Heljan 7320

British Rail Class 73 GB Railfreight Blue & Orange

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: GB Railfreight
  • Livery: Blue & Orange
  • Era: 9 - Privatisation

GB Railfreight (GBRf) is the UK's third-largest rail freight operator, established in 1999 and currently owned by Infracapital (M&G plc subsidiary). Operating over 2,000 trainloads weekly with an exceptional 99% reliability rate, the company moves approximately 23% of Britain's rail freight using a fleet of 170 locomotives and 1,800 wagons. GBRf serves major ports including Felixstowe, Southampton, and London Gateway with 54 daily intermodal services nationally, whilst also providing vital infrastructure services for Network Rail, London Underground, and major construction projects like HS2.

The company is renowned for pioneering the innovative Class 69 conversion programme, transforming redundant Class 56 locomotives with modern EMD 710 engines, and for operating diverse heritage livery schemes that celebrate British railway history. With headquarters and control centre in Peterborough and maintenance facilities at Tonbridge, GB Railfreight employs over 1,400 people and has committed to achieving net-zero operations by 2050, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable freight transport whilst maintaining strong partnerships with customers including Network Rail, Drax, Aggregate Industries, and major shipping lines.

The first batch of Class 66s, delivered in 2001, introduced GB Railfreight’s original Blue & Orange livery. This featured a dark blue body with bold orange cantrail stripes and orange cab sides extending back to the inner edges of the cab doors, combined with high-visibility yellow front ‘bib’ panels. Large orange “GBRf” lettering dominated the bodysides, with running numbers applied prominently at the cab ends. This striking yet simple scheme established the corporate identity that has underpinned GBRf’s visual branding ever since.