Now you can go big AND go home with our latest exciting 'OO' announcement - the enormous LNER 'U1' 2-8-0+0-8-2T Beyer-Garratt!
It was the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever to run on British rails and you’ll soon be able to add this monster to your collection. The LNER’s unique ‘U1’ Beyer-Garratt was a true behemoth and our amazing articulated model will bring it to life in time for the centenary of the prototype in 2025.
No. 2395 famously made its public debut at the LNER’s celebrations to mark the centenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1925 and 100 years later we will celebrate this remarkable machine with a unique high-specification model that will appeal to collectors and fans of historic locomotives alike.
ABOVE: IMAGE COURTESY OF COLOUR-RAIL
For 30 years, the ‘U1’ was deployed on arduous banking duties on the infamous inclines at Worsbrough near Barnsley, and Lickey Incline near Birmingham. Although not always popular with those who worked on it, No. 2395 (BR No. 69999) was by some distance the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever to work in Britain.
Our ‘OO’ model is the result of in-depth research supported by the National Railway Museum, the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry’s Beyer Peacock Archive and the Gresley Society. We’re also delighted to be working with Rails of Sheffield and Locomotion Models to produce an exclusive edition for their ‘Railway Icons’ collection.
Celebrating the centenary of the ‘U1’ and 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway opening in 1825, the exclusive model will depict No. 2395 in works grey, as it appeared at the LNER’s S&DR centenary cavalcade shortly after completion in 1925 (see below). This very special collectors’ edition will feature bespoke packaging plus DCC Ready and factory-fitted DCC Sound options and production will be strictly limited. Early ordering is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
See www.locomotionmodels.com/railway-icons and https://railsofsheffield.com/ for more information.
ABOVE: IMAGE COURTESY OF NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM
Using original works drawings and photographs we have created a collection of museum quality models covering the entire career of the locomotive and the various modifications it underwent over its 30-year life. These include changes to the smokebox, water tank breather pipes, coal bunker, handrails, cab and additional vacuum tanks. Also included is a model depicting the locomotive after conversion to oil firing, which saw modifications to the former coal bunker, the addition of a large electric headlight, plus turbo generator and associated pipework/cable runs.
Premium Features – Delivered As Standard
· High Quality Design & Construction
· Twin Motor/Flywheel Drive
· Working LED lamps
· 21-pin DCC Interface
· DCC Ready and DCC Sound Options
· Factory Fitted Speakers
· Coal or Oil Fired Options
· Sprung Buffers
· Extensive Detail Variations
· Original or short water tank breather pipes
· Original or modified smokebox design
· Original or modified coal bunker arrangement
· Removable Cab Roof
· Smoke Unit Compatible
· NEM Couplings
· Separate Pipework and cable runs
· Suitable for operation on R2 curves
Packed with authentic details specific to period and livery, our ‘U1’ will be the ultimate expression of steam power for ‘OO’ layouts and a must for collectors of historic locomotives.
HELJAN LNER ‘U1’ Models
#3000 LNER lined black No. 2395 (as built) DCC READY #30003 LNER lined black No. 2395 (as built) DCC SOUND
#3001 LNER Stockton & Darlington Centenary Cavalcade Grey No. 2395. RAILWAY ICONS EXCLUSIVE - DCC READY (contact Locomotion Models/Rails of Sheffield) #30013 LNER Stockton & Darlington Centenary Cavalcade Grey No. 2395. RAILWAY ICONS EXCLUSIVE - DCC SOUND (contact Locomotion Models/Rails of Sheffield)
#3002 LNER 1946-48 unlined black No. 9999 DCC READY #30023 LNER 1946-48 unlined black No. 9999 DCC SOUND #3003 British Railways black No. 69999 DCC READY #30033 British Railways black No. 69999 DCC SOUND #3004 BR Early Emblem black No. 69999 (coal fired) DCC READY #30043 BR Early Emblem black No. 69999 (coal fired) DCC SOUND #3005 BR Early Emblem black No. 69999 (oil fired/headlight) DCC READY #30053 BR Early Emblem black No. 69999 (oil fired/headlight) DCC SOUND
SRP £399.00 DCC READY
SRP £520.00 DCC SOUND
The model is currently in tooling and we expect to receive the first working samples for review in January 2024 with first releases planned for early-2025. Look out for further updates soon. Production of all versions will be strictly limited – contact your regular HELJAN stockist today to secure yours!