Heljan 7311

British Rail Class 73 British Rail Blue

Contents

Tooling

Announced in 2021 and delivered from late 2023, Heljan’s British Rail Class 73 electro-diesel locomotive for O gauge represents a major milestone in ready-to-run 7mm scale modelling. The Class 73 was a unique Southern Region design capable of operating on 750V DC third-rail electric power and via a 600hp diesel engine, making it highly versatile for passenger, freight, and engineering duties. Heljan’s model covers the production ‘JB’ batch built between 1965–67, which remains iconic on the UK network and heritage lines.

Industry reviews have praised the model as Heljan’s most detailed O gauge locomotive to date, highlighting its exceptional finish, authentic variations, and innovative features such as animated arc flashes and powered roof fan. BRM and Hornby Magazine noted its benchmark-setting quality for British outline O gauge. Social media discussions on platforms like Modern Image O Gauge have been positive, with enthusiasts impressed by the fidelity and operational performance, though some noted the need for suitable coaching stock for authentic Southern Region scenes.

Detailing: Highly detailed body with over 550 separate parts, etched metal grilles, wire handrails, and separately fitted bufferbeam details. Interchangeable headcode panels, optional arc shields, retractable collector shoes, sprung buffers, and fully functional drophead buckeye couplers. DCC-controlled third-rail arc flash effect.

Class & Prototype

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The British Rail Class 73 electro-diesel represents one of Britain's most versatile and longest-serving locomotive classes, designed in the early 1960s to solve the Southern Region's third-rail gap problem in goods yards. With dual 1,600hp electric and 600hp diesel modes (1,600hp diesel in Class 73/9 rebuilds), these Bo-Bo locomotives served prestigious duties from Gatwick Express to Venice Simplon Orient Express, and now operate Caledonian Sleeper services in Scotland. Of 49 built (6 Class 73/0, 43 Class 73/1), 39 survive with approximately 22 still operational, making them among British Rail's most enduring designs spanning over 60 years of continuous service.

Operator & Livery

British Rail (1965-1997) transformed Britain's railways through revolutionary modernisation, introducing the iconic double arrow logo, Rail Blue livery, and business sectorisation. BR pioneered high-speed rail with the InterCity 125 and Advanced Passenger Train, electrified major routes, and created profitable divisions like InterCity and Network SouthEast. From steam succession through diesel and electric development to privatisation preparation, British Rail's diverse locomotive fleet, multiple livery schemes, and operational scenarios provide unparalleled variety for railway modellers across all scales and periods.

BR Blue, also known as Rail Blue or Monastral Blue, was introduced in 1965 as part of British Rail's comprehensive corporate identity overhaul that accompanied the rebranding from British Railways to British Rail. The colour was officially defined by British Standards BR28/6001 (airless spray finish) and BR28/5321 (brush finish), representing a dark, greyish blue tone specifically chosen to hide dirt and weathering effects well.

The livery was prototyped on the experimental XP64 train in 1964 before becoming the standard scheme from 1 January 1965. Rail Blue was applied to all diesel and electric locomotives with yellow warning panels (initially small, then extending to full yellow ends from 1966). The standardised application included the iconic double arrow logo and Rail Alphabet typeface, creating one of the most successful transport corporate identities of the 20th century.

The livery dominated British Rail operations for over two decades until sectorisation in the 1980s began fragmenting the unified appearance. Despite initial colour fading problems in early applications, these were resolved by the late 1970s when the Large Logo variant was introduced featuring extended yellow areas and full-height double arrow symbols. Rail Blue's enduring appeal among railway enthusiasts reflects its role as the definitive British Rail image during the organisation's most unified period.