Rail Express August 2019

‘HYMEK’ RETURNS

ROLLS-ROYCE TANKS TO SINFIN

Type 3 back after 24 years out of traffic

Life on the diminutive Derby line

Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

NORTHERN’S NEWBIES!

‘Tractor’ Tractor in ‘O’ O Gauge Heljan delivers a large scale Class 37/4

■ NEW RELEASES

'Peaks', 'EDs' and a Class 07

CLASS 47 SURVIVORS

Partt 2 P 2: Th The preserved fleet

MODELLING SECTION

■ REWORKING Mk.2s 5

Newsdesk: Heljan 4mm ‘Peak’

6

Newsdesk: CIE Bogie Liners

Brand-new models of the Class 45 are added to the Heljan catalogue, whilst Silver Fox Models reissues its ‘OO’ Class 74 in ready-to-run and kit form.

Irish Railway Models reveals the first prototype of its ‘OO’ CIE Bogie Liner intermodal wagons.

modern road markings in self-adhesive vinyl for 2mm and 4mm scales.

11

Newsdesk: New liveries for Dapol 'EDs'

Olivia’s Trains commissions new liveries for the Dapol ‘OO’ Class 73 including Network Rail and EWS livery.

13

Newsdesk: Heljan’s dirty dock shunter

A round-up of forthcoming shows.

6

Exhibition diary

More ‘OO’ Class 07 shunters from Heljan, including a factory-weathered model. Plus Hornby releases two useful BR Mk.1 departmental coaches.

9

Newsdesk: More Accurascale wagons

16

Modelling: '37' bogie rebuild Part 3

British Steel iron ore tipplers are to be offered as new 'OO' models, while Scale Model Scenery releases useful

The sprung ‘Tractor’ project is concluded with final assembly of the model.

23

Modelling: Reworking Lima coaches

31

Review: ‘O’ Gauge Class 37/4

Don’t add to landfill by throwing away old Lima Mk.2f coaches! New glazing, bogies and a repaint readies them for further service.

Twin motors, rotating roof fan and some excellent detailing are found on Heljan’s new large scale Class 37/4 model.

RAIL EXPRESS MODELLER EDITOR Nigel Burkin

REMeditor@mortons.co.uk

New life for old Lima models

■ 'O' gauge Class 37 Heljan's beast reviewed

Printed in the UK

No. 184 DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

UK Off-sale date - 16/08/2019

NEW LIFE FOR LIMA Mk.2F 2F COACHES

No. 279

RAIL EXPRESS No. 279 AUGUST 2019 £4.40

Cl Classes 195 and d 331 finally fi ll enter service

CONTENTS

Issue No. 279 August 2019

EAST LANCS ‘CHOPPERS: With the contract to move LU Stock from Derby completed, HNRC’s orange-liveried ‘Choppers’ Nos. 20311+20314 were available to take part in the ELR’s diesel gala on July 5-7, and are seen rounding the curve into Bury on the first day with the 14.05 Heywood-Rawtenstall. Neil Walkling

FEATURES

NEWS

15

8

Bashing ‘Whistler’s in the 1970s and 80s.

0-60: CLASS 458/5

73

Looking for a new third-rail champion.

MOMENT IN TIME

Why did a ‘33’ work into Liverpool Street?

REGULARS 20 31 32 33

TIME TRAVELLER

Headlines from decades past.

76

PRESERVATION

REVIEWS

A selection of new railway books.

NEW LIFE FOR LIMA Mk.2F 2F COACHES

82

POWERSCENE

90

UNITS

MODELLING

‘Tracto Tractorr’ in ‘O’ O Gauge

New launches include a ‘Peak’ from Heljan, iron ore tippler wagons from Accurascale, and electro-diesels in new liveries from Dapol – plus there’s a reissue for Silver Fox’s ‘OO’ gauge Class 74.

Our Class 37 bogie rebuild feature concludes this month, while there’s an in-depth review of Heljan’s 7mm ‘Tractor’.

Heljan delivers a large scale Class 37/4

93

SHUNTERS

5

Newsdesk: Heljan 4mm ‘Peak’

Brand-new models of the Class 45 are added to the Heljan catalogue, whilst Silver Fox Models reissues its ‘OO’ Class 74 in ready-to-run and kit form.

modern road markings in self-adhesive vinyl for 2mm and 4mm scales.

