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Hornby R30557

RailRoad: GNR - N2 - 1606

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

Prototype Era
Era 2 (1875 to 1923) Pre-grouping

Manufacturer description

Introduced to a design by Nigel Gresley for the Great Northern Railway in 1920, 1744 was built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in February 1921. At the Grouping two years later, it became LNER 4744 and then 9523 under the 1946 renumbering scheme, before finally becoming BR 69523 at nationalisation. Withdrawn from New England shed, Peterborough in September 1962, it was purchased by the Gresley Society Trust for preservation the following year. It has been based variously at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, the Great Central Railway and – most recently – the North Norfolk Railway, where, following a major overhaul, it is set to return to steam in time to celebrate ‘Gresley 150’ during 2026.

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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 RailRoad: GNR - N2 - 1606 is a model kit produced under manufacturer part number R30557. The kit represents a locomotive from the pre‑grouping era of British railway history.

The prototype was a Great Northern Railway design by Nigel Gresley introduced in 1920. It was built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in February 1921 and initially carried the number 1744. Following the 1923 Grouping it became LNER 4744, was renumbered to 9523 under the 1946 scheme, and received the British Railways number 69523 at nationalisation. The engine was withdrawn from New England shed, Peterborough in September 1962 and was acquired for preservation by the Gresley Society Trust in 1963.

Since preservation the locomotive has been based at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, the Great Central Railway and most recently the North Norfolk Railway. After a major overhaul it is scheduled to return to steam in time for the ‘Gresley 150’ celebrations during 2026.