Hornby R3569

British Rail Class 71 E5005 British Rail Blue

Contents

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.

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.

Detailing: Factory-fitted handrails, cab footsteps, etched side grilles, buffer-beam 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. Hornby included alternative head-codes and detailing parts in the accessory pack for customization.

Class & Prototype

  • Running Number: E5005
  • Ordered By: British Railways
  • Built By: British Railways
  • Built At: Doncaster
  • Built: 06/1960
  • Withdrawn: 11/1977
  • Length of Service: 17.4 years
  • Running Numbers: BR E5005, BR E5020, BR 71005
  • Names: -

The British Rail Class 71 was a fleet of 24 Bo-Bo electric locomotives built at Doncaster Works 1958-1960 for Southern Region Kent Coast services. Rated at 2,552 hp, these Swiss-influenced machines hauled prestigious Night Ferry and Golden Arrow international services plus heavy freight trains. Their innovative flywheel booster system enabled smooth operation over third rail gaps, whilst optional pantographs allowed overhead wire yard work. Ten locomotives were converted to Class 74 electro-diesels 1967-68, with remaining pure electrics withdrawn en masse December 1977 despite full working order. Only E5001 survives at Locomotion, Shildon. Both Hornby and DJ Models produce excellent OO gauge ready-to-run models in multiple BR green and blue liveries.

Operator & Livery

  • Operator: British Rail
  • Livery: Blue
  • Era: 6 - British Rail Blue Pre-TOPS

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.

BR Blue, also known as Rail Blue or Monastral Blue, was introduced in 1965 as part of British Rail's comprehensive corporate identity overhaul that accompanied the rebranding from British Railways to British Rail. The colour was officially defined by British Standards BR28/6001 (airless spray finish) and BR28/5321 (brush finish), representing a dark, greyish blue tone specifically chosen to hide dirt and weathering effects well.

The livery was prototyped on the experimental XP64 train in 1964 before becoming the standard scheme from 1 January 1965. Rail Blue was applied to all diesel and electric locomotives with yellow warning panels (initially small, then extending to full yellow ends from 1966). The standardised application included the iconic double arrow logo and Rail Alphabet typeface, creating one of the most successful transport corporate identities of the 20th century.

The livery dominated British Rail operations for over two decades until sectorisation in the 1980s began fragmenting the unified appearance. Despite initial colour fading problems in early applications, these were resolved by the late 1970s when the Large Logo variant was introduced featuring extended yellow areas and full-height double arrow symbols. Rail Blue's enduring appeal among railway enthusiasts reflects its role as the definitive British Rail image during the organisation's most unified period.