11

Newsdesk: New liveries for Dapol 'EDs'

13

Newsdesk: Heljan’s dirty dock shunter

16

Modelling: '37' bogie rebuild Part 3

6

Newsdesk: CIE Bogie Liners

Olivia’s Trains commissions new liveries for the Dapol ‘OO’ Class 73 including Network Rail and EWS livery.

6

Exhibition diary

More ‘OO’ Class 07 shunters from Heljan, including a factory-weathered model. Plus Hornby releases two useful BR Mk.1 departmental coaches.

9

Newsdesk: More Accurascale wagons

Irish Railway Models reveals the first prototype of its ‘OO’ CIE Bogie Liner intermodal wagons.

A round-up of forthcoming shows.

British Steel iron ore tipplers are to be offered as new 'OO' models, while Scale Model Scenery releases useful

The sprung ‘Tractor’ project is concluded with final assembly of the model.

94 23

Modelling: Reworking Lima coaches

31

Review: ‘O’ Gauge Class 37/4

Don’t add to landfill by throwing away old Lima Mk.2f coaches! New glazing, bogies and a repaint readies them for further service.

‘HYMEK’ RETURNS Type 3 back

line

after 24 years out of traffic

Essential reading for today’s

‘Hymek’ returns to service after 24 years; Prototype HST moves to Neville Hill; Swindon ‘Thumper’ runs again; Great Gable to visit Nene Valley Railway for diesel gala.

POWER BY THE HOUR

No. 184 DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

SINFIN TANKS

TO ROLLS-ROYCE

Life on the diminutive Derby

Statesman Rail’s new destinations for 2020.

80

EXPRESS MAILBAG

Keith Town railway; Worksop shunter.

The District Line celebrates 150 years.

RAILTOURS

The best ways to get Rail Express every month.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY – PAGE 20

LU WORLD

74

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

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rail enthusiast

NORTHERN’S NEWBIES!

Classes 195 and Cl d 331 fi finalllly enter service

Class 59/2 fleet up for sale; Class 20s head to store; Bogie swap for second Colas '37'.

Notable workings, Name Game, and Spectrum.

More Crossrail '345' EMUs stored at Worksop.

Busy month for RSS ‘Gronks’.

COACHES

GWR ‘Classic’ HST sets soldier on.

NEW LIFE FOR LIMA Mk.2F 2F COACHES

No. 184 DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

‘Tractor’ Tractor in ‘O’ O Gauge Heljan delivers a large scale Class 37/4

CLASS 47 SURVIVORS

Partt 2 P 2: Th The preserved fleet

MODELLING SECTION

■ NEW RELEASES

'Peaks', 'EDs' and a Class 07

■ REWORKING Mk.2s

5

Newsdesk: Heljan 4mm ‘Peak’

6

Newsdesk: CIE Bogie Liners

Olivia’s Trains commissions new liveries for the Dapol ‘OO’ Class 73 including Network Rail and EWS livery.

6

Exhibition diary

9

Newsdesk: More Accurascale wagons

More ‘OO’ Class 07 shunters from Heljan, including a factory-weathered model. Plus Hornby releases two useful BR Mk.1 departmental coaches.

Brand-new models of the Class 45 are added to the Heljan catalogue, whilst Silver Fox Models reissues its ‘OO’ Class 74 in ready-to-run and kit form.

Irish Railway Models reveals the first prototype of its ‘OO’ CIE Bogie Liner intermodal wagons.

A round-up of forthcoming shows.

British Steel iron ore tipplers are to be offered as new 'OO' models, while Scale Model Scenery releases useful

modern road markings in self-adhesive vinyl for 2mm and 4mm scales.

11

Newsdesk: New liveries for Dapol

13

Newsdesk: Heljan’s dirty dock

16

Modelling: '37' bogie rebuild Part

'EDs'

shunter

The sprung ‘Tractor’ project is concluded with final assembly of the model.

3

23

Modelling: Reworking Lima coaches

31

Review: ‘O’ Gauge Class 37/4

Don’t add to landfill by throwing away old Lima Mk.2f coaches! New glazing, bogies and a repaint readies them for further service.

