BR class 59 was the first entry into the British rail traction business by US and Canada locomotive builder Electro-Motive. Then part of General Motors the class 59s were designed to meet the specifications of an order from Foster Yeoman for locomotives to be operated on BR dedicated to the haulage of FY stone trains from Merehead quarry. The success and exceptional reliability of the 59s resulted in ARC, operators of the neighbouring Whatley quarry, and National Power investing in small fleets of dedicated 59s for the haulage of their trains. The same basic design, revised to accommodate a newer engine and updated equipment, provided the basis of the 'class 66 generation' locomotives for EWS.
This Dapol model features etched grilles and separately fitted handrails, with the tooling designed carefully to model the design changes made between the three sub-classes.