Offering an ex-shop display model 00 gauge especially developed by “Heljan Model Railways” as part of their recent prototype series. This Class 53 Prototype Diesel D0280 locomotive named “FALCON” is offered in two tone Green weathered livery.
D0280, named Falcon was a single brush Traction built, prototype engine. The Falcon project began in 1959 to design a new, lightweight diesel-electric Type 4 locomotive for a British Rail requirement for second generation diesel locomotives. No single lightweight diesel engine was powerful enough, so the Falcon project used twin German designed Maybach MD655 engines like those in the Class 52 Western.
The prototype, wearing a livery of lime green and chestnut brown and bearing the number D0280 after its Brush project number 280, emerged from Brush’s Loughborough works in September 1961. Returning to British Railways in 1963, Falcon spent six months working out of Sheffield on both passenger and freight diagrams, after which its testing was completed 1961.
While not in any sense a failure, the design was the victim of advances in locomotive technology.
Simon Kelly (verified owner) –
Great looking in BR Green
Had to ponder whether to take the earlier prototypes in those garish schemes or this one in BR Green.
It looks much nicer in the flesh, sits perfectly with my other Epoch V/VI locos. Quiet motor, smooth running, just waiting for my sound decoder to wing its way across the pond.
Wrenn Model Railways had this order shipped out within a day or so, arriving well packed and undamaged in New York, kudos to them for their service.