Heljan 7315

British Rail Class 73 British Rail Engineers Grey & Yellow

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

  • Running Number: -

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

  • Operator: British Rail
  • Livery: Engineers Grey & Yellow
  • Era: 8 - British Rail Sectorisation

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.

The Engineers Grey & Yellow livery, commonly known as "Dutch livery," was introduced in the early 1980s for locomotives allocated to British Rail's Civil Engineers department for infrastructure maintenance duties. The livery featured a plain darker grey base with a distinctive yellow stripe along the upper bodyside, earning the nickname "Dutch" due to its resemblance to Netherlands Railways locomotive colour schemes of the same period.

The scheme initially appeared on bogie ballast hoppers in 1981, then spread to other departmental vehicles and locomotives during the 1980s as they came in for repainting or repair. The livery became standard for engineering trains following BR's sectorisation programme, replacing the earlier plain departmental grey scheme. Various locomotive classes carried this livery including Class 31s, 33s, 37s, 47s, and even some Class 56s, with many examples allocated to depots like Bescot and Inverness for engineering duties. The practical colour scheme proved popular and weather-resistant, remaining in use until privatisation when engineering responsibilities transferred to Railtrack.