Hornby R3993 LNER Blue A4 4490 Empire of India DCC Ready OO gauge BNIB

This is a brand new Hornby R3993 model of an LNER A4 number 4490 Empire of India in Garter Blue livery. The model is DCC Ready with a 21 pin socket, and features a 5 pole skew wound motor, it is capable of negotiating Radius 2 curves 438mm. This is one of Hornby's high spec A4's not the Railroad version. Probably the most iconic steam locomotive design ever, the LNER A4's were a classic symbol of speed and design in the 1930's. Following trips to Germany and America Gresley was convinced that he could do bette rthan the state of the art diesel locos, with steam!

The result was the classic streamlined A4, which entered service in 1935, 35 locos being built betwean then and 1938. They mainly spent their time on the east coast mainline hauling expresses from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, until they were replaced by the Deltics in the late 1950's.

The A4's were kept in service till the mid 1960's, the last services worked by them being the Glasgow to Aberdeen expresses which they worked until 14th September 1966. 4490 Empire of India entered service in June 1937 in garter blue as shown on this model, under Edward Thompsons renumbering scheme in 1946 it became no 11, and then BR 60011 following nationalisation in 1948. After 27 years service she was withdrawn in 1964.

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