Twin motors, rotating roof fan and some excellent detailing are found on Heljan’s new large scale Class 37/4 model.

RAIL EXPRESS MODELLER EDITOR

Nigel Burkin

REMeditor@mortons.co.uk

New life for old Lima models

■ 'O' gauge Class 37

Heljan's beast reviewed

Printed in the UK

30

CHASING TRAINS: CLASS 40S

UK Off-sale date - 16/08/2019

28

ON A ROLL TO ROYCE’S

A focus on Derby’s short branch to Sinfin.

£21.50

Uncertainty halts the franchising process; Northern’s newbies start work; Manchester’s mayor pushes for local control; ‘Hydroflex’ unit heads for main line testing; First new TPE trains accepted; Delay to ‘Highlander’ Mk.5s; Government overrides Welsh rail devolution; NRM’s 2-HAP unit celebrates 60 years; Locos return to Rhymney Valley.

No. 279

26

Part 2, covering the preserved fleet.

FROM ONLY

HEADLINE NEWS

RAIL EXPRESS No. 279 AUGUST 2019 £4.40

22

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: ‘47S’

Twin motors, rotating roof fan and some excellent detailing are found on Heljan’s new large scale Class 37/4 model.

RAIL EXPRESS MODELLER EDITOR

Nigel Burkin

REMeditor@mortons.co.uk

95

WAGONS

96

IRISH ANGLE

Cemex cutdown HYAs take to the rails.

Rail boost for Dublin and Cork areas.

Fresh into service, CAF-built DMU No. 195116 calls at Widnes on July 8 while working Northern’s 11.16 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport. Doug Birmingham

Editor’s Comment PRINT & DISTRIBUTION

Newstrade & distribution Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001 Printed by William Gibbons and Sons, Wolverhampton Published Third Friday of every month This issue July 19, 2019 Next issue August 16, 2019 Advertising deadline July 31, 2019 ISSN No 1362 234X

Paul Bickerdyke Rail Express Editor

© Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

A sting in the tale

L

OVE them or hate them – and, to be fair, there are probably more in the latter camp than the former, even amongst enthusiasts – the ‘Pacer’ fleets have made their mark in railway history.

Introduced in the mid-1980s, they were a low-cost solution for desperately needed new trains on rural routes. But the ‘bus body on a wagon frame’ idea was soon to be their downfall, as rough riding, poor reliability and the infamous wheel-squeal led to them gaining the wrong kind of reputation amongst the travelling public.

Upgrades inside and out, plus a move to more appropriate routes, meant things got better in the 1990s until the booming passenger numbers of the post-Privatisation era saw them come into the spotlight again for overcrowding, particularly in urban areas across the North and South Wales. For the anti-railways brigade, they were a stick with which to beat the Government and operators for being old, cramped and not fit for purpose.

Now the end is finally in sight as replacement stock is being introduced, but it looks like the ‘Pacers' will have one last role to play as a political football. The end of the

Rail Express is pleased to consider contributions for publication

year deadline for trains to meet new disability legislation is fast approaching, and all of the ‘Pacers’ were due to be gone by then. But the first one is not being withdrawn (by Northern) until August, so it seems highly unlikely the rest will go in the following five months.

The result? Some brave soul will have to grant a derogation so the trains can continue into 2020. This should be a sensible and practical move to smooth the transition to new stock, but it will doubtless be one that railway-bashing media and commentators will jump on to their advantage.

It is no wonder the National Railway Museum wants a ‘Pacer’ set for its collection, as what a story it will have to tell to future generations!

Paul Bickerdyke

Please do not send images that have already been sent to other publications. Prints & slides are sent at the owner’s risk and must be accompanied by a SAE for return. Digital images can be sent by email, but please bear in mind we may not be able to reply to every one, as we receive hundreds of images each week.

Although care will be taken with submissions, Rail Express assumes no responsibility for loss/damage, however caused. Submitted material may also be used in connection with other Mortons Media Group projects or as content on the internet. Payment for material used will be made promptly. Please send digital submissions to RailExpressEditor@mortons.co.uk or via CD or DVD to the editorial address.

