Product Info

The A1 Pacific class, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, emerged during the final years of the Great Northern Railway, marking a significant advancement in express passenger locomotives. After initial plans in 1915 were delayed by World War I, Gresley returned to his designs in 1920, leading to the introduction of the 4-6-2 A1 configuration.

No. 1470 ‘Great Northern’ was the first locomotive to enter service on April 11, 1922, demonstrating impressive hauling capabilities by successfully pulling 600-ton trains. Gresley’s design outperformed similar LNER designs in coal and water efficiency, leading to its selection over the LNER A2.

The original A1s were built to the generous GNR loading gauge, necessitating modifications after the 1923 grouping to fit LNER standards. These locomotives quickly established their reliability on the East Coast Main Line, though they faced challenges with coal and water consumption, prompting several design improvements throughout their service.

No. 4478 ‘Hermit,’ one of the first ten A1s, entered service in July 1923 and was rebuilt into the A3 class in November 1943. It was withdrawn in 1962, while other class members, including the famed Flying Scotsman, continued to capture public imagination.

This Hornby model of ‘Hermit’ features a five-pole skew wound motor, a diecast running plate for enhanced traction, and a flickering firebox that illuminates the detailed cab.

What’s Inside
– 1 x Steam Locomotive

Tech Specs
– Item Length – Without Packaging (cm): 29.1
– Item Height – Without Packaging (cm): 5
– Item Width – Without Packaging (cm): 3.5
– Item Weight – Without Packaging: 0.39
– Item Scale: 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge
– Finish: Painted
– Colour: Green
– Gauge: OO
– DCC Status: DCC Ready 21 pin socket
– Operator: LNER
– Designer: Sir Nigel Gresley
– Wheel Configuration: 4-6-2
– Livery: LNER Apple Green
– Minimum Curve (mm): Radius 2
– Motor: 5 Pole Skew wound
– Number of Parts: 1
– Class: Class A1
– Buffer Type: Sprung Metal Buffers
– Coupling Type: NEM Tension Lock
– Hornby Decoder Compatibility: HM7000-8TXS: Bluetooth® & DCC Sound Decoder (21-pin)