The first of BR's heavy Type 5 freight diesels, introduced to cope with an increase in coal traffic after the 1973 oil crisis. The first 30 were built by Electroputere in Romania under sub -contract from Brush, while the rest were constructed by BREL at Doncaster (56031-115) and Crewe (56116-135).
Although they were retired by EWS in 2003, a number have been reactivated for use by freight companies such as Colas, UK Rail Leasing and, soon, GB Railfreight. Heljan's version is based on the later Doncaster and Crewe -built variant.
FEATURES
- DCC ready
- Working lights
- Sprung buffers
- Sound ready
- Smoke unit ready