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Class 14

Class 15 BTH

Class 16

Class 17 Clayton

Class 20 EE Type 1

Class 21

Class 22

Class 23 'Baby Deltic'

Class 24 Derby Type 2

Class 25 Derby Type 2

Class 26

Class 27

Class 28

Class 29

Class 30 Brush Type 2

Class 31 Brush Type 2

Class 33 BRCW Type 3

Class 35 'Hymek'

Class 37 EE Type 3

Class 40 EE Type 4

Class 41 'Warship'

Class 42 'Warship'

Class 43 'Warship'

Class 44 'Peak'

Class 45

Class 46

Class 47 Brush Type 4

Class 48 Brush Type 4

Class 50 EE Type 5

Class 52 'Western'

Class 53 'Falcon'

Class 55 'Deltic'

Class 56

Class 57

Class 58

Class 59

Class 60

Class 66

Class 67

Class 68

Class 70

The Hattons/Heljan Class 28

This unusual looking locomotive was Metropolitan-Vickers answer to a Type 2 design. Featuring one Co and one Bo bogie to aid weight distribution and adhesion, they quickly became known as Co-Bo's. The Co-Bo's used the Crossley HST Vee 8 2 stroke diesel engine, which although reliable and widely used in maritime applications, was not so good in rail traction. Metropolitan-Vickers had already produced a number of export locomotives featuring this engine, notably the Irish CIE A Class and in Australia, which were experiencing engine problems.

Used initially on the high profile 'Condor' freight services, they were soon all moved up to Barrow-in-Furness were they remained in service until the early 1970's. One locomotive, D5705, was transferred to the Railway Technical Centre (RTC) Derby after withdrawal and fortunately survived into preservation and is currently being restored.

The best known model for many years was the Hornby Dublo die cast model available in two or three rail versions. I still have mine and have run it for many years! In an effort to find something a bit more realistic, I bought the Silver Fox Models body but never even got to build it as Hatton's announced they would produce a RTR version in conjunction with Heljan.

It is rather fitting that it was Hatton's that commissioned this model as Hatton's bought up most of the old Hornby stock upon Hornby's demise and take over by Tri-ang. Indeed, the Co-Bo was available in Hatton's stock lists for many years afterwards!

The Hatton's/Heljan version is an excellent model with Hatton's input over detail being very evident over the previous Heljan models. It is this version I now run having being converted to DCC. The model represents the later refurbished Class 28, easily identified by the flat cab windows rather than the earlier 'wrap round' windows. It has a nice smooth mechanism and runs well.

The Hornby Dublo model was released in 1961. The Heljan model was released in 2011. Q Kits produced a kit. Silver Fox produced a resin bodied kit. MTK produced a white metal kit.