Our new Heljan 'O' Gauge Class 25s are coming soon!

Following the popularity of our previous Class 25 releases and the recent success of the Class 24, we're bringing back one of Britain's most versatile diesel classes in a fresh selection of highly requested liveries and identities.

Whether you're modelling the transition era, the BR Blue years or the twilight of first-generation diesel operation, there's something in this range for every 'O' gauge enthusiast.

This latest batch focuses on late body style Class 25s and includes a superb mix of standard BR Green and BR Blue locomotives, alongside several distinctive "celebrity" machines that are sure to stand out on any layout, and are on track for delivery in Q3 2026.

Meet the range

BR Blue 25323 (Headcodes)

Built by BR Derby Works and delivered to BR’s London Midland Region at nearby Toton Depot in March 1967, D7673 was one of the final few Class 25s to be completed. Four months after delivery it was transferred north to Upperby depot in Carlisle and then to Carlisle Kingmoor in February 1968. From May 1970 it flitted between Wigan Springs Branch and Crewe Diesel depots, spending its final five years based at Crewe working freight duties across the north west of England and North Wales.

It was renumbered 25323 in November 1973. Withdrawal came on March 9 1987 after less than 20 years of service. Not unusually for a Class 25, it was involved in two collisions, which required its cabs to be rebuilt in 1968 and again in 1974.

BR two-tone Green No. D5243

Built by BR Derby Works and delivered to BR’s London Midland Region at nearby Toton Depot in January 1964, D5243 was one of the most travelled Class 25s, being transferred between depots 28 times in its 18-year life! Between 1964 and 1974 it stayed on the LMR, being allocated to Toton, Saltley, Nottingham and working across the LMR’s Midland and Western Lines divisions. It made a brief visit to the Scottish Region in 1974, where it was renumbered 25093, before returning to the LMR until May 1975 when it switched to the Western Region at Plymouth Laira.

However, its stay in the West Country was also brief and in October 1975 it switched back to the ScR with short spells at Haymarket, Eastfield and Inverness before returning to the LMR at Crewe in November 1978. In the final four years of its life it was based at Crewe, Toton, Cricklewood and Bescot before withdrawal in November 1982.

BR Blue/Yellow 25912 Tamworth Castle

Delivered to the London Midland Region’s Nottingham Division on February 25 1967, D7672/25322 led a relatively unremarkable life until after its first withdrawal in 1984. Reinstated due to a shortage of locomotives, it was chosen for display at Tamworth Rail Week in May 1984 and acquired a unique livery with full yellow cab ends, black window surrounds and a silver roof applied by apprentices at Tyseley depot. It acquired the painted name Tamworth Castle and because of its livery became affectionately known as the "Ice Cream Van".

In the following year 25322 was one of 12 Class 25s selected for life extension overhauls for a new freight contract, restricted to 60mph and redesignated as Class 25/9s. In the end, the ‘25/9s’ did not outlast the rest of the Class 25 fleet and were withdrawn in 1987. However, 25912 cheated the scrapman once again, becoming a training loco at Leeds Holbeck depot. In 1989 it was unveiled in BR two-tone green livery for the first time (it was delivered in BR blue) and in 1990/91 it worked numerous special trains and railtours before being withdrawn for a third time and passing into preservation at the Churnet Valley Railway.

BR Blue/Grey 97251 ‘ETHEL 2’

In the first half of the 1980s BR introduced Mk3 sleeping cars and air-conditioned Mk2 coaches to replace steam-heated stock on the West Highland Line to Fort William. This created a problem as refurbished ETH-fitted Class 37/4s had not yet been delivered. As a stopgap, three redundant Class 25s were converted into mobile generator units to be hauled by the existing fleet of steam-heat Class 37/0s.

Between June and October 1983, 25305, 25310 and 25314 became Electric Train Heating Ex-Locomotives, or ‘ETHELs’, based at Glasgow Eastfield depot. They were usually marshalled between the Class 37 and its train, providing heat, light and air-conditioning. Traction motors were disconnected and ETH cables fitted, allowing the ETHEL to supply electrical power for on-train systems.

Renumbered in the departmental series, 97251, or ‘ETHEL 2’, was previously 25305. The arrival of Class 37/4s in mid-1985 made the trio redundant, but between 1986 and 1992 they found a third life providing ETH for steam-hauled charter trains around the country.

BR two-tone Green 25102 (Full Yellow Ends)

25102 is notable as the last ‘25’ – and one of the last across the BR diesel fleet – to retain BR green livery. New to Toton depot in February 1964, it spent most of its 16-year life allocated to the London Midland Region at Toton, Nottingham, Leicester, Kingmoor, Allerton and Manchester Longsight. The only interruptions were spells on the Eastern Region at Thornaby and Holbeck between January 1966 and May 1968.

More than a decade after the introduction of BR’s Corporate Image in the mid-1960s, 25102 retained BR two-tone green until April 1976 when it was outshopped in standard BR Blue. Withdrawal came just four years later in May 1980.

BR Blue 25095 (Domino Headcodes)

Another London Midland Region stalwart, 25095 spent all but a very short period of its 22-and-a-half year career allocated to LMR depots. Delivered by BR Derby Works as D5245 in January 1964, it spent most of its life working freight, parcels and engineering trains across the Midlands, north of England, North Wales and over the Midland Main Line to London.

It was renumbered 25095 in April 1974. In the final months of its career, 25095 became notable for the extra embellishments applied to the cabs, including small (standard and mirrored) stencilled numbers, black tail light recesses and black bands around the lower part of the cab front. These were applied from autumn 1985 and carried until withdrawal in July 1986.

In response to customer feedback, this production run also benefits from several upgrades. Highly detailed authentic-pattern wheelsets with drilled holes, as featured on our acclaimed Class 24, replace the previous solid disc wheels, while headcode displays and decoration have been refined to meet our latest standards.

Pre-order yours today for £299.99, with free UK Delivery!

Beneath the detailed exterior, the Heljan 'O' gauge Class 25 delivers smooth, quiet and powerful performance thanks to its twin-motor flywheel drive.

Premium features include a powered roof fan, illuminated lighting suite, sprung buffers, etched metal grilles, wire handrails and exceptional underframe, bogie and cab detailing, creating a model that's as impressive in operation as it is on display.

Pre-order yours today to guarantee your favourite!

Set to arrive in Q3 2026, you can pre-order yours today with no deposit down, for just £299.99, including free UK delivery and Heljan Loyalty Reward Points, that you can exchange for discounts on future orders too.

Which machines will you choose?

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