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Heljan 28163

Class 28 Co-Bo BR Green D5719 Diesel Locomotive - DCC Sound

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

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

The Heljan Co-Bo is back! This iconic model, originally released in 2011, was produced exclusively for Hattons Model Railways, and is now available exclusively at Rails of Sheffield.

For the first time these models are now available with digital sound pre-fitted.

The full range includes re-runs of the most popular models as well as some new variations not covered in the range previously in BR green and BR blue. Aside from the new inclusion of DCC Sound provision, these models will also feature enhanced livery application over previous releases.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Highly detailed model with separately fitted parts including handrails, etched grilles, underframe relief and more
• Accessory pack with optional headcode discs
• 5-pole motor with twin flywheels, all-wheel pickups & 8-wheel drive
• Heavy diecast chassis
• Directional lighting
• Digital & Sound capable - 8-pin socket [SOUND FITTED VERSIONS NEW FOR 2024]
• Intricate livery application & printing
• NEM tension lock couplings

ABOUT THE CLASS 28:
The British Rail Class 28 (or Metro-Vick Type 2) were a class of diesel-electric locomotives built under the diesel loco Pilot Scheme as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan. Often referred to as 'Co-Bos', 'Metrovicks' or 'Crossleys', the class featured a highly unusual Co-Bo wheel arrangement (a 6-wheel bogie at one end, and a 4-wheel bogie at the other). Unlike other Type 2 diesels, the class were fitted with two-stroke Crossley diesel units and had a very high tractive effort of 50,000 lbf. The engines suffered frequent failures and by 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work.

They were known for being excessively noisy and emmitted too much smoke. All twenty Metrovicks were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London–Glasgow "Condor" express freight service. After the 1961 refurbishment they were all transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness 12E depot. They were withdrawn after only eleven years in service. A single example has been preserved at the East Lancashire Railway.
(Information provided via Wikipedia)

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.

Heljan Class 28 Co‑Bo (BR Green, D5719) is a limited‑edition 4 mm scale model released as part of the Rails of Sheffield range. It bears the manufacturer part number 28163 and represents a British Railways late‑crest locomotive from the Class 28 series. The model is supplied with DCC sound fitted as standard, a feature new for the 2024 production run.

The locomotive is highly detailed, with separately fitted handrails, etched grilles and underframe relief. It incorporates a 5‑pole motor with twin flywheels, all‑wheel pickups and 8‑wheel drive, mounted on a heavy die‑cast chassis. Directional lighting, an 8‑pin DCC sound socket and NEM tension‑lock couplings are provided, and an accessory pack with optional headcode discs is available. The livery application and printing have been refined compared with earlier releases.

This model was originally launched in 2011 for Hattons Model Railways and is now sold exclusively via Rails of Sheffield. The re‑run includes the classic BR green livery, with the option of a BR blue version also planned.

The real British Rail Class 28, built under the diesel‑loco Pilot Scheme of the BR Modernisation Plan, featured an unusual Co‑Bo wheel arrangement and two‑stroke Crossley engines. Though powerful, the locomotives were noisy, smoky and prone to engine failures, leading to their withdrawal after just eleven years. One example is preserved at the East Lancashire Railway.