We are delighted to announce NEW LOW PRICES for our EXCLUSIVE range of Heljan BR '18100' Gas Turbine (and later E1000/ E2001 electric locomotives)! 

The entire range has now been discounted by a MASSIVE 44% off the RRP, available at just £124.50 each. There has never been a better time to bring this experimental piece of BR history  home to your collection! One Locomotive. Three Identities. A Fascinating Story! 

These models replicate the fascinating 18100 (later E1000/ E2001, and sometimes referred to as the Class 80) in incredible detail - with accurate tooling variations replicating this one-off prototype as both a gas-turbine powered loco or as an overhead electric unit.

Three variations are available - all in the exquisite BR black livery with silver numbering. Each one features an incredible specification as listed below, and, you can learn more about them + the history of the real prototype in our video too!

THESE NEWLY DISCOUNTED MODELS ARE SELLING FAST AND WE ONLY HAVE 50% INVENTORY REMAINING OF THESE MODELS AT THE NEW PRICE. SO ACT FAST AS ONCE THEY'RE GONE, THEY'RE GONE FOREVER!

Our prototypically accurate models covers the original version of '18100' as a Gas Turbine locomotive as well as later eras when it was converted to Overhead Electric Power  and given the numbers E1000, and then E2001.

The latest in our range of  EXCLUSIVE ModelU 3D printed crew figures are available to order, which have been precision engineered to fit exactly into the cab of our 18100/ E1000/ E2001 locomotives!  Stock expected to arrive in June/ July. The new full colour models are available to preorder alongside the previously released unpainted versions - should you wish to customise them yourself.

Did you know that our Rails BESPOKE services are now up and running? We have various customisations available for this model to bring you various enhancements, including...

"Given the limited timeframe the prototype operated, it is remarkable that not only has 18100 been produced, but also its subsequent conversion to E1000 and E2001 have also been modelled in 25kV overhead electric form. An outstanding reminder of this chapter in the development of motive power for the GWR and British Railways." - Mark Chivers

The story of ‘18100’ is complicated but nonetheless very interesting. Originally ordered by the Great Western Railway in the 1940s, it was to be a prototype mainline gas turbine-electric locomotive offering an alternative to early diesel traction. The GWR had previously approached a Switzerland based manufacturer to produce another gas turbine locomotive - 18000, but decided that they wished to build their own to compare to the Swiss machine.

Metropolitan-Vickers were tasked with producing 18100 in 1946. This homegrown loco would be powered by paraffin or pool gas oil rather than the heavy fuel oil that had caused problems for the Swiss-built 18000. Development continued into the 1940s but after numerous disagreements and setbacks, the completed 18100 was finally delivered to Swindon Works in 1951, at this point under the ownership of British Railways, where it was found to be significantly heavier than expected.

This 3,500hp locomotive was put straight into testing in early 1952, hauling a 12-coach train from Swindon to Plymouth over the steep Devon banks, increasing to 18 coaches with challenging restarts on the 1-in-42 Hemerdon Bank. In April of the same year, 18100 plied its trade on its first timetabled passenger service and was accepted into the Western Region’s fleet 2 weeks later.

Records state that the Metrovick power unit performed well in service and failures were generally attributed to the mechanical and electrical components as well as the bogies. Following repairs in 1953, the loco performed more light engine tests but never ran a passenger working again.

Later that year, 18100 was sent to Metrovick’s Dukinfield works for conversion to heavy fuel oil, but this never took place. BR cancelled the project and instead ordered the locomotive to be converted to 25kV AC overhead power for use on the London Midland region.

18100 became E1000 (later E2001) and played a brief role in the development of high-voltage AC electrification, which quickly became the UK standard in the late fifties. The locomotive became a 2,500hp electric unit, it’s middle traction motors on each bogie were removed and new electrical equipment was installed - along with a Brown-Boveri circuit breaker, Stone-Faiveley pantograph and mercury arc rectifier units.

18100’s second experimental career was short-lived however. BR pressed ahead with producing their first ‘AL1’ electrics, which were delivered in 1959 - making 18100 (or E2001 at this point) redundant. This fascinating locomotive’s story ends in the late 1960s, when it was officially withdrawn and later scrapped in 1972.