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

Hornby R30553SS

BR - Class A4 - 60024 'Kingfisher' (With Steam Generator)

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

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

The famous LNER A4 pacific, known for its streamlined casing, returns to the range as No. 60024 ‘Kingfisher’ fitted with steam generator and DCC Sound functionality. This gorgeous Gresley locomotive is highly detailed, featuring a great number of intricate separate parts, and would make for a standout addition to any LNER model railway collection.

Please Note: This model requires a DCC controller or the HM7000 App to control.

Model Specification:

• High detail OO gauge model based on extensive research and original works drawings
• Die-cast chassis and boiler
• Die-cast connecting rods and valve gear
• High detail cab and fully decorated backhead with decorated instrument dials
• Decorated crew figures
• Turned brass safety valves
• Large number of separately fitted parts
• Separately fitted simulated coal load with fully detailed tender bunker
• Powerful 5 pole skew wound motor
• Electrical pickups on main drive wheels and tender wheels
• Quick release locomotive to tender connector
• Pogo pin wheel pickup arrangement for easy pickup servicing
• Brass main drive bearings
• Sprung metal buffers
• Front and rear NEM coupling pocket
• Accessory bag contains tablet catcher, vacuum pipes, lamps and couplings
• Minimum 2nd Radius curves

Steam Generator:

• Pre-fitted Gen 2 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).
• Water reservoir large enough for 20 minutes of continuous steam running
• Adjustable steam output settings via the decoder

Electronics:

• Pre-fitted 21-Pin HM7000 decoder and speaker. Compatible with NMRA DCC controllers and HM7000 system
• HM7000 Power Bank compatible
• Flickering firebox

DCC Sound:

• Pre-installed LNER A4 sound profile for accurate locomotive sounds, synchronised with the chuff rate and steam effect.
• Assembled using live recordings of LNER A4 locomotives
• Tender speaker

Tooling:

• Smokebox door numberplate
• Single Chimney
• Corridor Tender
• Side valence removed

Livery:

• BR Express BlueNamed ‘Kingfisher’
• British Railways lettering on tender
• Accurate colours and fonts
• Era 4

Hornby recommends:

• BR Gresley Crimson/Cream coaches

History

Emerging from Doncaster Works in December 1936, No. 4484 was the sixth member of Gresley’s ‘A4’ class, initially in Apple Green livery, but repainted Garter Blue in January 1938. Kingfisher was renumbered 585 in 1946, but this was soon changed to 24 and the locomotive passed into BR service as No. 60024. 

Painted purple with red and cream lining in June 1948, this changed to BR blue in 1950 and finally BR lined green in March 1952. A double-chimney was fitted in 1958 and the locomotive saw out its final days on Glasgow-Aberdeen expresses – as the last ‘A4’ in service, retiring in September 1966.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby BR Class A4 No 60024 ‘Kingfisher’ is an OO gauge model featuring a fitted steam‑generator and DCC sound. The locomotive is fitted with an HM7000 decoder and speaker, a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor, metal sprung buffers and NEM couplings. It runs on a minimum 2nd‑radius curve (438 mm) and requires a DCC controller or the HM7000 app to operate.

The model incorporates a die‑cast chassis, boiler, connecting rods and valve gear, as well as a turned brass safety‑valve set. The Gen 2 steam‑generator system uses an optical sensor and piezo element to produce steam from a cold‑water reservoir capable of about 20 minutes of continuous operation, with output adjustable via the decoder. Electrical pickups are provided on both the driving wheels and tender wheels, and a quick‑release connector links the locomotive to the tender. An accessory bag supplies a tablet catcher, vacuum pipes, lamps and couplings.

The locomotive is finished in BR Express Blue with accurate British Railways lettering and period‑correct colours and fonts. It represents No 60024 ‘Kingfisher’, which emerged from Doncaster Works on 06/12/1936, was renumbered in 1946, and served on express duties until its final withdrawal on 30/09/1966. Hornby recommends pairing it with BR Gresley Crimson/Cream coaches.