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Class 58 Models | OO Gauge - EFE Rail

Class 58 Models

EFE Rail Class 58 – OO Gauge

Introduced in 2020, the EFE Rail Class 58 returned the locomotive to the ready-to-run OO gauge market and provided modellers with a renewed selection of Class 58 identities and liveries.

EFE Rail Class 58 OO gauge models
A selection of EFE Rail Class 58 models representing several of the principal liveries carried by the class.

EFE Rail announced its OO gauge Class 58 range in 2020, making the locomotive available again at a time when previous Hornby and Heljan releases had become increasingly difficult to obtain.

The models used the established Heljan tooling as their basis, with revised decoration, locomotive identities and product specifications for release under the EFE Rail brand, part of Bachmann Europe.

The range gave modellers further opportunities to represent the Class 58 across the British Rail, sectorisation and privatisation periods, while also adding several distinctive releases to the history of the class in OO gauge.

Returning the Class 58 to OO Gauge

2020 EFE Rail range announced
OO Gauge 4mm scale ready-to-run models
Heljan Established tooling heritage
4 Principal announced releases

The EFE Rail Class 58 Range

Returning the Class 58 to OO Gauge

The arrival of the EFE Rail Class 58 was welcomed by enthusiasts because it restored a ready-to-run model of the locomotive to the mainstream OO gauge market.

The range followed the earlier Heljan OO gauge Class 58, first introduced in 2008. Rather than developing an entirely new model, EFE Rail used that established tooling and presented it as a renewed range with revised locomotive identities, liveries and product specifications.

This allowed the Class 58 to remain accessible to modellers without relying entirely on older second-hand releases. It also gave collectors additional variations to place alongside the earlier Hornby and Heljan models.

Its Place in the Market

The EFE Rail range followed the earlier Hornby and Heljan Class 58 models and provided a renewed ready-to-run option for OO gauge modellers.

By using the established Heljan tooling, EFE Rail was able to introduce additional locomotive identities and liveries while retaining a familiar mechanism and specification.

Why the Range Still Matters

The EFE Rail range remains useful to operators and collectors. Its liveries cover several important periods in the life of the Class 58, while the established mechanism and conventional 8-pin DCC interface make it familiar to many OO gauge modellers.

For collectors building a complete history of Class 58 models, the EFE releases also form a distinct and identifiable stage between the earlier Heljan production and the forthcoming Accurascale range.

Announced EFE Rail Models

The principal EFE Rail Class 58 announcements covered four major livery periods, from British Rail red stripe through to EWS operation.

E84005

58011 – BR Railfreight

Railfreight Red Stripe livery with weathered finish.

E84006

58018 “High Marnham Power Station”

BR Railfreight Coal Sector triple-grey livery.

E84007

58021 “Hither Green Depot”

Mainline Freight blue livery.

E84008

58039 – EWS

EWS maroon and gold livery with weathered finish.

Model Specification

Mechanical Specification

Scale OO gauge, 4mm scale
Body Construction Plastic body with separately fitted metal components
Chassis Die-cast construction
Coupling Socket NEM pockets
Supplied Couplings Tension-lock couplings
Driven Wheels Eight-wheel drive
Minimum Radius Second-radius curves
Body Removal Body secured by screws
Weighting Integrated into the chassis

Electrical Specification

DCC Capability DCC ready
Decoder Interface 8-pin decoder socket
Speaker Provision Space for a 28mm round speaker
Motor Location Centre of the chassis
Motor Type Five-pole motor
Electrical Pickups Four of the six axles
Power System Two-rail DC
Lighting Directional headlights and tail lights

Principal Liveries

Railfreight Red Stripe Railfreight Coal Sector Mainline Blue EWS

OO Gauge Class 58 Model Timeline

1980s
Hornby introduces the first widely available ready-to-run OO gauge Class 58 model.
2008
Heljan introduces a newly tooled OO gauge Class 58 with improved proportions, detailing and mechanism compared with the earlier generation.
2020
EFE Rail announces a renewed Class 58 range based on the established Heljan tooling, introducing new identities and liveries under the Bachmann Europe portfolio.

The EFE Rail Model Today

The announcement of a newer model does not remove the importance or usefulness of the EFE Rail Class 58. It remains a capable ready-to-run model and represents an important chapter in the development of Class 58 models in OO gauge.

Existing examples continue to offer a practical route into modelling the class, while collectors may value them for their individual running numbers, liveries and position within the history of Class 58 model production.

Availability will depend on remaining retailer stock and the second-hand market, as individual versions may no longer be in current production.