SR Merchant Navy 21C4 Cunard W.Star Line w/Steam Generator

SR Merchant Navy 21C4 Cunard W.Star Line w/Steam Generator

1:76 scale model produced by Hornby. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• DCC Sound Model
• Fitted Smoke Generator
• This model mainly operates in Britain
• Decorated in SR company markings
• Best suited to 438mm radius curves

Details

The SR Merchant Navy class is one of the most iconic British steam locomotive designs of the mid-20th century, created by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway to tackle heavy express passenger trains on main routes such as London to Southampton and the South Coast. Introduced in 1941, these 4-6-2 “Pacific” locomotives were named after famous British Merchant Navy shipping lines, celebrating the vital role of merchant seafarers during World War II and beyond.

Bulleid’s innovative design featured chain-driven valve gear enclosed in an oil bath and a distinctive air-smoothed casing that gave the class a modern, streamlined appearance for its era. The first batch was built during wartime, with later examples completed after the war. They became noted for strong performance at sustained express speeds and an unmistakable presence on Southern main lines.

Over time, most Merchant Navy locomotives were rebuilt to simplify maintenance, removing the original casing and oil-bath gear but retaining their power and reliability. Several examples survive in preservation today, with locomotives such as 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co., 35028 Clan Line and 35018 British India Line regularly appearing on heritage railways and special excursions.