Heljan 1173

British Rail Class 117 DMBS W51371 British Rail Blue & Grey

Contents

Tooling

In late 2024, Heljan announced its long-awaited, fully tooled O gauge Class 117 DMUs, marking its most ambitious suburban DMU project to date. This launch forms part of a wider "First Generation" suburban DMU range that also includes the Class 121, Class 122 railcars and Class 149/150 trailer cars, offering enthusiasts a comprehensive set from the late-1950s through the 1990s.

Reviews from the modelling community have been overwhelmingly positive. Model Rail and Key Model World highlighted its "impressive" detailing and smooth running, describing it as a milestone for O gauge DMUs. Many noted Heljan's long wait—announced originally in 2018—as fully justified by the striking final result. Social media and discussion forums praised its realism, especially the accurate detailing, strong drive performance, and well-engineered coupling system.

Detailing: Includes factory-fitted handrails, glazing, wipers, exhausts, lamp irons, gangway connectors, tail lamp, and buffer beam detail. Underframes feature chassis pipework, battery boxes and air tanks. Fully modelled passenger saloons, cab interiors, cab lighting and detailed driver's footplate. Screw-link couplings at the ends, magnetic bar couplings between cars, and sprung buffers for realistic operation during shunting and movement.

Class & Prototype

  • Running Number: W51371

The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel Company between 1959-1961 as three-car suburban sets comprising DMBS, TCL, and DMS vehicles. Powered by dual Leyland 680 horizontal diesel engines producing 600hp per unit, these elegant DMUs served Thames Valley, Birmingham Cross-City, Scottish, and Cornish routes for forty years until final withdrawal in 2000. The class achieved remarkable preservation success with 51 surviving vehicles across twenty heritage locations, including the Swanage Railway's mainline-certified set operating scheduled Network Rail services. Bachmann produces comprehensive OO gauge models (£459.95-569.95) featuring dual motors, authentic period liveries from BR green through Network SouthEast, and optional sound-fitted variants, whilst Heljan offers O gauge versions arriving December 2025.

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.