My Most Detailed Shunter | Heljan Class 07 | Unboxing & Review 

Heljan making diesel locos: Works of art at every turn possible Heljan making steam locos: Quality and detail machine broke

That has to be one of the best looking models Ive ever seen, I cant believe its made by Heljan. The sheet amount of details is staggering and they all look great too. I dont care if it runs well I want one. With a little bit of weathering that would look great on any static diorama

Hiya Sam, been too long since your last Running Session, would love a Southern Railway running session as I know you have a lot, thanks.

Love the music at the beginning

You should do another versus between this and the Bachman salty

Finally a heljan loco that doesn’t derail. Nice little shutter. Hope you’re keeping well mate.

I always thought it was so cool that thomas and friends had all three of the main shunters in the southern dockyards. Thomas (E2), Rosie (USA Class) and Salty (BR 07). Might buy this to give Salty a friend.

Congrats on 90k subscribers, and its amazing to watch your videos again. I have been busy with work and other personal business.

Excellent review Sam even though this loco is very detailed I am worried to service this as the detail is not properly secured also the body coming off in three parts is putting me off from buying it. You are never a disappointment 🙂🙂

I love your content, as a Train and model railway fan, watching this, it's very nice to see what quality certain loco's are. Keep up the good work.

I still haven't forgiven heljan for their tango and 1361 loco, but this is very cool 😂 We have a class 07 at our local station, its name is 'Lesley' and it's in chiltern blue livery. It is used for shunting DMUs about, and is still in use today!

hello sam the level of detail on this model is beyond beautiful and its nice to see 3 generations of shunters of south hamton docks in one running season and nice to see that you have found a heljan loco that you can recommend and nice to see the E2 again and love the video from daivd

Nice model sam! Lovely detail. You were right - it was inside cylinders for the mystery connection, as you chose a B12! Thanks for the video, Loco!

Oh its my favourite shunter Helijan kinda improved I would buy this! Also congrats for 90k subscribers

Nearly purchased one of these at £89 from my local model shop. Deep down i knew the mechanics would be poor, and your great video only proves it. Thanks for saving me 90 odd quid and a lot of stress.

Hi Sam, The numbered discs were used in Southampton Docks to indicate which duty that specific loco was allocated to. This practice carried on even after radios were fitted. They still use an 07 in Arlington's Eastleigh works as their main shunting loco. The high level pipes were added for shunting Southern EMU stock. Glad you found a Heljan you like!

Another great review. I have a Heljan class 27 and it is the only loco that gets all around my layout without stalling somewhere! May of course be more due to my poor track laying.

Great video Sam it looks very nice in that livery In my opinion Heljan is a great company because they actually think about what people want and when you consider that they make locomotives that no other manufacturer would ever make that is why they are good

Whenever I run one of my Heljan diesels I check the trackside for bits that have dropped off. The latest find was two sandboxes off my Class 23 Baby Deltic. Totally agree regards the couplings; these models seem to have been designed for the display cabinet rather than the rough and tumble of the layout

Possibly my favourite diesel loco, they look amazing! The real ones look good to!

Helpful review, thank you! Just received mine and what a sweet runner! However the buffers are flimsy and weakling sprung. Installing the NEM couplers I have not conquered yet. I wish a special tool was provided. I purchased this model after my school master named "Needles"! Your massive contribution to the hobby is so significant to this neophyte. Best thanks ~ Chris

HNRC is Harry Needle Railroad Company, who specialises in renovating old diesel locos. This particular loco, 07001, was refurbished by them and leased to the Manchester Creative Logistics site, before being stored at Barrow Hill along with many other HNRC-owned locos. It is now owned by the heritage shunters trust who are based at Rowsley on Peak Rail.

Ordered it. Looking forward to that arriving!

Beautiful video!!!! Ciao from Italy!

I have this loco in Br Blue livery. It's a masterpiece. One of the best locomotives ever made.

