The brand new Rails of Sheffield / Heljan Class 45 is a mightily impressive model in stature, detail, accuracy and build quality and these 2 also proved to be silky smooth and strong operators when pressed into service on fast Neville Grove expresses.

Amazing to think that when these Derby / Sulzer type 4’s were introduced in 1962 with British Railways they would have rubbed shoulders with pre-grouping era steam locomotives, yet would have outlived The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) on express passenger workings.

The original batch of 10 locomotives (later became the class 44's) were each named after British mountains, and were consequently nicknamed "Peaks".

The Class 44's were some of the first big diesels commissioned for the British Rail modernisation project and were the precursors to the Class 45, seen here, and Class 46 locomotives of similar design. Most of the 127 strong class 45's and 56 x class 46's were unnamed and 26 were named after British Army regiments. Despite this, all 193 locos were affectionately referred to as "Peaks" by enthusiasts and operating staff.

Peaks could also be found on parcels and freight workings throughout the decades, and now on heritage railways and mainline charters in preservation which makes them extremely versatile locos that would fit into any layout from Era 5 (BR Steam Late Crest) to the present day (Era 11).

These two special releases by Rails have both ends of their BR careers covered. D65 “Grenadier Guardsman” is in as built condition and in the smart BR Green livery with cream stripes and small yellow warning panels. It looks just the part running with the Gresley V2 (Bachmann / Rails) and Standard Class 6 "Clan" (Hornby) as well as Deltic D9019 (Accurascale / Rails) in two tone Green livery..

45060 “Sherwood Forester” is in the final condition that the class ran in before the last examples were withdrawn in 1988, and is in the much loved and long lived BR Blue livery.

The numerous but subtle differences that these locos gained over the years are faithfully reproduced in these models - see if you can spot them!