Hornby R30402 GWR Castle Class 5081 Lockheed Hudson Steam Loco OO Scale Era 3

Add one of the Great Western Railway's celebrated express passenger locomotives to your collection with GWR Castle Class No. 5081 “Lockheed Hudson”, reproduced in detailed OO Gauge / 1:76 scale.

Designed as front-line express passenger locomotives, the GWR 4073 “Castle” Class became one of the most famous steam locomotive designs associated with the Great Western Railway.

The first of 155 newly constructed Castle Class locomotives entered traffic in August 1923, while the final new locomotive was completed at Swindon in August 1950 under British Railways. A further 16 locomotives were rebuilt as Castles – 15 from the earlier Star Class plus the unique Pacific No. 111 Great Bear – bringing the total number of Castle Class locomotives to 171.

The Story of No. 5081

No. 5081 was built in 1939 and originally carried the name “Penrice Castle”.

In 1941, during the Second World War, the locomotive was renamed “Lockheed Hudson”, giving No. 5081 a particularly interesting identity within the Castle Class.

The locomotive continued in service until October 1963, when it was withdrawn from Cardiff East Dock.

This detailed model captures No. 5081 as a GWR Castle Class locomotive and makes an excellent choice for enthusiasts of Great Western express steam, historically significant named locomotives and classic British railway engineering.

Key Features

• GWR Castle Class No. 5081
• Named “Lockheed Hudson”
• Originally named “Penrice Castle”
• Built in 1939
• Renamed “Lockheed Hudson” in 1941
• Designed by Collett
• Great Western Railway 4073 Castle Class
• Detailed 1:76 scale
• OO Gauge
• DCC Ready
• Factory-fitted 21-pin DCC socket
• NEM couplings
• Minimum operating curve of Radius 2
• Etched nameplates included in accessory pack
• Additional detailing components included
• Instructions included

Historical Background

The GWR 4073 Castle Class was developed for front-line express passenger duties and became one of the defining locomotive classes of the Great Western Railway.

Construction extended over several decades, with the first new Castle entering service in August 1923 and the last being completed at Swindon in August 1950.

In total, the Castle fleet comprised:

• 155 newly built locomotives
• 15 Star Class locomotives rebuilt as Castles
• No. 111 Great Bear rebuilt as a Castle
• 171 Castle Class locomotives in total

No. 5081 joined the fleet in 1939 as “Penrice Castle” before receiving its distinctive “Lockheed Hudson” name in 1941.

Its working career eventually came to an end at Cardiff East Dock in October 1963.

Technical Specifications

Locomotive Number: 5081
Name: Lockheed Hudson
Original Name: Penrice Castle
Class: GWR 4073 Castle Class
Operator: GWR
Designer: Collett
Scale: 1:76
Gauge: OO Gauge
DCC Status: DCC Ready
DCC Socket: 21-Pin
Minimum Curve: Radius 2
Coupling Type: NEM Couplings

Dimensions

Length: 26.2 cm
Width: 3.5 cm
Height: 5.5 cm
Weight: 0.57 kg

What's in the Box

• 1 x GWR Castle Class No. 5081 “Lockheed Hudson” Steam Locomotive
• 1 x Accessory Pack
• 1 x Set of Instructions

Accessory Pack Includes

• Etched nameplates
• Brake rods
• Front coupling assembly

DCC Information

The locomotive is supplied DCC Ready with a 21-pin decoder socket, providing an upgrade path for modellers who wish to convert the locomotive to digital operation.

A compatible DCC decoder is required for digital operation and is not stated as included with the model.

Perfect For

GWR enthusiasts, Castle Class collectors, British steam railway modellers and OO Gauge enthusiasts recreating Great Western express passenger operations.

The fascinating history of No. 5081, including its original “Penrice Castle” identity and wartime renaming as “Lockheed Hudson”, also gives this locomotive particular appeal to collectors interested in historically significant named steam locomotives.