Hornby R3568

Tooling

Hornby announced its all-new tooling for the British Rail Class 71 electric locomotive at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition in late 2014, with models entering production in 2016. The Class 71 was a Southern Region Bo-Bo electric locomotive built between 1958 and 1960 for mixed-traffic duties on third-rail electrified routes. Hornby’s model was developed using 3D laser scanning of the preserved locomotive E5001 at Barrow Hill, ensuring high fidelity to the prototype. This release marked Hornby’s first detailed rendition of the type, competing directly with DJ Models in the same period.

Tooling Features

• Body Construction: Plastic bodyshell with separately fitted details; die-cast chassis for strength and weight
• Detailing: Factory-fitted handrails, cab footsteps, etched side grilles, bufferbeam detail, pipework, speedometer cable, and 3rd rail pick-up shoe. Sprung buffers and flush glazing included. Cab interiors are painted and detailed with seating and controls.
• Pantograph: Cross-arm type, poseable but unpowered
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers

Mechanical & Electrical Specification

• Motor: 5-pole skew-wound motor with twin flywheels for smooth running
• Drive: All-wheel drive and all-wheel electrical pickup
• Lighting: Directional head and tail lights, plus cab lighting
• Weighting: Integrated within the die-cast chassis for improved adhesion

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready with 8-pin socket
• Provision for a 15x11 mm rectangular speaker for sound installation

Liveries Produced

Hornby released several versions under this tooling, including:

• BR Green with late crest (with and without yellow warning panels)
• BR Blue with full yellow ends
• Special editions such as Pullman train packs

Reviews & Commentary

The Hornby Class 71 received positive feedback for its accuracy and fine detailing, particularly the etched grilles and cab interiors. Reviewers praised its smooth running and lighting features, though some noted that the pantograph was cosmetic only. Comparisons with DJ Models highlighted Hornby’s strong finish and reliable mechanism. Social media and forums welcomed the model as a long-awaited addition for Southern Region layouts, with particular interest in its representation of iconic services like the Golden Arrow and Night Ferry.

Interesting Notes

• The model was developed using LIDAR scanning of the preserved E5001 locomotive.
• Hornby included alternative headcodes and detailing parts in the accessory pack for customization.

Class & Prototype

No prototype found.

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.