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Heljan 8650

Class 86/0 'AL6' Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive BR Blue E3104 with red bufferbeams – as built

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

Prototype Eras
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The British Rail Class 86 is the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965 to 1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or British Rail (BR) at their Doncaster works. The class was built to haul trains on the then newly electrified West Coast Main Line, from London Euston, to Birmingham, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool and later Preston and Glasgow. They helped to replace steam locomotives, which were finally withdrawn by BR in 1968.

Under the earlier BR classification system, the type was given the designation AL6 (meaning the sixth design of AC Locomotive), and locomotives were numbered E3101-E3200. In 1968, this was changed to Class 86, when BR introduced the TOPS classification system.

FEATURES

• Revised & Updated Model
• Authentic MW & TDM Cable Options
• LED lighting
• Finely detailed underframe
• Wire handrails
• DCC & Sound Ready

SPECIFICATIONS

• BUILT BY English Electric at Vulcan Foundry/British Rail (BR), Doncaster Works
• NUMBER BUILT 100
• NUMBER SERIES E3101–E3200 later 86001–86048, 86201–86252
• SERVICE CAREER 1965 - 1986
• REGION West coast Main Line
• STATUS IN 2018 Active/preserved (86259, 86101, 86401)

MEASUREMENTS

• LENGTH 235mm

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 Class 86/0 “AL6” model represents a British Rail electric locomotive in its original BR blue livery with red bufferbeams, as built. It is supplied as a ready‑to‑run item for OO gauge layouts and includes a 21‑pin DCC socket.

The model measures 235 mm in length, runs on a Bo‑Bo wheel arrangement, and picks up power from all wheels. It is fitted with NEM couplings, a minimum curve radius of 438 mm (2nd Radius) and directional LED lighting. The finish is described as pristine and the locomotive is numbered E3104 to match the prototype.

The prototype British Rail Class 86 was produced between 1965 and 1966, with a total of 100 units built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry and by British Rail at Doncaster Works. It served the West Coast Main Line, replacing steam traction on routes from London Euston to Birmingham, Crewe, Manchester, Liverpool and later to Preston and Glasgow. Under the earlier classification the type was known as AL6 and carried numbers E3101‑E3200, later re‑designated Class 86 under the TOPS system.

Model features include updated wiring for both MW and TDM cable options, LED lighting, finely detailed underframe, wire handrails and compatibility with DCC and sound decoders. The product is intended for enthusiasts seeking a historically accurate representation of the late‑crest British Rail electric locomotive.