R30196 RailRoad Plus BR InterCity, Class 31, A1A-A1A, 31454 'The Heart of Wessex' - Era 9
Product Info
The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62. They were numbered in two series, D5500-D5699 and D5800-D5862. Construction of the first locomotive was completed in the final week of September 1957, and the handing-over took place on 31 October.
The first Class 31 entered service in November 1957, after the launch of the Class 20 locomotive and was one of the Pilot Scheme locomotives ordered by British Railways to replace steam traction. 31454 has the main benefit of being a 31/4 that features electric train heating. This allows the locomotive to heat passenger trains, an absolute essential for winter train services.
No. 31454 ‘The Heart of Wessex’ was built by Brush Traction in 1960 and its works number was 254. The locomotive entered service on 29 September 1960 under its pre-TOPS number, D5654, and painted green with white bodyside bands at the base and middle of the body. It was allocated to Finsbury Park shed (34G) at the start of its working life. On 18 November 1967, the locomotive was reclassified from a Class 30/2 to a Class 31/1.
EQ Brakes were fitted on 30 October 1970. March 1974 saw a renumbering change to 31228 under TOPS. The headcode box was modified to include black blinds with two marker lights in February 1978. By April 1982, a further modification was made when the steam heat boiler was isolated.
Quite a few renumbering changes occurred with the locomotive being numbered 31454 on 29 October 1984, 31554 on 30 April 1990 and back to 31454 on 1 February 2002. After its renumbering to 31454, the locomotive was reallocated to Crewe Diesel (CD) on 15 May 1988.
Fragonset purchased several Class 31s from EWS to use as part of their fleet in 1998. 31454 was painted in an InterCity Swallow livery and carried both the InterCity and Fragonset logos on its bodysides. While sporting this livery, the locomotive was named ‘The Heart of Wessex’ in August 2004, until the nameplates were removed in September 2008.
In November 2013, the locomotive was withdrawn from service. It joined Wensleydale Railway’s home fleet in 2020, with the announcement that a private individual purchased a locomotive, Class 31/4 No. 31454. In 2021, the locomotive was stored at The Shires Removal Group in Kinsley and soon after, Nemesis Rail acquired the preserved Class 31 to be stored at Burton-on-Trent.
Welcome to the HM7000 Control System
HM7000 is an innovative way of controlling and operating model railways. Combining Bluetooth® technology and app-based control, the HM7000 Control System has been designed to revolutionise the controlling of a model railway.
Learn more- Bluetooth® Connectivity
- Free Sounds
- Quick CV Editing
- Multiple Control Options
- 40+ Profile Settings
- Other Options
Upgrade Paths
Previous Control Systems can be upgraded to HM7000, see below for the options and upgrade paths available.
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Train Set > HM7000
Already have a locomotive but want to go digital? Click here to discover how.
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HM6000 > HM7000
The HM6000 system is only a short step away from having HM7000. Click here to discover how.
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HM|DC > HM7000
New to the hobby? HM7000 is just a short step away. Click here to discover how.
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DCC > HM7000
Already operating a layout using DCC? HM7000 is just a short step away. Click here to discover how.
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Conventional DCC Controller > HM7000
Locomotives fitted with either a Hornby HM7000 or conventional decoders can be operated using the HM|DCC Bluetooth® system - click here to learn how.
HM7000 Products
The following points must be considered below when purchasing. HM | DCC and the HM7000 decoders have been extensively tested up to a range of 45 metres in plastic bodied locomotives and up to 12 metres in die-cast bodied locomotives. HM | DCC and the HM7000 decoders have been extensively tested up to a max of 14 non-stationary, running locomotives. HM | DCC and the HM7000 decoders have been extensively tested on iOS devices dating as far back as 5 years from today's date. Any devices older than this cannot be commented on for proper function by Hornby Hobbies. Please ensure that the incompatibility list is considered prior to any purchase.
What's Inside
Recommended For You
Tech Specs
- Item Length - Without Packaging (cm)
- 22.5
- Item Height - Without Packaging (cm)
- 11.2
- Item Width - Without Packaging (cm)
- 36.2
- Item Weight - Without Packaging
- 0.68
- Item Scale
- 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge
- Finish
- Painted
- Colour
- Multi
- DCC Status
- DCC Ready 8 pin socket
- Operator
- BR
- Designer
- Brush Traction
- Livery
- BR Network SouthEast
- Minimum Curve (mm)
- Radius 2
- Motor
- 5 Pole Skew wound
- Number of Parts
- 1
- Class
- Class 31
WARNING! Not suitable for children under 36 months it contains small parts which can present a choking hazard and some components have functional sharp points and edges. Handle with care. Before giving the Toy to a child remove all packaging and any other component which is not part of the toy. Colour and contents may differ from those illustrated. Please retain these details and the address for future reference.