- Builder
- Hornby
- Catalogue Number
- R2803XS
- Category
- Locomotives with Sound
- Scale
- OO
- Finish
- Pristine
- Year
- 2009
- Pages
-
- Hornby 2009 (36)
- Hornby 2011 (33)
- Era
- 8 - British Rail Sectorisation
- DCC
- Sound on Board
- Decoders
- -
- Motor
- 5 pole skew wound
- Coupling
- NEM
- Curve
- 2nd Radius (438mm) +
- Length
- 225 mm
- Based on Preserved
- No
- Directional Lighting
- No
- Interior Lighting
- No
- Pickup in Tender
- No
- Sound Decoder Ready
- No
- Passenger Figures
- No
Hornby R2803XS
British Rail Class 31 31233 British Rail Trainload Freight (Two-Tone Grey)
Class & Prototype
Class: British Rail Class 31
- Traction: Diesel
- Transmission: Electric
- Built: 1957-1962
- Total Built: 263
The Brush Type 2 represents one of British Railways' most remarkable transformation stories. Built by Brush Traction between 1957-1962, these 263 A1A-A1A diesel-electric locomotives initially struggled with unreliable Mirrlees engines, earning TOPS classification as Class 30. The comprehensive re-engining programme of 1964-1969 replaced the problematic powerplants with proven English Electric 12SVT engines, transforming them into dependable Class 31 locomotives that served for over 50 years. Originally nicknamed "Toffee Apples" (pilot batch) and "Skinheads" (early production), they evolved from operational liability to versatile workhorse, handling everything from branch line passenger services to main line freight duties. The class demonstrates how systematic engineering solutions can rescue unsuccessful designs, with the final locomotive withdrawn in 2017 after six decades of service. Today, 36 examples survive in preservation, whilst excellent ready-to-run models from Accurascale, Hornby, and Bachmann enable authentic recreation of both Class 30 and Class 31 configurations across multiple scales and eras.
Prototype: 31233
- Ordered By: -
- Built By: -
- Built At: -
- Built: -
- Withdrawn: -
- Length of Service: -
- Running Numbers: -
- Names: -