Railway Models UK

Rapido Trains UK has announced its first Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway locomotive in OO gauge with the launch of the Class 25 “Ironclad” 0-6-0. This new line contains twelve different variants, covering the entire life of the class from pre‑grouping to British Railways ownership and eventual preservation.

The models are currently in the tooling stage, and pre‑orders are now accepted through Rapido Trains UK and its authorised retailers.

Livery information

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway lined black (post‑1890)
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway lined goods livery (post‑1901)
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway lined passenger livery (post‑1913)
LMS livery – both tender and cabside numbering variations
British Railways (sans serif lettering)
British Railways early crest
Preservation liveries – including L&Y No.957 in preserved condition

Rapido highlights that the model combines diecast metal with injection moulded parts, putting a premium on detail and performance. Key features include:

Highly detailed construction with numerous separately fitted, era‑specific parts
Smooth‑running mechanism
MoPower stay‑alive capacitor
Plunger pickups on the locomotive and wheel‑bearing pickups on the tender
Factory‑fitted speaker
21‑pin DCC decoder socket
Firebox flicker with dynamic fire draw effect (on DCC‑fitted models)
NEM 362 coupler pockets
Sprung buffers

Additional detailing options are offered, such as painted etched‑style number plates appropriate to each version, plus further optional parts for customisation.

Prototype information

A total of 280 locomotives were built between 1876 and 1887. Although they were designed for freight, the class proved capable of mixed‑traffic work and became widely used across the L&Y network, earning the nickname “Ironclad.”

Under the guidance of John Aspinall, many examples were rebuilt as saddle tanks for local goods and shunting duties, leaving a reduced number of the original tender locomotives in service. The class later passed to the LMS, receiving a 2F power classification, and subsequently to British Railways.

Withdrawals began in 1930, with the last locomotive, No.52044 (L&Y No.957), withdrawn in 1959 after around 72 years of service. The locomotive was purchased in 1960 by Tony Cox, making it one of the earliest mainline steam engines to enter private preservation. It later operated at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, where it remains.

No. 957 gained broader recognition in preservation, appearing in film and television productions, notably the 1970 adaptation of the classic children's book, 'The Railway Children".

Pricing and availability

DCC Ready – RRP £219.95
DCC Sound‑fitted – RRP £329.95

All variants are currently in the tooling stage, and the order book is open through Rapido Trains UK and its network of official retailers.

Rapido announces L&Y Class 25 ‘Ironclad’ 0-6-0

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