Heljan 3459

British Rail Class 33 33029 Direct Rail Services Blue

Contents

Class & Prototype

The British Rail Class 33 "Crompton" represents one of the most successful Southern Region diesel designs. Built by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company between 1960-1962, these 1,550 hp Bo-Bo locomotives featured Sulzer 8LDA28-B engines and Crompton Parkinson electrics. The 98-strong fleet comprised three variants: 86 standard Class 33/0 mixed-traffic locomotives, 19 Class 33/1 "Bagpipes" push-pull conversions, and 12 narrow-bodied Class 33/2 "Slim Jims" for the restricted Hastings line. They worked boat trains, branch passenger services, heavy freight, and pioneered push-pull operations with 4TC sets on the Bournemouth-Weymouth corridor from 1967-1988. Service life spanned 1960-2001, with 29 locomotives (30% of the class) preserved. Comprehensive model availability exists in OO gauge (Heljan), N gauge (Dapol), and O gauge (Heljan).

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

Direct Rail Services (DRS) is Britain's premier nuclear transport and commercial rail freight operator, established in 1995 by British Nuclear Fuels Limited to handle the safe movement of nuclear materials. Now owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority through Nuclear Transport Solutions, DRS has evolved into one of the UK's leading freight companies whilst maintaining its core nuclear transport mission.

Operating from major depots at Carlisle Kingmoor, Crewe Gresty Bridge, and Motherwell, DRS runs a modern fleet including cutting-edge Class 68 diesels and revolutionary Class 88 bi-mode locomotives alongside heritage Class 37s and specialist Class 20/3s. The company's distinctive blue and grey livery has become synonymous with operational excellence and technical innovation.

DRS's commercial success centres on its partnership with Tesco, operating ten dedicated rail routes carrying over 12,000 containers monthly, whilst infrastructure support services include rail head treatment, snow clearance, and rescue locomotive provision. The company's commitment to environmental leadership delivers 76% fewer CO2 emissions compared to road transport, with Class 88 locomotives achieving additional efficiency gains through dual-mode electric/diesel operation.

Key Facts:

  • Founded: 1995 (30 years of operation)
  • Owner: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority via Nuclear Transport Solutions
  • Headquarters: Carlisle Kingmoor Depot
  • Fleet: Class 20/3, 37, 66/4, 68, 88 locomotives
  • Specialty: Nuclear transport, intermodal freight, infrastructure support
  • Major Contract: Tesco (12,000+ containers/month across 10 routes)
  • Environmental Impact: 76% CO2 reduction vs road transport