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ADVERTISING

Divisional advertising manager Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk Advertising Fiona Leak Tel: 01507 529573 Email: fleak@mortons.co.uk Publishing director Dan Savage Publisher Tim Hartley Production editor Sarah Wilkinson Designers Charlotte Fairman, Mike Baumber, Jake Sidebotham Reprographics Jonathan Schofield Subscription manager Paul Deacon Circulation manager Steve O’Hara

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Nigel Burkin Editor Rail Express Modeller

Alistair Grieve Shunters

David Russell

Preservation Units Coaches

Gareth Bayer Power by the hour Wagons

David Rapson Powerscene

William Watson Irish Angle (with Alan McFerran)

Christopher Westcott LU World (with Piers Connor)

‘Industry Witness’ News Writer

HEADLINE NEWS

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Uncertainty halts the franchising process Government leadership, Brexit and bidders pulling out all combine to frustrate planned new contracts.

By ‘Industry Witness’ A COMBINATION of the pending change of Prime Minister, Brexit uncertainty, bid compliance issues and potential recommendations from the ongoing Williams Review has curtailed the franchising programme.

Nothing much has been said about rail policy by the Conservative party leadership candidates as to whether future policy will be continued if a new secretary of state is appointed.

The most immediate task is to restore confidence in the franchise bidding process if the Train Operating Companies are retained in their current form. Stagecoach has already announced it is to withdraw from the market following the loss of the East Midlands contract, as it considers privately-owned companies cannot take on the risks required in new franchise agreements. This has come about because of the deficit that exists in the Railway Pension Fund, where an open-ended commitment to funding has been required.

Unless there is a future liability

cap, it is unlikely anyone other than Government-owned railway companies will be prepared to enter bidding competitions.

FIRMS WITHDRAW

The decision follows a similar judgement by National Express, once the largest franchised operator, to withdraw from the British rail franchise market as it offered an insufficient financial return when set against the risk of significant losses.

Future ownership of both Arriva and First Group is also in doubt. Arriva is owned by Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German National Railway, and is to be sold to reduce DB’s level of debt.

First Group has been heavily criticised by its shareholders about poor results and future prospects, and a break-up of the company into its three main trading activities could be the outcome. These are American bus operations, UK bus companies, and the rail portfolio of operating companies – which are the least profitable of the three. The Department for Transport has gone ahead with the award of

the East Midlands franchise to Abellio despite the legal challenges about the process, and has clearly decided it will pay compensation to the losing bidders if a legal judgment is made against the Government.

A different approach has been followed for South Eastern, with the expected contract award being postponed from the original start date of December 2018. An extension was negotiated with Govia to continue operations until at least November 9, 2019, with an option to extend the termination date to April 1, 2020. With the withdrawal of Stagecoach and Trenitalia, the remaining challenger to Govia is an Abellio-led consortium.

WEST COAST DILEMMA

For the flagship West Coast Partnership franchise, the contract award has also been put off. The requirement is to operate the existing West Coast franchise while planning and implementing the transition of services to HS2. Given the success of the current Virgin-managed operations, it is a questionable decision to disqualify the

bid from the company that has higher levels of passenger satisfaction than any other current franchised operator.

The anticipated winner is a joint venture between First Group and Trenitalia, but there is the difficulty that shareholders in First Group have challenged the make-up of the company and there is no certainty that the bid will now proceed.

If that happens, the fall-back position is the Chinese-fronted bid from the Hong Kong-based MTR Corporation, which is backed by the Guangshen Railway Company. It will be a big decision to award the contract to this grouping after eliminating British companies as a result of the pension deficit issue.

Although any future changes are not yet known, the latest indication is that franchising is expected to continue as the passport system of qualification to make bids – which validates that potential contract holders have the necessary financial strength and operating skills to run services – has been extended until September 26, 2022.

Northern’s newbies start work NORTHERN launched the first of its new fleet of trains into service on July 1, seven months after they were originally planned to start due to technically difficulties found during testing.

The first day saw seven DMUs and two EMUs start on the Manchester Airport-Liverpool/Cumbria and LeedsDoncaster routes respectively, but the new trains will be rolled out to

routes across the Pennines, South Yorkshire and Chester in due course.

