Gaugemaster Collection O Scale Class 73 - 'The Royal Alex' in Pullman Livery

[Gaugemaster Controls]

 

Gaugemaster are pleased to offer this locomotive in O Scale for the first time, as part of their GM Collection range of commissions.

 

This all-new Scale Class 73/1 electro-diesel will feature plug-and-play DCC interface, new lighting features and a wide range of authentic detail variations covering the entire career of this enduringly popular Southern Region class.

 

Bi-mode trains are all the rage currently, but Heljan’s latest O Scale announcement looks back to a classic electro-diesel design from the mid-1960s. Now in development for release in 2022 is a ready-to-run O Scale model of English Electric’s pioneering Class 73 – Heljan's first electric locomotive in this scale. Designed to operate on both third-rail electric and diesel power (in non-electrified areas such as yards and depots) the Class 73s lived a relatively mundane life until they were thrust into the limelight when the new ‘Gatwick Express’ operation started in 1984.

 

Over the years, the class has worked everything from express passenger to newspaper and mail, freight and engineering trains. The advent of Sectorisation in the mid-1980s saw the standard BR blue livery replaced by a rainbow of liveries, a trend that continues today. Despite a steady decline in the 1990s, these hugely versatile locomotives have seen a revival in the 21st century and continue to play a vital role hauling engineering and test trains for GB Railfreight and Network Rail on the 750V DC third-rail network and beyond. Now seen over a much wider area than in BR days, the ‘EDs’ have gained a cult following and 13 locomotives have even been rebuilt with more powerful diesel engines and modern electronics transforming them into 1,600hp go-anywhere machines.

 

Heljan's all-new model is being designed to offer a range of authentic detail variations covering the entire career of the production batch built in 1965-67, many of which are still active on the main line network and heritage railways. These will include locomotives with or without high intensity headlights and NRN radio aerials, radio pods and optional fibreglass arc shields fitted to the bogies from the mid-1980s onwards.

 

The Class 73 in Pullman Livery was numbered 73101 and between 1980 and 1992 was named 'Brighton Evening Argus'. After 1992 it was re-named to 'The Royal Alex' but kept the same running number.

 

Pre-Order Now, Due In Stock 2022

 

GM7240301 Class 73 101 'The Royal Alex' Pullman Brown/Cream

[Bert Cheese]

Aah...just seen this and of course not paying complete attention though it was a second run of the oo scale version...until I saw the price!

Is there any chance of the above, pristine ones are hard to come by on eBay and I'd like one to pair up with 73109 in NSE to recreate the pairing that visiting Paington for the 1993 diesel gala as my father was one of the drivers who brought them down from Eastleigh for the weekend.