The BRCW Class 26 and 27 Bo-Bo diesel-electrics are synonymous with Scotland and now brand-new models are available for ‘O’ gauge from Heljan. MIKE WILD checks out these exciting arrivals.
THE BIRMINGHAM Railway Carriage and Wagon (BRCW) Class 26 and 27 Bo-Bo diesels were a product of the 1955 Modernisation Plan. The first to arrive was the Class 26 which was a 1,160hp diesel-electric powered by a Sulzer 6LDA28A engine with the pioneer batch of 20 being part of the Pilot Scheme orders to trial new diesel locomotive designs.
They were instantly successful and a follow on order for 26 further Class 26s was placed with the entire fleet of 46 locomotives completed in 1958-1959. The Pilot Scheme locomotives, later classified 26/0, entered service on the Great Northern section of the Eastern Region while the production locomotives, later Class 26/1, were delivered to the Scottish Region. In 1960 the entire Class 26 fleet was allocated to Scotland.
Above: New from Heljan for ‘O’ gauge are the BRCW Class 26 (left) and Class 27 (right)
One year later the success of the Class 26 saw BR place an order with BRCW for a new batch of Sulzer-powered Bo-Bo diesels, but this time the engine was uprated to 1,250hp and the maximum speed was increa…
