed parts to each-other using cyanoacrylic adhesive (eg Superglue). Printed parts should be attached to the Kato nylon chassis using epoxy adhesive (eg Araldite) after roughening the mating surfaces.
• Shapeways' recommendations for cleaning, preparing and finishing Fine Detail Plastics can be found here.

UPDATE HISTORY

• 10 Sept 2021 - Initial release
• 10 April 2023 - Glazed versions added