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Heljan 2817

Class 28 Co-Bo BR Green Small Yellow Panels D5703 Diesel Locomotive

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 They were withdrawn after only eleven years in service.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 with Small Yellow Panels (D5703) is a limited‑edition model released as part of the Rails of Sheffield range. The model, originally launched in 2011 for Hattons Model Railways, is now sold exclusively by Rails of Sheffield and carries the manufacturer part number 2817. It represents a British Railways late‑crest locomotive and is supplied DCC sound ready.

The locomotive features a highly detailed construction with separate handrails, etched grilles, underframe relief and other fitted parts. An optional accessory pack includes headcode discs. The model is equipped with a 5‑pole motor, twin flywheels, all‑wheel pickups and eight‑wheel drive, and it sits on a heavy die‑cast chassis. Directional lighting and NEM tension‑lock couplings are provided, and a built‑in 8‑pin socket allows digital sound operation – a new addition for 2024.

Livery application has been refined compared to earlier releases, with intricate painting and printing on both the BR green and BR blue variations. The model is ready for DCC operation and includes pre‑fitted digital sound, meeting the expectations of modern model railway enthusiasts.

The real British Rail Class 28, also known as the Metro‑Vick Type 2, was a small fleet of diesel‑electric locomotives built under the British Railways Modernisation Plan. They featured an unusual Co‑Bo wheel arrangement, two‑stroke Crossley engines and a tractive effort of 50 000 lbf. After early reliability problems and a refurbishment programme, the twenty locomotives were withdrawn after eleven years, with one example preserved on the East Lancashire Railway.