The rest of the 101-strong fleet will be phased in over the coming months as they are accepted for traffic. There will be 58 Class 195 DMUs (comprising 25 two-car and 33 three-car sets) and 43 Class 331 EMUs (as 31 three-car and 12 fourcar sets). All are built by CAF based on its ‘Civity’ platform so externally

On the first day in service, July 1, DMU No. 195102 passes Gatley (Greater Manchester) with a working from Manchester Airport-Liverpool Lime Street. Greg Mape

EMU No. 331106 arrives at Doncaster on June 28 for the press run to Leeds.

Paul Bickerdyke

8 RAIL EXPRESS August 2019

look very alike and have similar controls to help with driver familiarity across the fleet. Passenger features include power points, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and more space for wheelchairs and cycles.

The new trains will allow the first ‘Pacer’ to be withdrawn in August, but it seems unlikely that the full Class 142/144 fleet can be withdrawn by the end of the year, when all trains still in service have to meet new PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) standards. If this happens,

the Department for Transport will have to allow a derogation for the old trains to continue in use. The rest of Northern’s existing fleet of Classes 150/155/156/158/170 DMUs and 319/333 EMUs is also being refurbished.

The first Class 195 No. 195116 was launched at Preston on June 26 with a press run to Manchester Victoria. This was followed on June 28

by EMU No. 331106 at Doncaster and a press run to Leeds. Both sets were named Proud to be Northern.

HEADLINE NEWS

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IN BRIEF NORTH EAST BIDS TO IMPROVE RAIL TRAVEL

DMBSO No. 61275 has been superbly restored.

DTCSO No. 75395 is next in the queue.

2-HAP hits 60

The National Railway Museum's most travelled vehicle has celebrated its diamond jubilee and the halfway point of its cosmetic restoration.

THE National Collection’s Class 414 2-HAP unit No. 4308 celebrated its 60th birthday at Locomotion in Shildon on June 27. The EMU is believed to be the most travelled vehicle in the collection, and has had the most money spent on it after celebrity steam loco No. 60103 Flying Scotsman.

The two-car unit is halfway through a thorough internal and external restoration, which has seen DMBSO

(Driving Motor Brake Standard Open) No. 61275 superbly turned out in BR blue/grey livery on one side and Network SouthEast on the other – the first vehicle in the collection to carry a dual livery. DTCSO (Driving Trailer Composite Second Open) No. 75395 has now taken its place in the workshops for restoration to begin, and this will be finished to match No. 61275. The plan is for the unit to be

displayed at the NRM in York, with visitors able to go inside No. 61275.

Restoration work began under the nickname ‘Project Commuter’ in 2014, led by Chris Osman from the Network South East Railway Society. The work is a first in that it has involved staff and volunteers from both the NRM and Locomotion working side by side.

The team in York mainly handles the interior work, while Shildon worked on the bodywork, underframes and bogies.

The unit was built at Eastleigh Works in 1959 for phase one of the Kent Coast electrification and remained in service until 1995, joining the National Collection in 2006. During its service life it worked 2.7million miles and carried an estimated 5.3m passengers.

A £377million bid to transform the way people travel around the North East has been confirmed by two of the region’s combined authorities.

A new passenger rail line for Northumberland, more park and ride around city centres, improvements to bus, walking and cycle routes and more frequent Metro services all form part of the region’s bid to be submitted to the Department of Transport’s Government Transforming Cities funding.

If successful, the programme will be delivered over the next four years, after being approved by the North East Joint Transport Committee, which brings together the North East and North of Tyne combined authorities.

DOLLANDS MOOR REPORT

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its report into the Dollands Moor freight yard accident in September 2018, when a train struck a petrol-powered buggy while it was stationary on a crossing, causing lifechanging injuries to a shunter sitting in the buggy.

The investigation found that level crossings were being used by buggies without appropriate signalling in place, and that DB Cargo’s management of the use of buggies, subways and level crossings at Dollands Moor yard was inadequate.

RAIB made two recommendations to DB Cargo to address significant gaps identified in the safety management arrangements, and to review its oversight and verification of safety arrangements at locations across the UK.

