Heljan 2522

Tooling

Announced in 2012 and released in 2015, Heljan’s OO gauge model of the British Rail Class 05 diesel-mechanical shunter brought a distinctive and relatively rare prototype to 4mm scale. The real Class 05 locomotives, built by Hunslet between 1955 and 1961, were primarily used for shunting duties. Their short BR careers ended in the late 1960s, but many continued in industrial service. Heljan’s decision to model this class followed its tradition of producing niche and characterful locomotives for enthusiasts.

Tooling Features

• Construction: Combination of plastic and metal components for durability and weight.
• Detailing: Factory-fitted separate details including handrails, lamp irons, bufferbeam detail, pipework, footsteps, sanding gear, and chemically blackened wheels. Fully detailed cab interior with glazing and painted finish.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers; cosmetic screw-link couplings fitted.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: 3-pole motor mounted in the locomotive chassis driving two axles; all-wheel pickup for reliable current collection.
• Minimum Radius: Suitable for Radius 1 curves, making it ideal for compact layouts.
• Lighting: Directional headlights and tail lights fitted as standard.
• Weighting: Integrated for improved adhesion during shunting operations.

DCC Capability

DCC Ready with a 6-pin socket. No factory provision for a speaker, but sound installations have been successfully completed using micro decoders and sugar cube speakers.

Liveries Produced

• BR black with early emblem (c.1949–1957)
• BR black with late crest (c.1957–1968)
• BR green with late crest (c.1957–1972)
• BR blue (c.1965–1990)
• Private owner and departmental variants, including preserved examples with wasp stripes.

Reviews & Commentary

The model received positive feedback for its accuracy, fine detailing, and smooth running. Model Rail magazine praised its performance and finish, noting the variety of liveries available. Some early samples had minor lighting issues, but overall reliability was strong. Enthusiasts on RMweb and YouTube highlighted its suitability for small layouts and ease of DCC conversion, though space for sound installation was limited.

Interesting Notes

The Class 05 tooling filled a gap in the OO market for small diesel shunters beyond the ubiquitous Class 03 and 08. Its compact size and ability to handle tight curves made it popular among industrial and branch line modellers.

Class & Prototype

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

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.