Hornby: SR 4–6–2 ‘Channel Packet’ ‘21C1’ Merchant Navy Class
Conceived in 1937 when Oliver Bulleid became Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway, the Merchant Navy Class represented Bulleid’s vision for a quick accelerating, mixed traffic 4–6–2 locomotive, equally capable of hauling passenger services (such as the Golden Arrow and Atlantic Coast Expresses), or freight workings, to a speed of around 75mph. Mainly designed from the Brighton Works Drawing Office, under C.S Cocks, Bulleid, always aware of practical applications and costing implications, ensured that the best design practices of the time were applied to the new locomotive. Like his mentor, Nigel Gresley, Bulleid was a technically arrogant CME, an advocate of locomotives being driven hard and to brisk schedules and this materialised in his design ideas.
Specifics:
- Gauge: 00
- DCC Type: DCC Ready
- Livery: SR Malachite Green
- Class: Merchant Navy
- Designer: Oliver Bulleid
- Entered Service: 1940s
- Purpose: Express Passenger
- Wheel Configuration: 4–6–2
- Features: NEM Couplings
Hornby is a household name and is famous as the UK brand leader in the model railway hobby
