Heljan 1202

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 London & North Eastern Railway emerged in 1923 as Britain's second-largest railway company, combining seven major railways including the Great Northern, North Eastern, and Great Eastern into a 6,590-mile network stretching from London's four terminals to the Scottish Highlands. Despite serving economically challenged industrial regions, the LNER achieved worldwide recognition for engineering excellence and speed records that remain unbroken today.

Under Chief Mechanical Engineers Sir Nigel Gresley, Edward Thompson, and Arthur Peppercorn, the LNER developed revolutionary locomotive designs characterised by three-cylinder layouts and streamlined aesthetics. Gresley's masterpieces included the A1 Pacifics featuring Flying Scotsman and the legendary A4 class, culminating in Mallard's world steam speed record of 126 mph in 1938.

The company pioneered luxury express services including the Silver Jubilee and Coronation streamliners, whilst investing in forward-thinking electrification schemes and massive marshalling yards. Notable achievements included operating the complete East Coast Main Line, introducing Britain's first regular 400-mile non-stop service, and commissioning Eric Gill's iconic typography that influenced railway design for decades.

Nationalised in 1948, LNER locomotives continued serving British Railways until the 1960s, with some A4 Pacifics working Scottish expresses until 1966. Today, the LNER's engineering legacy thrives through extensive preservation, new-build projects like Tornado, and comprehensive model ranges covering every major class in all popular scales, making LNER subjects essential for discerning railway modellers seeking authentic British steam-age atmosphere.

The LNER plain black livery emerged as a practical economy measure that ultimately became the most widely applied colour scheme in the company's history. Initially introduced for goods engines in 1928 to reduce painting costs and labour time, this austere unlined black finish dispensed with decorative red lining whilst retaining the basic yellow lettering and "L N E R" tender markings. The livery reflected the harsh economic realities facing the LNER, particularly as the company served Britain's struggling industrial regions during the depression years of the 1930s.

The plain black scheme reached its zenith during World War II when, from 1941 onwards, austerity measures mandated that all locomotive classes receive unlined black paint regardless of their previous prestigious liveries. The transformation was dramatic – even the magnificent streamlined A4 Pacifics like Mallard and Flying Scotsman were painted in stark black, their elegant engineering unchanged but their glamorous appearance replaced by wartime utility. The austerity deepened in October 1943 when tender lettering was reduced from "L N E R" to simply "N E", halving material usage and painting time whilst creating one of the most recognisable images of Britain's wartime railways. For modellers, this livery authentically represents the challenging economic and wartime periods, offering dramatic visual impact and historical accuracy when depicting late 1920s freight operations, 1930s depression-era scenes, or the austere years of 1941-1947 when Britain's railways prioritised function over form.