OO Gauge
Hornby
R30193 Chiltern Railways Class 121 Bubble Car Single Car DMU
Brand new item direct from our new Yorkshire model railway shop.
Tech Specs
Item Scale 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge
DCC Status DCC Ready 8 pin socket (It is NOT DCC
fitted)
Operator Chiltern Railways
Livery Blue
Minimum Curve (mm) Radius 2
Product Info
The British Rail Class 121 is a single-car double-ended
diesel multiple unit. 16 driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered
55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten single-ended trailer vehicles,
numbered 56280–56289 (later renumbered 54280–54289). They have a top speed of
70 mph with slam-doors and vacuum brakes. The driving motor vehicles were
nicknamed "Bubble Cars" by some enthusiasts (a nickname endorsed and
made official by final passenger service operator Chiltern Railways).
The Class 121 vehicles were introduced in 1960 for use on
the Western Region of British Rail. They were used on various lightly used
branch lines in Cornwall including the Looe branch, the branch lines off the
main line in the Thames Valley including the Greenford Branch Line, the
Bridport branch line (closed 1975), and the Severn Beach line in Bristol. In
1978 all of the units were still allocated to Western Region depots. The Class
121 is Britain's longest serving DMU, operating in passenger service for 57
years until 2017.
121020 is quite well known as the longest serving example of
the class, surviving in Chiltern Railways ownership until 2017 when it was
finally withdrawn after nearly 60 years in revenue earning service. Unit 121020
can now be found at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.
This Railroad model features a simplified running mechanism
including a three pole motor and more of a direct drive to the motor, as such
it is an ideal starter model. The model has an 8 pin DCC socket for those who
which to run the model on a digital layout and a more robust body is the
perfect way to avoid damage to the model as a beginner.