To celebrate their return to the exhibition circuit at Model Rail Scotland 2022in Glasgow this weekend HELJAN thought it was the perfect time to share their latest diesel dinosaur project - North British diesel prototype 10800.

Built in Glasgow by NBL in the early 1950s 10800 was originally ordered by the LMS as part of its pioneering investigations into main line diesel traction. It was envisaged as the equivalent of 3MT tank locomotives for lighter passenger and freight work and fitted with an 827hp Paxman diesel engine. Eventually delivered to BR in 1952 it was tested on the London Midland Southern and (briefly) Eastern Regions. After withdrawal by BR in 1959 it was sold to Brush and used as a testbed for new traction equipment before eventually being scrapped in 1976.

Following in the footsteps of their previous OO Scale prototype diesels such as Lion Kestrel and DP2 10800 will be produced in limited quantities across four versions depicting the NBL machine in post-1954 SR/LMR and final BR condition with later external modifications.

A high-quality specification includes fine etched metal parts working marker and cab lights 21-pin DCC interface DCC sound provision sprung buffers and all-wheel drive/pick-up.

Based on original NBL drawings and extensive research of this pioneering locomotive CAD work is complete and tooling is now well underway. Four versions will be available on general release depicting 10800 in different stages of its life.

Delivery of this exciting addition to the HELJAN range is expected in 2023.