Hornby R2771

British Rail Class 121 W55028 British Railways Green with Late Crest

Contents

Tooling

In 2006 Hornby reintroduced the classic British Rail Class 121 "Bubble Car" by upgrading the earlier Lima-based tooling. This refreshed version maintained the charm of the single-car DMUs originally built between 1959–1961, and built on Hornby's Railroad Plus range, offering improved drive, design robustness, DCC compatibility and fresh liveries to fit modern branch-line layouts.

Reviewers widely regard the Hornby 2006 upgrade as a solid improvement—scoring averages of 6/10 and up. The 5-pole motor garnered praise for its smooth, controlled slow-speed running and reliable acceleration/deceleration, even around tight curves. Detailing was rated "good," particularly glossed glazing and installed cab features, though lacking interior paint and factory-installed lighting. Hobbyists noted absence of sprung buffers and NEM couplings, but welcomed the DCC socket and upgrade-friendly format.

Overall, it's viewed as an ideal platform for enhancements—decoders, lighting, buffer swaps—earning a place in "starter" or "modder-friendly" model sets.

Detailing: Accurately captured details include flush glazing, windscreen wipers, headcode/destination boxes, twin exhaust stacks, and authentically modelled bogie and underframe machinery visible underneath.

Class & Prototype

  • Running Number: W55028

The British Rail Class 121 "Bubble Car" single-car DMU operated for 57 years from 1960-2017, making it Britain's longest-serving diesel multiple unit. Built by Pressed Steel Company, just 16 DMBS power cars served Western Region branches including the Greenford shuttle, Henley, Marlow, and Severn Beach line. Distinctive "antler" exhausts curving around illuminated headcode boxes set them apart from similar Class 122 designs. Originally AEC-powered, the fleet was re-engined with Leyland 680 units during 1971-1980. Following privatisation, units worked for Silverlink on the Marston Vale Line before Chiltern Railways' remarkable 2003-2017 renaissance extended their career. Twelve vehicles survive in preservation. Available as models from Bachmann (OO), Dapol (OO/N/O), and Heljan (O gauge) in numerous authentic liveries.

Operator & Livery

  • Operator: British Railways
  • Livery: Green with Late Crest
  • Era: 5 - British Railways Late Crest

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.