Hornby R3177

British Rail Class 401 2090 British Railways (Green with Late Crest)

Class & Prototype

Class: British Rail Class 401

Traction: Electric Multiple Unit
Built: 1935-1938
Total Built: 152

The British Rail Class 401, originally Southern Railway 2-BIL (2-car Bi-Lavatory stock), comprised 152 electric multiple units built between 1935-1938 for semi-fast services on newly electrified routes from London to Eastbourne, Portsmouth, and Reading. Each 2-car unit featured a Motor Brake Third and Driving Trailer Composite with dual lavatories, 550hp total power from two English Electric motors, and 75mph maximum speed.

Built in four batches at SR Eastleigh Works, the units pioneered electro-pneumatic control systems and established operational patterns that influenced British electric railway development for decades. They served faithfully for 36 years until withdrawal in 1971, with four units destroyed during World War II. Only unit 2090 survives in preservation at the National Railway Museum, York.

Hornby has produced comprehensive OO gauge models since 2013 in multiple liveries including SR green, BR green, and BR blue variants, all featuring DCC Ready capability. The models accurately represent this historically significant class that bridged the gap between early suburban electric units and modern EMU design, making them essential for authentic Southern Railway and early British Rail layouts.

Prototype: 2090

Ordered By: -
Built By: -
Built At: -
Built: -
Withdrawn: -
Length of Service: -
Running Numbers: -
Names: -

Operator & Livery

Operator: British Railways

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.