R30426 Network South East - Class 87 - 'The Olympian' 87012

This Class 87 No. 87012 ‘The Olympian’ is finished in its distinctive Network SouthEast livery as carried during its final years of mainline service.

The locomotive is DCC ready with a 21-pin decoder socket, allowing for digital upgrade. Equipped with sprung metal buffers and NEM tension lock couplings, it offers both enhanced detail and reliable performance.

History

British Rail Engineering at Crewe turned out 36 of these 25kV 5,000hp locomotives between 1973 and 1975. Based on its Class 86 predecessor, the new design set out to achieve a higher-performance machine for front-line express work on the West Coast Main Line, capable of operating continuously at speeds of up to 110mph. 

Entering service in January 1974, 87012 was named ‘Coeur de Lion’ in May 1978. For its last two years of service, it was named ‘The Olympian’ and painted in a version of Network SouthEast livery, with branding to promote the London Olympics bid for 2012. 

At this time, the locomotive carried the slogan ‘Back the Bid London 2012’. Then, after the London bid, the slogan was changed to ‘Host City London 2012’. However, it was clearly visible that it had been painted over. This Hornby model depicts the ‘Host City’ period and, like the real thing, you can see the over-painting on the model.

The Olympian was later withdrawn in 2006, six years before the Olympics came to London. It then became one of two locomotives exported to Bulgaria in 2007 for trials which, following successful completion, resulted in all remaining operational members of the fleet following them into freight service there. It is still operated by BZK in Bulgaria.