NEW TRAIN BOOST TO SATISFACTION

LOCO-HAULED RHYMNEY’S RETURN: Class 37 have returned to passenger work between Rhymney and Cardiff for the

first time since December 2006. No. 37418 had the honour of working the first train on June 17, the 07.43 from Rhymney and 17.01 return from Cardiff. A second diagram was due to begin as this issue went to press comprising the 07.24 Rhymney-Cardiff and 17.46 return. The peak hour, weekdays-only workings will allow up to four Class 150 and 158 units to be released for PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) upgrades ahead of the January 1, 2020 deadline, and then in turn for the Welsh ‘Pacers’ to be withdrawn. No. 37418 is pictured at Rhymney on June 20 after arriving with the 17.01 from Cardiff Central. John Headon

GREAT Western Railway’s customer satisfaction figures have risen by nine percentage points to 87 percent, according to the latest survey by independent watchdog Passenger Focus – which GWR attributes to its new trains. The train operating company has introduced two new fleets of trains in the last 18 months, including Class 800/802 Hitachi-built bi-modes on Intercity routes, plus ‘Electrostar’ EMUs in the Thames Valley. The new trains have provided around 25 percent more seats on some services.

August 2019 RAIL EXPRESS 13

MOMENT IN TIME

No. 33038 at the blocks at Liverpool Street on January 10, 1986 after unusually working two return trips on the West Anglia line to King's Lynn and Cambridge.

Liverpool Street ‘33’ I How a combination of events saw a Southern Region ‘Crompton’ pressed into passenger action out of Liverpool Street.

The same location at Liverpool Street today, taken in front of the resited ticket barriers, showing part of the enlarged concourse and the former Great Eastern hotel now known as the Andaz.

30 RAIL EXPRESS August 2019

T is January 10, 1986 and Type 3 ‘Crompton’ No. 33038 rests at the blocks of the old Liverpool Street station in the shadow of the Great Eastern hotel. Very unusually, the ‘33’ had been in passenger action that day on the West Anglia Main Line – beginning with the 1H18/12.05 to King’s Lynn and 1C87/16.00 return, then the 1H38/19.35 to Cambridge and 1C92/21.50 return.

Class 33s were long associated with the Southern Region, mainly allocated to depots at Hither Green (south east London) and Eastleigh. However, the mid-1980s saw Stratford depot take on some of the heavy repair work, which is how HG-based No. 33038 found itself in the East End that winter.

Fixed and available for work, and with a shortage of Stratford’s more usual Class 37 and 47 traction that day, the loco was pressed into action for the two return trips. Its Anglian sojourn was very brief, working only that day, and by mid-month the loco was back on familiar territory on the Bristol to Portsmouth circuit.

Somewhat ironically, the ‘33’ would end its days back at Stratford. Having spent much of its 27 year service life based at Hither Green, it was withdrawn in October 1988 and taken to Stratford to be stored pending scrapping – although this did not happen until June 2001 at EMR Kingsbury.

The Great Eastern hotel has faired better than the loco, and is still open today as the Andaz London Liverpool Street. However, it no longer overlooks the tracks quite so closely as they were moved back to create today’s enlarged concourse when Liverpool Street station was refurbished in the late 1980s/ early 1990s.

NEWSDESK

Dirty dock shunter A GOOD coat of dirt and grime adorns one of the version 2 releases of Heljan’s popular ‘OO’ gauge Ruston & Hornsby 275hp Class 07 shunter, typifying the neglected condition of the Southampton dock shunters in their final years of service.

An already finely detailed model, finished in BR blue with TOPS number 07009 and fitted with air brake equipment, comes factory weathered with several different grime colours, adding character to a delightfully charismatic model. Dark grey coats the top of the bonnet and handrails alongside the cab roof. The same oily grime colour has been extended over the radiator grille on the long bonnet and down the bufferbeams too.

The feel of a bespoke weathered model is achieved through the use of a blend of rust and grime on the underframe, wheels, coupling rods, running plate and along the bottom edge  Numerous small parts finish the model including a metal radiator grille and sprung metal buffers – all consistently weathered with the body.  A comparison between the pristine BR blue version 1 release of the Heljan ‘OO’ gauge Class 07 and the weathered version 2 model.

of the cab sides and bonnets. The rust colour is a convincing, dusty looking dark brown suggesting a long period without cleaning and build-up of track grime. It is evenly applied except to the tanks which are nicely finished with rust streaking with some of the original white showing through. It flattens the slightly shiny rail blue livery with a near matt finish which resists rubbing off at the corners and along the fine detail applied to the body shell.

