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Hornby R30485

BR - Battle of Britain Class (Rebuilt) - '303 Squadron' - 34053

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 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

The BR Battle of Britain Class '303 Squadron' model locomotive brings military pride to your model railway layout. With sprung metal buffers and NEM tension lock couplings, you can upgrade this OO model to HM7000 control by adding a 21-pin decoder (sold seperately). 

This locomotive was built in 1947 at the SR’s Brighton Works as 21C153 and named ‘Sir Keith Park’. It was built to Bulleid’s three-cylinder air-smoothed design with chain drive and an oil-bath for lubrication. Along with many of its classmates, it was rebuilt to Jarvis’ more conventional design with air smooth casing removed and Walschaerts valve gear fitted. 

Withdrawn in 1965, it was later rescued from Barry scrapyard and returned to steam by Southern Locomotives Ltd. In 2024, it was temporarily renamed ‘303 Squadron’ at the Spa Valley Railway in honour of the Polish fighter squadron that fought in the Battle of Britain.

Product videos

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  HM I DCC - Advanced Control System Arrives!

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  MY REACTION to the HORNBY 2026 00 Gauge Range Announcement!

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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 BR Battle of Britain Class (Rebuilt) model locomotive, catalogue number R30485, represents a British Railways late‑crest locomotive. It is supplied in OO scale with sprung metal buffers and NEM tension‑lock couplings. The model can be converted to HM7000 digital control by fitting a 21‑pin decoder, which is sold separately.

The prototype was constructed in 1947 at the Southern Railway’s Brighton Works as 21C153 and carried the name Sir Keith Park. It was originally built to Bulleid’s three‑cylinder air‑smoothed design with chain drive and an oil‑bath lubrication system. Like many of its class, it was later rebuilt under Jarvis to a conventional layout, the air‑smooth casing being removed and Walschaerts valve gear installed.

The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1965, rescued from the Barry scrapyard and restored to steam by Southern Locomotives Ltd. In 2024 it was temporarily renamed 303 Squadron at the Spa Valley Railway in honour of the Polish fighter squadron that served in the Battle of Britain.