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Hornby R30049TTS

RailRoad Plus BR, Class 55, Deltic, Co-Co, 55013 – ‘The Black Watch’ – Era 7

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

Prototype Era
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)

Manufacturer description

Built in 1961 and 1962, the Class 55 Co-Co diesel locomotives were specifically designed for the high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The Class, built by English Electric, was powered by two 18-cylinder D18-25 series II type V Deltic engines, each rated at 1,650 hp continuous at 1500 rpm. This unique engine also powered the DP1 prototype that preceded the Class 55s, with the prototype being named 'Deltic' after its engines, hence the Class 55 also became known as 'Deltics'.

After the introduction of the HSTs, the Class 55s were deposed from many of their express duties, instead being placed on secondary services. It soon became clear that maintaining the Deltics for these secondary duties would not be economically viable meaning that the class were run with minimal maintenance until they failed, at which point they would be sent to Doncaster Works to be scrapped. Six locomotives were preserved, including 55 002 'The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry' which was selected by the National Railway Museum to join the National Collection.

fter privatisation of the British railway network, the preserved Deltics became ideal candidates for mainline running due to their strong performance characteristics relative to other preserved diesels. This has included running passenger charters as well as freight services. On 29 November 2017 it was announced via the official Royal Scots Grey website that 55 022 'Royal Scots Grey' and D9016 'Gordon Highlander', plus all spares, had been sold to Locomotive Services Limited, with D9016 recently moving to LSL's facility in Margate.

Built in 1961, locomotive No. D9013 was allocated to the Haymarket shed from new and spent most of its life there other than a brief allocation to Finsbury Park in early 1968 which lasted just four months. The locomotive served with BR until its withdrawal from service in December 1981.

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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.

Hornby RailRoad Plus BR model 55013, titled “The Black Watch”, is an OO gauge representation of a British Rail Class 55 diesel locomotive. The model is fitted with a TTS (track‑signal) DCC decoder and uses a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor. It is painted in the British Rail blue livery, finished in pristine condition, and measures 275 mm in length. The minimum curve it can negotiate is the 2nd radius (438 mm). It carries the power pickup on the power bogie only and bears the original railway number 55013.

The locomotive was designed by English Electric and built between 1961 and 1962 at the Vulcan Foundry, with a total production run of 22 units. It features a Co‑Co wheel arrangement, a maximum speed of 100 mph and was originally operated by British Rail. The model’s manufacturer part number is R30049TTS and it represents the British Rail Blue (TOPS) era.

The real Class 55 locomotives were equipped with two 18‑cylinder D18‑25 series II V‑type Deltic engines, each delivering 1 650 hp at 1 500 rpm. They were introduced in 1961 for high‑speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line, but were displaced by HSTs and later withdrawn from mainline use, with several examples preserved.

Locomotive D9013, named “The Black Watch”, was allocated to the Haymarket shed from new, with a brief stint at Finsbury Park in early 1968, and remained in service with British Rail until its withdrawal in December 1981. The model reflects this history and is suitable for collectors interested in the post‑war diesel era.