Highly detailed model

Underlying the grime is the same highly acclaimed model which has done Heljan a great deal of credit. The smoothrunning, six-coupled chassis with its diecast chassis and refined three-pole motor produces a slow running and very controllable locomotive, perfect for shunting duties. Most of the body shell is fitted out with fine details applied as separate metal and plastic fittings, including pipe work, handrails and cab driving console.

The front and rear

 One of the version 2 releases of the Heljan Class 07 is finished in BR blue as No. 07009 with airbrake details and waist-height brake hoses. A weathered finish has been applied to this model.

bufferbeams are finished with a wealth of brake pipe detail, working screw link couplings and metal sprung buffers that depress at the slightest touch.

At £139.95, the model is well priced when compared to similar models from other manufacturers, particularly given the complexity of the design, the amount of detail applied to it and the modelling of a small class of locomotives built for a specialised role.

Hornby departmental stock HORNBY quickly latched on to the popularity of departmental and research stock and as the company has discovered, yellow departmental stock sells well. Two new Mk.1 departmental coaches have been released, both neatly finished in BR departmental yellow with black markings as Old Oak Common TMD BTU vehicles.

Both models are well detailed with flush glazing, interior fittings and correctly sized metal wheels fitted to good representations of B1 bogies. Hornby has chosen to use its standard Mk.1 BSK and BG models for these coaches, both of which are a close fit to both coaches.

QPA No. ADB 975574 (R4902)

Old Oak Common TMD Tool Van with rerailing equipment legends, TOPS coded QPA and numbered ADB 975574 has been

represented by Hornby’s BSK model, priced at £36.99. The full size vehicle is a BTU staff and dormitory coach used as part of a rerailing train; once fitted with vacuum brakes in addition to air brakes and coded QPX according to records.

It was eventually scrapped in 2011 after a period in use with Railtrack. The Hornby BSK model is a close fit to No. ADB 95574 but it is not detailed with air brake equipment. To match the QPA code applied to the model, the vacuum brake detail should be removed and air tank, cylinders and distributor fitted instead. Roof vents on the model are ridge dome type whilst No. ADB 975574 was fitted with scallop dome vents.

Finally, it is worth noting that the end  A side view of the model which is fitted with vacuum brake details and the correct B1 bogies. It may be easily refined to better match the real No. ADB 975574.

 The second departmental coach to be released by Hornby is a model of QQX No. ADB 975613 in circa 1980s condition.

Supplement No. 184

gangways were removed and the openings plated over, whilst curtains were fitted to the compartment windows.

QQX No. ADB975613 (R4903)

Hornby has dressed its BG model as QQX No. ADB 975613 which was an Old Oak Common TMD BTU crane equipment tool van. This model is a good match to the full size coach in its 1980s condition based on photographic material. The van became a departmental stores van in the mid-1970s after an interesting role as Trailer Luggage Van No. 68202 which worked with 4Cep EMUs in cross-Channel boat trains. Subsequent changes for its role as a crane equipment tool van included fitting an access door and hinged drop plate in place of one gangway to bridge the gap with adjacent crane runners and wagons.

It was further modified, including the plating over of doors and windows together with the fitting of large loading doors, by the time it was operated by Railtrack as a QVA and consequently no longer a fit to the Hornby model.

Nonetheless, the model is a very useful

 Hornby’s Mk.1 BSK coach is a close match to Old Oak Common TMD BTU tool van No. ADB 975574.

one and may also be used to represent other former Mk.1 BGs such as QRV No. ADB 977155 for which the vacuum brakes and ridge dome ventilator detail matches well alongside the retention of the end gangways. The model is priced at £40.99.

Modelling potential

Both models make perfect detailing projects where the differences between the Hornby models and the full-size vehicles may be modelled whilst leaving the accurately researched liveries largely intact. Changes to the brake equipment, grab rails, roof ventilators, end gangway removal and other details can be completed to refine the models in short workbench sessions using readily available detailing parts.

August 2019 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller M13

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No. 330 October 2018 £4.30 UK Off-sale date 31/10/2018

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