Hornby has bolstered its new Hornby Dublo range of locomotives with the arrival of the die-cast metal bodied Bulleid air-smoothed ‘Merchant Navy’ 4-6-2. MARK CHIVERS casts a glance at this delightful new limited edition.
Above: Weighing-in at more than 570 grams the all-new Hornby Dublo ‘Merchant Navy’ is a substantial ‘OO’ gauge model.
Ever since Hornby revealed plans in 2020 to resurrect the Hornby Dublo brand name with a die-cast metal bodied LMS ‘Duchess’ 4-6-2 as part of its Centenary celebrations, expectation was high that more models may appear, and earlier this year Hornby unveiled plans for its next locomotive – Bulleid’s air-smoothed ‘Merchant Navy’ 4-6-2, including 35011 General Steam Navigation in BR lined green with early crests.
Built at the Southern Railway's Eastleigh Works in 1944, 21C11 entered traffic in December that year and was named General Steam Navigation during a ceremony at London’s Waterloo Station in February 1945. It was renumbered 35011 in November 1948 with allocations at Nine Elms, Bournemouth and Exmouth Junction during its career with BR. It was rebuilt in 1959, remaining in service until finally withdrawn in 1966. Now preserved, 35011 is currently under restoration to original air-smoothed c…
