Heljan 1450

British Rail Class 104 TCL M59134 British Railways Green

Contents

Tooling

Heljan's long-awaited tooling of the British Rail Class 104 in OO gauge, first unveiled in design work around 2020, entered production by late 2024/early 2025 and reached retailers through mid-2025. This marks the first-ever ready-to-run OO representation of the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon-built 1957–59 DMUs, allowing modellers to recreate their distinctive first-generation diesel look.

Early reviews from YouTube channels such as "Proper Chuffed" and "DJP/Dean Park Model Railway" praised the tooling's fine detail and smooth running, highlighting the vibrant "Mexican Bean" livery and impressive lighting features. Model Rail and Hornby Magazine articles in late 2025 described the project as "worth the five-year wait," commending the accuracy of cab ends and interior layouts. Sound specialists like Legomanbiffo have produced tailored Leyland DMU sound profiles for enthusiasts fitting DCC sound. On RMweb and social media, collectors noted Heljan's Class 104 as one of the most complex and detailed DMU models to date, with strong demand leading to rapid sell-outs.

The release generated significant coverage across hobby media. Video reviews and unboxings showcased interior lighting, headcode illumination, and magnetic couplers in action, while retailers such as Gaugemaster and Rails of Sheffield published detailed photo galleries. Social platforms amplified excitement, with modellers sharing layout integration tips and praising the model's fidelity to prototype variations.

Each model includes a 21-pin DCC decoder socket in the DMBS driving car and factory-fitted speakers under the floor. While a single decoder per set controls all cars through hidden wiring in the gangways, Heljan also offers optional factory-fitted DCC sound, with custom Leyland DMU sound files available through third-party modding projects.

Heljan's Class 104 OO tooling delivers an unprecedented combination of prototype fidelity, mechanical sophistication, and operational flexibility. The choice of liveries spans the class's entire service life, and features like 21-pin DCC readiness, interior/exterior lighting control, and robust detailing mark this as a standout release. It offers a compelling option for enthusiasts modelling first-generation DMU operations, particularly those replicating mid-20th-century scenes across the London Midland, North Eastern Regions, and Scottish services.

Detailing: Highly accurate to prototype variations—different cab end styles, guard's doors, gangways, engine and exhaust detail. Interiors offer realistic seating layouts, plus separate lamp irons and water pipes. Body glazing is flush-fitting and super-thin. Highly accurate to prototype variations—different cab end styles, guard's doors, gangways, engine and exhaust detail. Interiors offer realistic seating layouts, plus separate lamp irons and water pipes. Body glazing is flush-fitting and super-thin.

Class & Prototype

  • Running Number: M59134

The British Rail Class 104 was a first-generation diesel multiple unit built by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company between 1957-1959, with 302 vehicles serving British Railways for 36 years. Distinctive for their curved BRCW cab fronts and unique varnished wooden interiors, these DMUs operated intensive suburban services from Manchester to Buxton, Yorkshire networks, North Eastern routes, and Scottish West Highland tourist services. Powered by twin Leyland 680 engines producing 150hp each, the class carried BR Green, Rail Blue, Blue/Grey, and Network SouthEast liveries before final withdrawal in October 1993. Twelve vehicles survive in preservation, whilst Heljan's comprehensive OO gauge range released 2024-2025 provides the first ready-to-run models in six decades.

Operator & Livery

British Railways transformed Britain's fragmented rail network into a unified national system following nationalisation on 1st January 1948. Created from the "Big Four" companies under the Transport Act 1947, BR operated most of Great Britain's railways until rebranding as British Rail in 1965, managing over 20,000 route miles and inheriting nearly 20,000 locomotives of diverse designs.

The organisation pioneered standardisation through its revolutionary BR Standard locomotive programme (1951-1960), producing 999 advanced steam engines under Robert Riddles' direction. These included the versatile Britannia Pacifics, mighty 9F freight engines, and mixed-traffic classes that incorporated the best features from all predecessor companies. The 1955 Modernisation Plan accelerated diesel and electric traction development, creating fascinating mixed-traction operations.

Notable achievements included establishing unified locomotive classification systems, introducing distinctive corporate liveries, and managing the complex transition from steam to modern traction. BR's six regional structure preserved operational diversity whilst enabling standardisation of practices, signalling, and rolling stock that had eluded private enterprise for over a century.

The BR era represents steam traction's final flowering alongside emerging diesel technology, creating unparalleled locomotive variety. Today, this heritage remains highly popular with railway enthusiasts through extensive preserved fleets, heritage railway operations, and comprehensive model ranges from manufacturers like Hornby, Bachmann, and Dapol, making BR subjects essential for authentic post-war British railway modelling across all scales.