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Hornby R30430

RailRoad: Class 08 - EWS - 08512

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

Prototype Era
Era 10 (2005 to 2015) Rebuilding of the Railways

Manufacturer description

This RailRoad Class 08 Shunter is the ideal model for arranging wagons in a goods yard and is suitable for OO gauge model railway layouts large or small. It comes DCC-ready with a Next 18-pin plug, so you can upgrade it to run on DCC or with our HM7000 Bluetooth-controlled system, which also includes sound via a speaker inside the locomotive.

History

The Class 08 350hp diesel electric shunter was the standard BR general-purpose shunting locomotive with 996 examples built between 1952 and 1962. They could be found shunting large marshalling yards and smaller goods depots. With the decline in the handling of individual goods wagons and the need to assemble trains, by 2000 there were just 100 left in service, with large numbers either scrapped, exported, or sold into industrial use.

Many of these useful locomotives found their way into the fleets of freight-operating companies. Our 08512 model locomotive is depicted as a typical EWS fleet member in the company’s eye-catching red and gold colour scheme.

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 Hornby RailRoad Class 08 locomotive, model number 08512, is a OO gauge model in EWS livery, featuring a red and yellow colour scheme. This model is part of Hornby's 2025 range and is DCC-ready, with a Next 18-pin socket for easy upgrade to DCC or a Bluetooth-controlled system. The locomotive has a minimum radius curve requirement of 2nd Radius and is equipped with moulded plastic buffers.

The real-life Class 08 was a 350hp diesel electric shunter, built by British Railways at Doncaster between 1952 and 1962. A total of 996 examples were produced, with many used for shunting large marshalling yards and smaller goods depots. By 2000, the number of operational Class 08s had significantly decreased, with most being scrapped, exported or sold for industrial use.

The model of 08512 is a representation of one of the Class 08 shunters that found its way into the fleet of freight operating companies, in this case, EWS. The model is designed to be a useful addition to any model railway layout, whether large or small, and is perfect for arranging wagons in a goods yard. The locomotive's specifications include a length of 124mm, a wheel arrangement of 0-6-0, and a maximum speed of 15mph.