Heljan 1201

North Eastern Railway Class ES1 1 North Eastern Railway Lined Green

Contents

Tooling

Announced in 2022, Heljan’s OO gauge model of the North Eastern Railway (NER) Class ES1 represents one of Britain’s earliest electric locomotives. The prototype, introduced in 1903, was designed for the steeply graded Quayside branch in Newcastle, where steam traction was impractical. Two steeple-cab locomotives were built by Brush, fitted with British Thomson-Houston traction motors, and served under NER, LNER, and British Railways until the early 1960s.

Tooling Features

  • Construction: Plastic bodyshell with die-cast chassis for strength and weight.
  • Detailing: Separately fitted handrails, lamp irons, footsteps, pipework, lifeguards, and bufferbeam detail packs. Sprung buffers and a poseable diamond pantograph are included.
  • Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers; cosmetic screw-link couplings supplied.

Mechanical & Electrical

  • Motor: 5-pole motor with flywheel for smooth running.
  • Drive: All axles powered; pickups on all wheels.
  • Lighting: Directional LED headlamps and cab lighting.
  • Weighting: Integrated die-cast chassis for improved adhesion.

DCC Capability

The model is DCC Ready with an 18-pin socket and provision for a speaker, making it sound-ready. Some versions feature NEXT-18 sockets for digital and sound upgrades.

Reviews & Commentary

Reviews from BRM and online platforms praise the model’s accuracy, fine detailing, and smooth performance. The die-cast bonnet sections add weight, aiding traction. Directional lighting and cab illumination were highlighted as standout features. Minor criticisms include slightly heavy paint application on some black liveries, but overall reception has been very positive.

Media & Social Media

Video reviews from Hornby Magazine and Sam’s Trains showcase the model’s build quality, running performance, and historical significance. Enthusiasts on RMweb describe it as “an appealing portrayal of one of our earliest and charismatic electric locomotives,” noting its suitability for collectors even beyond Quayside branch layouts.

Interesting Facts

The ES1 was unique in combining third-rail and overhead collection systems, reflecting the operational constraints of the Quayside branch. Both prototypes lasted over 60 years in service, a testament to their robust design.

Class & Prototype

The North Eastern Railway Class ES1 comprised just two pioneering electric locomotives built in 1902 for Newcastle's challenging Quayside Branch. These Bo-Bo electrics served for 59 years hauling freight through steep tunnels using an innovative dual power collection system combining third-rail and overhead catenary. Britain's first mainline electric freight locomotives demonstrated electric traction's superiority over steam on severe gradients, with one locomotive preserved at Locomotion Shildon. Heljan's 2022 ready-to-run OO gauge models feature DCC-ready capability, working lights, poseable pantographs, and five authentic liveries spanning NER, LNER, and BR eras.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The North Eastern Railway dominated Britain's industrial north-east, operating the country's most profitable coal-carrying network across Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. Formed in 1854 from four constituent companies, the NER achieved a near-monopoly over regional rail traffic, handling over 50 million tons of minerals annually at its peak.

The railway pioneered British electrification with the 1904 Tyneside suburban scheme and experimental freight lines. Under chief mechanical engineers Wilson Worsdell and Vincent Raven, the NER developed distinctive locomotive designs including successful Atlantic express engines, innovative three-cylinder mixed-traffic locomotives, and robust freight classes that served until the end of steam in 1967.

Notable achievements included building the world's largest station at York (1877), completing the East Coast Main Line, and operating extensive dock facilities. The company's engineering excellence earned recognition during World War I when Vincent Raven supervised munitions production at Woolwich Arsenal.

The NER merged into the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923, but its locomotive designs continued in production well into the British Railways era. Today, the railway's legacy lives on through preserved locomotives, heritage railways, and comprehensive model ranges available in all popular scales, making NER subjects ideal for authentic British railway modelling.