Class 23 Headcode Box D5909 BR Blue Diesel Locomotive

Class 23 Headcode Box D5909 BR Blue Diesel Locomotive

1:148 scale model produced by EFE Rail. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Mechanism

The model is powered by a coreless twin-shaft motor which provides drive to both bogies, ensuring smooth and consistent performance. All axles are driven, with electrical pickup from every wheel to maximise reliability, particularly at low speeds. A die-cast metal chassis block provides weight for traction and stability, while precision gearing is arranged to deliver prototypical running speeds and realistic haulage capabilities.

The locomotive is fitted with 9 mm (N gauge) wheels manufactured to NEM310 standards, featuring an authentic disc wheel profile. Removable coupling pockets to NEM355 standards are fitted to each bogie, and the model is designed to operate on curves of second radius (263.5 mm) or greater, making it suitable for a wide range of N gauge layouts.

Detailing

High-fidelity injection-moulded bodyshells accurately represent locomotives fitted with either disc headcodes or headcode boxes, depending on the prototype. The bogies are fully detailed, incorporating suspension features, brake components, cab steps, and integral protection irons. Beneath the body, a separately applied underframe moulding includes tanks and battery boxes, enhanced with individual metal pipework.

Additional refinements include separately fitted metal handrails beside each cab door and along the top of each nose, a detailed cab interior, and glazed bodyside and cab windows with separate clear inserts. Each model is supplied with a complete set of bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts, including open and closed headcode discs where appropriate, allowing further enhancement by the modeller.

Lighting, DCC and Sound

The model is equipped with directional lighting, with tail lights that can be switched on or off via a circuit board switch when operating on analogue control. Under DCC, directional and tail lights can be controlled independently through dedicated functions. Authentic light colours and temperatures are used, matched to the era and application of each prototype.

A Next18 DCC decoder interface is provided for straightforward digital installation, and space is incorporated within the battery box moulding to allow a speaker to be fitted for sound installations.

Livery Application

All models are finished in authentic liveries, with multiple paint applications using British Rail specification colours to achieve an accurate and durable finish. Logos, numerals, and lettering are applied using a multi-stage tampo printing process, ensuring sharp detail and correct typefaces, insignia, and colours appropriate to the prototype.

Features:

• Analogue DC Model
• This model mainly operates in Britain
• Decorated in BR company markings
• Best suited to 228mm radius curves
• EFE Rail N Scale
• Era 6
• Pristine BR Blue livery
• Running No. D5909
• Centre Headcode Panels
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket

Details

The British Rail Class 23, commonly known as the Baby Deltic, was a small class of diesel-electric locomotives built between 1959 and 1961 by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry. Only ten locomotives were produced. They were designed for mixed-traffic duties on the Eastern Region, working secondary passenger trains as well as freight services. The nickname arose from their use of a Napier Deltic engine, a smaller version of the power units later used in the well-known Class 55 locomotives.

In service, the Class 23 locomotives suffered from reliability and maintenance issues, particularly with the engine installation. Availability was often poor, and the class had a relatively short operational life. Withdrawals began in 1968, and all ten locomotives were out of service by 1971.

Although the class disappeared early, one locomotive, D5901, survives in preservation, representing an important experimental stage in British Rail diesel development.

For model railway layouts, the Class 23 is well suited to Eastern Region scenes of the early to late 1960s, especially layouts depicting the transition from steam to first-generation diesel traction.