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Heljan 1082

NBL 10800 BR Early Black/Silver Final BR Condition

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

HELJAN have shared their latest "diesel dinosaur" project - North British diesel prototype 10800.

Built in Glasgow by NBL in the early-1950s, 10800 was originally ordered by the LMS as part of its pioneering investigations into main line diesel traction. It was envisaged as the equivalent of 3MT tank locomotives for lighter passenger and freight work and fitted with an 827hp Paxman diesel engine. Eventually delivered to BR in 1952 it was tested on the London Midland, Southern and (briefly) Eastern Regions. After withdrawal by BR in 1959 it was sold to Brush and used as a testbed for new traction equipment before eventually being scrapped in 1976.

Following in the footsteps of their previous OO Scale prototype diesels, such as Lion, Kestrel and DP2, 10800 will be produced in limited quantities across four versions depicting the NBL machine in post-1954 SR/LMR and final BR condition with later external modifications.

A high-quality specification includes fine etched metal parts, working marker and cab lights, 21-pin DCC interface, DCC sound provision, sprung buffers and all-wheel drive/pick-up. Based on original NBL drawings and extensive research of this pioneering locomotive, CAD work is complete and tooling is now well underway.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

The Heljan North British Prototype 10800 diesel locomotive is a highly detailed model of a historic locomotive. Built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in the early 1950s, the real-life 10800 was one of the first diesel locomotives to be introduced by the British Railways network. Originally ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the locomotive was later delivered to British Railways in 1952 and underwent testing on various regions before being withdrawn in 1959.

The model, which is DCC ready with a 21-pin socket, features a high-quality specification including fine etched metal parts, working marker and cab lights, and DCC sound provision. The locomotive is based on original drawings and extensive research of the real 10800. It is available in BR Early Emblem Black/Silver livery and features a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement.

The model is a limited production run, with four versions planned to depict the locomotive in different conditions. The specifications also include sprung buffers and all-wheel drive/pick-up. The model is suitable for use on a minimum radius curve of 2, and is a highly detailed representation of a pioneering locomotive in the history of British Railways.

The 10800 was eventually sold to Brush and used as a testbed for new traction equipment before being scrapped in 1976. The model is a testament to the development of diesel locomotives in the early days of British Railways, and is a great addition for any railway enthusiast's collection.