Vintage Lima OO Gauge Class 50 50028 "Tiger" - Revised Network SouthEast - Unboxed

Important – Please Inspect Pictures Carefully:
This is a pre-owned locomotive that has been custom-detailed by a previous owner. Please study the high-resolution listing photos closely before purchasing to satisfy yourself with the condition and the finish quality of the added etched nameplates. The pictures show the exact locomotive you will receive.

The Model & Condition:
On offer is the classic Lima OO gauge model of the British Rail Class 50 diesel locomotive, finished in the iconic Revised Network SouthEast (NSE) livery and carrying the running number 50028 "Tiger".

Technical Specifications:

The British Rail Class 50 diesel-electric locomotives were built between 1967 and 1968 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows. A fleet of 50 units was created to haul express passenger trains on the non-electrified section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Scotland. Producing 2,700hp and capable of 100mph, they were incredibly powerful.

They earned the affectionate nickname "Hoovers" from rail enthusiasts due to the distinct, deafening sucking sound made by their dynamic braking gel-cooling fans before they were later modified. In the late 1970s, the fleet moved to the Western Region, becoming the backbone of express services out of London Paddington, and later found fame working the Waterloo-to-Exeter route under the vibrant Network SouthEast sector banner.

For a generation of railway modellers from the late 1970s through the 1990s, the Lima Class 50 was an absolute staple of the hobby. While modern models boast finer separate wire details, the Lima tooling was highly celebrated for capturing the aggressive, angular "face" and heavy stance of the real locomotive perfectly. Driven by the loud but virtually indestructible pancake/ringfield motor, these models became legendary for their pulling power and reliability on home layouts.

Locomotive 50028 entered service in 1968 and was officially named "Tiger" in 1978 after the famous Royal Navy cruiser HMS Tiger, following a fleet-wide naming policy matching historic warships.

As a dedicated Western and Southern Region workhorse, 50028 was one of the lucky units chosen to receive the striking Revised Network SouthEast livery in the late 1980s. This scheme featured the distinctive white wrap-around cabs and dark blue upper body, symbolising the modernization of London's commuter network. "Tiger" put in decades of hard work before finally being withdrawn from service in 1991 as modern multiple units took over the network.