BR A4 Bittern - Double Tender Special Edition - R3103

Built for the LNER and outshopped from the Doncaster Works on the 18 December 1937, ‘Bittern’ was resplendent in LNER Garter Blue livery and carried the number 4464. In 1946 the number was changed to ’19’ but after Nationalisation in 1948 60000 was added to the number making the locomotive 60019. In 1950 ‘Bittern’ was repainted into BR Blue but two years later 60019 received a BR Brunswick lined green livery which it maintained until withdrawal in September 1966 having received a double chimney in 1957.

In July 2009 and fitted with a second tender, ‘Bittern' made a 188 mile journey from London Kings Cross to York, non stop to publicise the launch of the 'Brighton Belle' restoration project by the 5BEL Trust.  The first tender was full to capacity with 5,000 gallons of water and coal, with the second tender being used to carry an additional 9,000 gallons of water. The Hornby model is representative of ‘Bittern’ as it would have been seen on that non-stop journey on the 25 July 2009. 

The superbly detailed Hornby model is powered by a 5 Pole Skew Wound motor and has pickups on all drive wheels as well as the first tender.  The Hornby ‘Bittern’ is DCC Ready and produced as a Special Edition of 1000 pieces.