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Hornby R30490SS

BR - Merchant Navy (Rebuilt) - 35028 'Clan line' - Preserved (With Steam Generator)

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

Livery and condition as preserved - eras show both original and preservation era, where applicable.

Manufacturer description

The BR Rebuilt Merchant Navy 'Clan Line' is back in OO model form. This newly tooled model locomotive has sprung metal buffers and NEM tension lock couplings and is a highly detailed replica of a popular steam engine.

One of the last of its class to be built, this locomotive was completed after nationalisation of Britain’s railways to Bulleid’s Southern ‘Merchant Navy’ design, complete with streamlined casing and chain-driven valve gear, entering service in December 1948. It didn’t receive its name until January 1951, during a ceremony at Southampton Docks.

Like all 30 members of the class, ‘Clan Line’ was rebuilt, in its case, during 1959, and remained in service until withdrawal from Nine Elms, London in July 1947. It was subsequently saved privately for preservation and is a regular main line performer, once hauling the prestigious Belmond British Pullman.

Please Note: this model requires a DCC controller or the HM7000 app to control. 

Specific to R30490SS:

STEAM GENERATOR

• Pre-fitted steam generator system featuring an optical sensor for accurate chuff rate synchronised with the wheel speed.
• Steam output is created using piezo element technology. This is a cold water-based system (no heating element).
• Adjustable steam output settings via the decoder
• Water reservoir for up to 20 minutes continuous steam running

MODEL SPECIFICATION

• Die-cast chassis, pony truck and trailing truck
• Die-cast boiler and running plate
• Merchant Navy Bullied-Firth-Brown wheels
• High detail cab and fully decorated backhead with decorated instrument dials
• Powerful 5 pole skew wound motor with cardan shaft and flywheel
• Flywheel with cardan shaft arrangement for smooth running
• Pogo pin wheel pickup arrangement for easy pickup servicing
• Die-cast connecting rods and valve gear
• Oilite main drive bearings
• Sprung metal buffers
• Front and rear NEM coupling pocket
• Optional fit rear flanged wheelset. Only recommended for larger layouts with sweeping curves or for display purposes
• Wheel pickups on the main locomotive and tender wheelsets
• Separately fitted simulated coal load.​​​​​​​

TOOLING

• High detail OO gauge model based on extensive research, 3D scanning and original works drawings
• Cast trailing truck
• Modern 6000 gallon tender with additional pump, air tanks and battery arrangement for main line running (as preserved)
• Opening cab roof vent

DCC

• Pre-fitted 21-pin HM7000 decoder and speaker. The decoder is compatible with NMRA DCC controllers, HM7000 APP control and has the Merchant Navy sound profile pre-installed for accurate locomotive sounds
• Flickering firebox
• Working cab light
• MCU controlled electric front lamps for full lamp code control
• Working tender lamps
• Eight-way locomotive to tender connection

LIVERY

• BR Lined Green livery.

Product videos

• 

  HM I DCC - Advanced Control System Arrives!

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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 Rebuilt Merchant Navy – 35028 ‘Clan line’ – Preserved (with Steam Generator) is an OO gauge model of a rebuilt British Railways Merchant Navy locomotive. It carries the manufacturer part number R30490SS and represents the early British Railways crest period.

The original Bulleid ‘Pacific’ locomotives were introduced in 1941 for express services on the Southern Railway, with thirty built at Eastleigh Works. In 1956 British Railways rebuilt the class, replacing the chain‑driven valve gear, oil bath and inside cylinder block and recladding the boiler to improve reliability and give a new external appearance. The model reflects the post‑rebuilt configuration, including the early 21C1 Widnes peak front‑end streamlining and chimney arrangement, and is supplied in BR green livery.

Key features of the model include a pre‑fitted steam‑generator system that uses an optical sensor and piezo‑element technology to produce cold‑water steam synchronised with wheel speed, a 21‑pin HM7000 decoder with Merchant Navy sound profile, and adjustable steam output settings. The locomotive is equipped with a die‑cast chassis, pony and trailing trucks, die‑cast boiler and running plate, Merchant Navy Bulleid‑Firth‑Brown wheels, a flickering firebox, working cab and tender lights, an eight‑way locomotive‑to‑tender connection, and a powerful five‑pole skew‑wound motor with cardan shaft and flywheel for smooth running. A water reservoir provides up to 20 minutes of continuous steam, and the model includes a modern 6000‑gallon tender with pump, air tanks and battery arrangement for main‑line operation.

The model requires a DCC controller or the HM7000 app for control. It is compatible with NMRA DCC systems and offers full lamp‑code control, wheel pickups on both locomotive and tender, and optional rear flanged wheelset for use on larger layouts with gentle curves. The locomotive’s historical counterpart, number 92031, entered service on 01/11/1954, worked on various allocations and was withdrawn on 01/01/1967 after a twelve‑year career.