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Hornby R3842

LNER (Promotional), Class W1 'Hush Hush', 4-6-4, 10000 - Era 3

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

Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

The first reference to 10000's designation as Class W1 was on 9 November 1926, but where the widely adopted name of 'Hush-Hush' came from is disputed. It could be that the nickname arose in the late summer of 1928, as news of Gresley's new locomotive began to leak out. However other sources suggest this was possibly an internal Darlington name that came from the distinctively quiet motion sound the loco made or even because of a mistaken caption that featured in a Path News item.

On 20 November 1929, nameplates were drawn up featuring the name British Enterprise and were cast soon after, but these plates were never fitted and the loco remained unnamed, being referred to as 'Hush-Hush' ever since. Yarrow's had completed the boiler in February 1929 and on April 3rd the chassis was moved from Darlington to Glasgow for testing, these being completed by October 1929 and it was during this period that wind tunnel tests led to the unusual front-end design that gave the W1 part of its distinctive appearance. Official photographs were released on December 10th and the first trial run took place on December 12th, followed by another on December 29th and 9 January 1930, the first trip to Kings Cross.

Although it was to be a further six months of trials though before 10000 finally entered traffic on June 20, 1930. Between June 1930 and May 29 1933, 10000 run 70,000 miles in service, from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, including the Flying Scotsman and Queens of Scots services, but in 1934 modifications and a general repair took 10000 out of service for just over a year, the locomotive returning to traffic on June 13, 1934. At the end of January 1935, a Kylchap double blastpipe and chimney was fitted which eventually required the fitting of a smoke lifter for better smoke clearance. On August 21, 1935, 10000 was returned to Darlington for the last time in its original form, having covered another 20,823 miles since June 1934.

10000 had proved to be extremely capable, but it was also unreliable. Out of the 1,888 days in service, the locomotive spent 1,105 at Darlington Works alone.

Product videos

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  HM I DCC - Advanced Control System Arrives!

• 

  HORNBY | Signal Box - 'Hush Hush' & 'Clan Line'

• 

  HORNBY | Introducing HM DCC - HM7000

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 LNER promotional model of the London & North Eastern Railway Class W1 “Hush‑Hush”, running number 10000. The model is presented in OO gauge and is supplied painted in the Apple/Doncaster Green livery with silver lining. It is a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor, DCC ready with an 8‑pin socket, and all wheels are powered for pickup.

The locomotive measures 307 mm in length and has a minimum curve radius of 438 mm (2nd radius). It features a green colour scheme, NEM/tension‑lock couplings and a 4‑6‑4 wheel arrangement. The model carries the manufacturer part number R3842.

The prototype was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Darlington Works in 1929, with the chassis moved to Glasgow for testing in April. Official photographs were released on 10 December 1929 and the first trial runs took place on 12 December 1929, 29 December 1929 and 9 January 1930. After a period of trials the locomotive entered traffic on 20 June 1930, covering 70 000 miles between Kings Cross and Edinburgh until May 1933. It underwent major repairs in 1934, returned to service on 13 June 1934 and received a Kylchap double blastpipe in January 1935. The original locomotive was finally withdrawn after a total of 1 888 days in service, spending 1 105 of those days at Darlington Works.