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

Hornby R3569

BR, Class 71, Bo-Bo, E5005 - Era 6

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

Prototype Era
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The early 1950s were a time of great plans and modern ideas, not least where the railways were concerned, but still recovering from the financial effects of the Second World War. Many of these plans had to be implemented in a measured way.

Electric traction was seen by the newly nationalized British Rail to be the answer and so attention was focused on new routes in the Southern Region, where third rail electrification had been in place since 1923. Much of BR's Southern Region passenger traffic could be accommodated by the use of EMUs, but to cover the motive power requirement for 900 ton freight services, as well as the 'Night Ferry' and 'Golden Arrow' workings, a new electric locomotive was required. The design specification was based on the experience gained in the previous fifteen years, through the operation of Bulleid's CC1 & CC2, Class 70 locomotives. By adopting the continental practice of reducing the weight, without sacrificing tractive effort, a smaller engine could be built, resulting in a 750v DC, 77 ton, Bo-Bo locomotive, 24 of which were built by BR's Doncaster works between 1958 and 1960.

Numbered E5000 - E5023 as built (E5000 was subsequently renumbered to E5024 in December 1962), the type was classified by BR Southern Region as HA. To enable operation under the simple catenary wires erected in a number of Kentish yards at that time, a single pantograph was fitted centrally on the roof and a booster system was also fitted, avoiding the problem of 'gapping' across short breaks in the conductor rail. Ten of the class were converted to Class 74 engines in 1967/68, at a time when passenger duties for the Class 71s were being reduced and despite being moved onto extra freight workings, the type was under-utilized. In 1977, it was decided that the Class 33 and 73 Electro-diesels could take over the Class 71's duties and they were withdrawn from service.

Locomotive E5005 started life numbered as E5020, leaving Doncaster Works in June 1960 for allocation at Stewarts Lane. Transferred to Ashford Chart Leacon on August 22, 1966, on November 7, 1968 the locomotive was renumbered as E5005, following the conversion of the previous E5005 to Class 74 in March 1967. Under the TOPS scheme, the locomotive became 71005 in December 1973, but just three years later, in October 1976, it was moved to storage at Ashford, prior to being cut up at J. Cashmore, Newport in August 1978.

Maximum curve Hornby 2nd radius + / 438mm+.

Product videos

• 

  Hornby | R3569 - BR Class 71 'E5005' BR Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Video links are generated algorithmically and may not necessarily be this precise product.

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 Class 71 (model number R3569) is an OO‑scale, painted‑blue locomotive produced for the era 6 range. It measures 203 mm in length and runs on a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor with power pickup from all wheels. The model has a 2nd‑radius minimum curve of 438 mm, NEM couplings, directional and interior lighting, and a DCC‑ready 8‑pin socket. It represents the British Railways Class 71 electric locomotive built between 1958 and 1960, with a blue livery and the running number E5005.

The prototype Class 71 was a 77‑ton, Bo‑Bo, 750 V DC electric locomotive built by British Railways’ Doncaster Works. Only 24 were produced, numbered E5000–E5023 (E5000 later becoming E5024). They were designed for freight and specialised passenger services on the Southern Region, using a single centrally mounted pantograph and a booster system to cope with short gaps in the third‑rail supply. Ten units were later converted to Class 74, and the remaining members were withdrawn after being superseded by Class 33 and 73 electro‑diesels.

Locomotive E5005 was originally built as E5020 and left Doncaster in June 1960 for allocation to Stewarts Lane. It transferred to Ashford Chart Leacon on 22/08/1966, was renumbered E5005 on 07/11/1968 following the conversion of the previous E5005, and entered the TOPS system as 71005 in December 1973. The locomotive was placed in storage on 01/10/1976 and was scrapped at J Cashmore, Newport in August 1978.