NEWSDESK
M4RAIL EXPRESS Modeller September 2019 Supplement No. 185
Heljan’s
‘Sulzer’
Surprise
HARD ontheheels of Helj an’s ‘OO’gauge
Class 45 announcement comes an
excitingfollow-up in theform ofabrand-
newClass 47 modelin‘ OO’ gauge.
Eitherby accidentor design the
announcement isanatu ralprogression
given that the Class 47wasfitted with
an uprated version of the2500hp Sulzer
12LD28Bengine fitted to Class45s;
classified as 12LD28Crated at 2750hp
combined with aBrush maingenerator
andtraction motors.
The design came at the behest of
the Easter nRegion which neededamore
powerful locomotivewithin alighter
structure than theClass 45 and with
aCo-Co bogiearrangementformixed
trafficduties.
60th anniversar ymodel
Class 47s arenearly 60 yearsofage and
Heljan plans to have the first newmodels
released in timeforthis significant
milestoneforthe class. It’sagood
choice of modelto update: the design
wasbothnumerous with 512 built and
successful too, with membersofthe
clas sstill in usetoda y, eventhough the
fleet is considerablyreduced in number.
It worked numerous traffics throughout
the UKrangin gfromClass 1passenger
trains on principle mainlinesincluding
the East Coast,Angliaand GreatWestern
alongsidecross country services.
This versatile class handledfast
TPOs, mail stowage andparcel strains,
fast intermodals and all mannerof
freighttraffic, including block steel,
coal an dpetroleum.Asmall sub-class
adapte dfor push-pullworking held the
busy Edin burgh-Glasgow (E-G) corridor
togetherformanyyears. Heavy sleeper
servicesoverthe Highland line and drags
of electric hauled services during the
upgradeof the West Coastmain line also
featured in thetype’sduties.
Heljan is nostrangertothe
Class47, havingproduced thefirst
detailed model nearly20yearsago,
challenging the Limaproduct whichwas
the onlyroute to anythingremotely
authentic.
Despitebein gatouch toowide,it
incorporatedfeatures takenforgranted
today, includingNEM coup ling pockets,
frame-mounted motor, workingrunning
ligh ts andan eight-pin DCCinterface
socket. Flush glazing, detailed cab
interiorandclass-specific detailswere
worked into the models. Its powerful
driveovertwo bogies andfour axles
wasreliable, with the models capable of
managing long trains.Brand-newmodel
It remainsapopular model today, but
one that is increasinglydifficult for
Heljan to produce with theexisting
tools. The brand-newmodel will
introduce newerinnovations, finer
tooling and better technicalfeatur es.
To begin, Heljan will issue the model
in BR green and blue liveries. This will
be followedupwith mid-lifeexamples
of the sectorisation period and finally
the life-extended locomotives of the
1990s including the cut bufferbeam
fairings. One-offliveries with specialembellishments willfeatur ealongside
thenumerous day-to-daycolours of
in-service locomotives–thereisagreat
deal of ground to coverwith liveries
alone.
Up to date electronics,including a
decoderinterface willfeature,allowing
awider rangeofr unninglight positions
andsimplifieddigital sound installation.
Heljanreport sthat detailed work on the
model hascommenced,with adelivery
of the first modelsexpected in2021
in timeforthe 60th anniversary of the
introduction of the class.
Technical detailsremainto be
confirmedand REMhopes that Heljan
will do much to ensurethat the modelsarecompatible with closer toscale
modelling aswell as ‘OO’ gaugebyusing
standardaxles and ensuring that the
bogi eframeshave sufficient inside
clearances.Makingthe body simple
to remove fo rdecoder and sound
installation is also important, as is
designing the circuit boardfor correct
running light and headcodeillumination
withoutresorting to micro-switches in
the underframe.
Prices and the identities of the first
models will be announcedby Heljan in
due course and it is hoped that Heljan
offers awide rangeofdifferent running
numbers with common liveries to allow
modellers to assembleatypicalfleet.FragonsetRailwaysNo. 47701Waverleywasphotographed at the site ofLudgershall
station on April7,2 003. AScotRailversion of the push-pull Class 47/7 sub-class is
included in Heljan’s Class 47 plans.
Drags of electric-hauled trains during engineering possessions on theWest Coast main
line provided work forClass 47s at Nuneaton on June 29, 2002. With No. 86424 on the
rear,No. 47736CambridgeTraction andRollingstock DepotguidesaWolverhampton-
Euston service into Nuneaton whereitwas detached to allowthe electric locomotive
to continue its journeysouth.Classic BR blue livery ona‘stan dard’ locomotivewillbeone of the firstversionsto be offered on the newHeljan Class 47.Atypical
Class 47/0, No. 47074was observed at Chesterfieldworkingacement train originating from Hope on August 5, 1985.Class 47s have
been associated
with mailand
parcels traffic
since their
introduction.Rail
ExpressSystems
No. 47780wasin
charge of asouth
bound stowage
train consisting of
fiveBGand GUV at
Newcastle Central
on May25, 1994.