Rapido Trains UK 988008 BR Class 35 'Hymek' 7017 - BR Blue w/Full Yellow Ends Diesel Locomotive

988008 Rapido Trains UK OO Gauge
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Product Description

Features:

  • Factory-fitted passive radiator speaker
  • Dynamic Exhaust Effect on DCC Sound-Fitted models
  • Smoke generator fitted to all models
  • Working Fan beneath etched grille on DCC-Fitted models
  • Interchangeable headcodes included
  • Full-colour 3D-printed crew (Modelu)

Product Description:

  • Class 35 Hymek 7017 
  • BR blue with full yellow ends (vinyl numbers) 
  • Lower cab door handles 
  • No headboard clips 
  • Stone-Vapor boiler room roof 
  • Early sandboxes 
  • Conical-end brake cylinders 
  • Directional lighting 
  • Cab lighting 
  • 21-pin decoder socket 
  • High-quality 5-pole motor and drive mechanism for smooth running 
  • Factory-fitted passive radiator speaker & smoke unit in all models 
  • DCC sound & dynamic exhaust option* (with ESU LokSound 5 decoder) 
  • MoPower stay-alive 
  • Kinematic NEM 362 coupler pockets 
  • Easily changeable headcodes with 14 different versions included 
  • Separately fitted wipers 
  • Separately fitted radiator fan grill with working fan 
  • Etch fret with full set of number and works plates 
  • Pre-fitted ‘cut off’ buffer beam detailing to work when coupler fitted 
  • Optional ‘full’ buffer beam detailing to fit as required 
  • 3D colour-printed crew with BR Corporate-era style uniforms 
  • Colour art print of locomotive on Dawlish sea wall 
  •  *Requires ESU 51990 Smoke Distillate – requires separate purchase. 
In June 1959, British Railways placed an order for 45 diesel hydraulic locomotives. Before the first locomotives had even been  delivered, another 50 were ordered in 1960, and six more followed in 1961, bringing the class total to 101.

The design was influenced by Wilkes and Ashmore, who also worked on the prototype locomotives ‘Falcon’ and ‘Lion’, alongside the Class 47. Of the four main diesel-hydraulic classes, the Hymek was the only one built by an outside contractor: Beyer, Peacock & Co. of Manchester. The locomotives were constructed at their Gorton Works, powered by a Bristol Siddeley-built Maybach MD870 engine (produced under license from Maybach in Germany) and fitted with a Mekydro hydro-mechanical transmission, which gave the class its nickname of ‘Hymek’.

The first locomotive, D7000 was delivered at a ceremony at Paddington on the 16th of May 1961, three months ahead of schedule. The first Hymeks went to Bristol Bath Road depot for West Country services, but as the Class 52 ‘Westerns’ were arriving slower than planned, the Hymeks were redirected to South Wales to cover for them. This is why, from D7034 onwards, almost all locos were fitted with headboard clips to hold the titled trains’ large headboards. This lasted until 1963 when more Westerns were available and Hymeks were freed up to take on the Hereford – Paddington services, with which they became synonymous.

The final loco was delivered to Newton Abbot in February 1964 and the class was to see regular use from West London to the West Country, South Wales and the West Midlands on Western Region routes.

They were also regularly used on the Southern Region route from Waterloo to Exeter and other Southern outposts such as Weymouth, Southampton, Poole and Bournemouth. 

From 1967, five were even stationed at Worcester to bank trains up the Lickey Incline. For this duty, they had the first gear locked out to prevent ‘hunting’.

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