📢 Please take a minute to read this personal message from the creator of RailwayModels.uk

Hornby R30403

BR - Saint Class - 'Saint David' 2920

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

Prototype Eras
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Of the 77 Saint Class members built by GWR between 1902 and 1913, 2920 ‘Saint David’ was one of the 47 that survived beyond nationalisation of Britain’s railways in 1948. 

Part of the third batch of 20 to be built in 1907, the locomotive was new to Cardiff Canton shed. It underwent several changes during its career, including the fitting of a superheated boiler in 1909 and outside steam pipes in December 1932. 

This model is presented in BR livery, the condition in which it operated through to its withdrawal in October 1953, by which point it was one of the last four still in service.

We developed this with the helpful guidance from the Didcot Railway Center who kindly gave us access to their archive of drawings and access to the Lady of Legend locomotive.

The Saint class model features a powerful 5 pole skew wound motor and flickering firebox, and is designed to be fully compatible with the HM7000 21-Pin decoder for full DCC and sound control.

Specific to R30403

• Running number 2920
• BR Black livery.
• Riveted Churchward Tender
• Later style curved frame chassis design.
• Fluted diecast piston rods.
• Tapered superheated boiler
• Later Chimney Design
• Later safety Valve with Top Feeds

Common Saint Class Features

• High detail OO Gauge model based on extensive research and original works drawings.
• Die-cast Chassis and Running Plate. Model Weight is 341 grams.
• High detail cab and fully decorated backhead with decorated instrument dials.
• Etched metal nameplates
• HM7000 21-Pin sound decoder compatible.
• HM7000 Power Bank compatible.
• Powerful 5 Pole Skew wound motor.
• Illuminated flickering firebox.
• Quick release locomotive to tender connector.
• Pogo pin wheel pickup arrangement for easy pickup servicing.
• Electrical pickups on main drive wheels and tender wheels.
• Die-cast Piston Rods & valve gear.
• Fully decorated crew figures.
• Prototypical size metal handrails with brass stanchions.
• Brass main drive bearings.
• Sprung metal buffers.
• Front and Rear NEM coupling pocket.
• Separately fitted lamps. Lamp code can be changed.
• Separately fitted simulated coal load.

Product videos

• 

  HM I DCC - Advanced Control System Arrives!

Video links are generated algorithmically and may not necessarily be this precise product.

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 BR Saint Class 2920 ‘Saint David’ is a 4 mm scale (OO gauge) model locomotive supplied with a DCC‑ready 21‑pin socket. It is finished in British Railways black livery, carries sprung metal buffers, a NEM/tension‑lock coupling and measures 254 mm in length, with a minimum curve radius of 438 mm (2nd radius). The model uses a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor, features an illuminated flickering firebox and is compatible with HM7000 21‑pin decoders for sound and control.

The prototype locomotive, number 2920, was built by the Great Western Railway in 1907 as part of the Saint Class. It entered service at Cardiff Canton shed, received a superheated boiler in 1909 and outside steam pipes in December 1932, and remained in operation under British Railways until its withdrawal in October 1953, one of the last four Saint Class engines in service.

The model was developed with technical assistance from the Didcot Railway Centre, which provided access to original drawings and the Lady of Legend locomotive. Construction incorporates a die‑cast chassis and running plates, fluted die‑cast piston rods, a tapered superheated boiler, later‑style chimney and safety valve with top feeds, as well as die‑cast handrails with brass stanchions and brass main‑drive bearings. Additional details include etched metal nameplates, fully decorated cab and backhead, crew figures, separate lamps (with changeable lamp codes), a simulated coal load and a quick‑release locomotive‑to‑tender connector. The model weighs 341 g and uses pogo‑pin wheel pickups on both locomotive and tender wheels for easy servicing.