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Hornby R3978

LNER, Class W1 'Hush Hush', Streamlined, 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

Having completed nearly 90,000 miles of test running since new, Sir Nigel Gresley's W1 4-6-4HP 10000 entered Darlington Works on 21 August 1935 for what was anticipated to be a major overhaul and modification. During this period Gresley decided that it was time to rebuild 10000 as a three cylinder locomotive with a conventional firetube boiler and 10000 was moved to Doncaster Works on 13 October 1936, the first drawing for the modification being prepared at the end of November.

When 10000 was finally released from Doncaster Works in November 1937, it was a significantly different locomotive; being fitted with a diagram 111 boiler that was very similar to the diagram 108 boiler fitted to 2006 Wolf of Badenoch, and with a streamlined casing to the same pattern as the A4 class. As many components as possible from the original W1 were used in the rebuild, including the frames, which were shortened by 1½ feet at the front end. Other items, where needed, were sourced from the A4 class, the A3 class or, like the front bogie, from the B17 and an experimental double Kylchap blastpipe and chimney was fitted.

The cab, while similar to that of the A4 class, was considerably longer and this led to the retained original tender's coal delivery chute having to be lengthened to compensate for the extra distance from the firebox doors. The original tender was retained, but with superficial modifications, such as to the curvature of the front plates and the addition of streamlined plating to the front and rear, although this was partially removed just a year later, in 1938.

Up to the outbreak of war in 1939, and during the war years, 10000 worked mainly on Kings Cross main line duties and with its power and smooth riding it was a popular engine with the LNER's drivers, though less so with the firemen due to the distance between the shovelling plate and the firehole door. The locomotive also became more 'fitter' friendly after April 1942 when the skirting was removed from ahead and behind the outside cylinders to improve access in wartime conditions. Post war, at the time of nationalisation and now numbered 60700, the corridor tender was swapped for the streamlined non-corridor tender from 60004 William Whitelaw and the locomotive was engaged in more varied duties, working occasional passenger services to Leeds and Cambridge from Kings Cross alongside the occasional 'lodging' turns to Newcastle.

Following allocation to Doncaster on 25 October 1953, 60700 became a more frequent visitor to Leeds and also worked turns to Sheffield, as well as Doncaster to Peterborough passenger services and various braked goods trains. In a similar circumstance to 10000 never receiving its proposed name of British Enterprise in November 1929, 60700 never received its intended name of Pegasus, for which the nameplates were cast on 13 April 1951.

Product videos

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  HM I DCC - Advanced Control System Arrives!

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  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 Class W1 “Hush‑Hush” model, OO gauge, representing locomotive number 10000 (later 60700). The kit is supplied as a pristine, photographic grey finish, with the original livery reproduced in detail. It is DCC ready with an 8‑pin socket, powered by a 5‑pole skew‑wound motor, and collects power from all wheels. The model measures 307 mm in length, runs on a minimum radius of 438 mm (2nd radius), and uses NEM/tension‑lock couplings. Part number is R3978.

Key specifications: gauge OO; motor 5‑pole skew wound; colour grey; wheel arrangement 4‑6‑4; built by Darlington Works in 1929, with a single example produced. The model includes a streamlined casing, photographic grey livery, and the original tender with minor streamlined modifications.

The prototype, LNER Class W1, was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and entered service in 1928. After nearly 90,000 miles of testing, it was rebuilt at Darlington Works on 21 August 1935, then moved to Doncaster Works on 13 October 1936 for a major conversion to a three‑cylinder, conventional fire‑tube boiler. The rebuilt locomotive emerged in November 1937 with a diagram 111 boiler, A4‑type streamlining, and several components sourced from other classes. It served on the Kings Cross main line before and during the Second World War, and after nationalisation was renumbered 60700, receiving a non‑corridor tender from 60004 William Whitelaw. The engine operated a variety of passenger and goods services until its final allocation to Doncaster on 25 October 1953. Although nameplates for “Pegasus” were cast on 13 April 1951, the locomotive never carried the name.