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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 Class 35 locomotive was built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. at their Gorton Works in Manchester. They were styled by Wilkes and Ashmore to give a more pleasing appearance to modern traction. In fact, the styling theme was carried on with further classes including D0260 'Lion', the Class 47's and even the Class 60.

They soon replaced the 'Warships' on mainline expresses until the arrival of the Class 52 'Western'. This was perhaps asking a little too much of a Type 3 locomotive and transmission problems occurred. However, with the arrival of the 'Westerns', they soon settled down to the Type 3 work they were designed for and contrary to popular belief, turned out to be one of the more successful hydraulic designs, if not perhaps one of the more successful Modernisation Plan diesels. Policy dictated against hydraulics and they were rapidly withdrawn in the early 1970's, being replaced with Class 25's, Class 31's and Class 37's.

Always one of my favourite locomotives and I always enjoyed the ride when one turned up on a train.

Tri-ang Hornby produced a model of the Hymek for years. Although a reasonable model, it did show it's age. Numerous detailing kits were available and I did 'Super Detail' the Tri-ang Hornby version. This included revising the side doors from a raised seam to an indented seam. Changing the roof fan for the correct inset version from Shawplan. Cutting out the solid moulded parts on the bogies, fitting the air tanks on the bogies and South Eastern Finecast flush glazing.

Heljan then produced their version of the Hymek as one of their first diesels. Modern tooling a techniques soon showed that this was a better model, not least because of a better drive train. However, Heljan seem reticent to fit separate fan grilles on the roof and I carried out the same operation as I did with the old Hornby model to fit an etched Shawplan one as with the Tri-ang Hornby model. This also helped with the DCC sound, as the sound now had a way to get out! I also fitted the fan as well. On the first production run, the two tone green versions had an incorrect black buffer beam valance. I repainted mine with with a Railmatch paint, which fortunately is the same shade. Similarly, the air tanks at the front of each bogie should have been white, not black. A simple repaint cured this.

My model is DCC Sound, with the ESU v3.5 bought from Howes of Oxford. I'm not always too sure on DCC sound, but must say that this is an excellent recording and does actually sound like a 'Hymek'. To enhance the sound I fitted a rectangular bass reflex speaker sitting below the fan. This does help with the bassy sound from a Maybach engine.

All in all, a great little model and a regular performer on my layout.