HOR R30193 Hornby RailRoad Plus Chiltern Railways, Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’, Bo-Bo, 121020 – Era 9- 2023 Catalogue

The British Rail Class 121 is a single-car double-ended diesel multiple unit. 16 driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 5502055035. These were supplemented by ten single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 5628056289 (later renumbered 5428054289). They have a top speed of 70 mph with slam-doors and vacuum brakes. The driving motor vehicles were nicknamed “Bubble Cars” by some enthusiasts (a nickname endorsed and made official by final passenger service operator Chiltern Railways).

The Class 121 vehicles were introduced in 1960 for use on the Western Region of British Rail. They were used on various lightly used branch lines in Cornwall including the Looe branch, the branch lines off the main line in the Thames Valley including the Greenford Branch Line, the Bridport branch line (closed 1975), and the Severn Beach line in Bristol. In 1978 all of the units were still allocated to Western Region depots. The Class 121 is Britain’s longest serving DMU, operating in passenger service for 57 years until 2017.

121020 is quite well known as the longest serving example of the class, surviving in Chiltern Railways ownership until 2017 when it was finally withdrawn after nearly 60 years in revenue earning service. Unit 121020 can now be found at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

This Railroad model features a simplified running mechanism including a three pole motor and more of a direct drive to the motor, as such it is an ideal starter model. The model has an 8 pin DCC socket for those who which to run the model on a digital layout and a more robust body is the perfect way to avoid damage to the model as a beginner.