Heljan have revealed livery artwork images and an engineering sample for their newly tooled Class 44 'Peak' diesel locomotive in OO Gauge!

We recently had the chance to inspect this new model up close at the Greatest Gathering event hosted at Derby Litchurch Lane Works and compared the latest sample to the real thing too!

Good news for ‘Peak’ fans – Heljan's 'OO' gauge Class 44 project is powering towards completion. Livery artwork has now been approved (see images) and factory decorated samples are currently being prepared by the factory. 

As if that's not enough to celebrate, don't forget that Heljan have added two previously unannounced liveries to the first batch, depicting 44002 Helvellyn in standard late-1970s BR Blue and celebrity D4/44004 Great Gable in its final ‘retro’ BR Green with full yellow ends. PLUS! They have also negotiated with our suppliers to achieve a major price reduction on all Class 44s. The Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) are now £219.00 for DCC Ready models and £329.00 for DCC Sound – a whopping reduction of £30 and £60 respectively.

The British Rail Class 44 or Sulzer Type 4 diesel locomotives were built by British Railways' Derby Works between 1959 and 1960, intended for express passenger services. 

They were named after British mountains, and, along with the similar Class 45 and 46 locomotives, they became known as Peaks. The class worked regularly over the West Coast Main Line for a couple of years prior to its electrification, and also between London St Pancras and Manchester Central. Once they were consigned to Freight services, they mostly operated in the East Midlands, all being allocated to Toton until withdrawal. 

The class suffered 'a considerable amount of early "teething trouble"' during the early 1960s and were relegated to freight services as soon as Class 45s became avaialble. Withdrawal of the whole class took place between 1976 and 1980. Two locomotives have survived to preservation.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)