Hornby R30197 RailRoad + BR Departmental RTC Train Testing Cl 31 97203

Item Scale 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge

Finish Painted

Colour Multi

Gauge OO

DCC Status DCC Ready (NOT DCC fitted). 8 Pin Socket

Operator BR

Livery BR RTC

Minimum Curve (mm) Radius 2

Product Info

British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from1957-62. They were numbered in two series, D5500-D5699 and D5800-D5862.Construction of the first locomotive was completed in the final week of September 1957, and the handing-over took place on 31 October.

The first Class 31 entered service in November 1957, after the launch of the Class 20locomotive and was one of the Pilot Scheme locomotives ordered by British Railways to replace steam traction.

The Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in London Road, Derby, England, was the technical headquarters of the British Railways Board, and was built in the early 1960s. British Rail described it as the largest railway research complex in the world, and certain Class 31s served in a capacity as locomotives aiding experiments and research.