Heljan's Class 25 VS Bachmann's Class 25 - Side by Side Comparison 

I can't see the need for sprung buffers ? ..... They are just a gimmick and serve no purpose whatsoever to the operation and running of the loco !!

My thumb👍 goes up. Good video! I wish you good health and a nice day. L___i___k___e___30

Sams Trains doesn't seem to like many Helijan products....

Always found the Bachmann models to be superb runners.

You couldn't expect a single header 25 to pull more than 4-5 coaches on a route like Cardiff Crewe back in the 80s, to the Bachman is about right

Good review of both, I would go for the Heljan over the Bachmann purely for the detail, just the price could be less at say £120. Cheers.

Very interesting to see both class 25s next to each other, great video 👍

Do you want to know what's better on the Bachmann Class 25 model of 25279?. They've got the right number of headboard and lamp brackets in the right place on each end. They've also fitted boiler grille blanking plates where Heljan have managed to forget them, and yet another Heljan 25 does have them. The yellow on either locos isn't right either. The Heljan model is nice, but worth £179 RRP?, never. It'll also be interesting to see if the Heljan chassis's suffer from Mazak rot in time. I don't think the buzzing from the Heljan model at low speed adds anything to it either.

I had one from Honby for my 14th birthday, cost my Dad £13 from memory

A very useful and fair review, many thanks for posting. If it wasn't for the raked back cab front profile I'd go Bachmann every time. IMO the Heljan one isn't spot on in many areas; as you point out the grilles are not as good, and why those those mirror like buffers? I find that most Heljan locos never look quite right to be honest. Only their Classes 26 and 58 passed the test for my layout! Edit: further thoughts - of course you are comparing the new Heljan loco against a 15+ year old model. There are two further Class 25 offerings in the pipeline, a revised tooling from Bachmann and a new offering from Sutton Locomomotive Works. If the new Bachmann Class 25 is as good their new Class 24 then the cab window profile will be much better. So there will be a 3 horse race sometime in the future. I have a feeling Heljan may then come in last.....

Thanks for the review - very disappointed by the Heljan 25 - the light bleed, incorrect door handles, but the deal breaker is the missing diagonal on the side grill - such a key feature. I will now wait for the new Bachmann 25 or the SJW one. Thanks for helping me decide :-)

Good Comparison between the both models. The Heljan model is much better. I was thinking of getting one but might get the sutton locomotive works one now

Excellent model Keiran, stunning, lovely detailing. Will look really well with your 80's stock ! ..........Andy

In my experience Bachmann diesels will pull more than their real counterparts in scale stock, 6 coaches? Mine will do more than 10.

Very nice flow to your review also concise enough to keep it on point. Thanks for the education, Heljan it Is!