I bought my first ever locomotive and rolling stock! I ordered the Bachmann Thomas and the Bachmann Annie & Clarabel coaches on Amazon a few days ago, they just arrived in the mail today!!! I received Thomas and Annie only because Clarabel is arriving next month . I have tested Annie, she's a really smooth runner with little to no problems. I haven't tested Thomas yet because I'm saving up to buy a rolling road so I don't need to have a big circle of track

I really like the 07, I think it may be my favourite british diesel shunter, at least from my experience with it in the Train Sim. There's something about its proportions, and its unusually short cab, that makes me just enjoy watching it go.

I cannot wait for a thomas versus real life salty vs this beauty! The detail on this loco is, well, amazing! But that does bring up something that I’ve never thought about. Can an engine have too much detail? Does too much detract from the actual model? I wonder. That orange livery is very unique, I like it! Great review Sam!

Great loco....another one to add to my list....I think its looks wonderful...and as always - what a great video!....all the best...cheers

Awesome vid Sam!

as usual I value your reviews as you always present all the information I want about a model. albeit a little on the kind side, I mean a shunter unable to couple, sort of like a square wheel then. useful in rare circumstances at80 or less i'd but it for the detail and a lovely and unusual livery, but I would probably buy a shunters wagon and wire it to the "back" end and live with that compromise just to watch it haul a goods train around. but someone at heljan needs a dynamite enima! excuse language, but I dont know how to say that in milder terms, drastic action seems required at least one of their designers needs to be re tasked to sweeping thecar park perhaps? or mopping it dry in the rain

Hi Sam, another enjoyable video! It’s certainly a very beautifully detailed model & it looks wonderful running around the layout. I agree, it could have been designed a little better for servicing, but I think I’d buy one if I was in the market for a Class 07.... Though I’d definitely look to spend less than £100 on such a small loco!

I’ve got one. Ran the first one on DC but it wobbled all over the place after coupling up some coaches I had. Returned to dealer for replacement 2nd one better. Stored it till I got round to fitting DCC. Absolute pain! Wire came off PCB and I had to guess where it went(no wiring diagram available anywhere )Luckily now fine . Moral learnt. If you DCC any loco do it straight away because if there are any wiring probs after expired warranty you are stuck with it. Super smooth and lights superb on DCC.

I just wanted to let you know how good the Heljan 29301 is. I am impressed by the model. When I saw your positive review, I was skeptical as I got burned (litteraly...) in the past by this manufacturer but I decided to give it a shot. It is a very well assembled model with no fallings parts, flashing, glue marks (unlike other Heljan products I got in the past). It also did not catched on fire (yeah... that also happened with the same model that had all of the above!). The only few down sides I found was that there is no bearing on the wheels and that they also have the screw link coupling and air pipes on the buffer beams that needs to be removed to install a coupling in the NEM pocket. Talking about couplings, I used some extra from an Oxford Rails model as the one that came with it were not moulded correctly. Anyway, I'm really happy about this model overall. Very unusual, has a lot of character and I'm thinking about getting a second one!

That’s gotta be the funkiest music intro ever surely I’m not the only one who wants a link to the full version to listen to? Great review as always Sam!

i like this design i just dont really like the livery i think br blue looks better or the livery salty has

Great review! Awesome looking loco, I hope the issues you found with it aren't wide spread with this model because it looks awesome and some of the problems are unacceptable with such a fantastic looking (and expensive) loco. Keep up the good work!

Woah, 90,000 subscribers! Gosh, I remember when you just hit 1000 subscribers :D

G'day Sam. Great review as always. I'm a sucker for a loco with stripes. I haven't brought a new British loco for ages, I think that's about to change😁😎

"There's a dockside diesel we know well, he can spin a yarn, he can tell a tale. He loves the sea and the ships that sail. Salty is his name"

Excellent review of the Heljan BR Class 07 Sam 👍👍 I’ve got one in BR blue with the red side rods and what I think of the model, it is fantastic on the move, but after watching your review, I was surprised by the fact it has a awful way of taking every single part of the body to get to the motor. And yes the coppering on this model is annoying to connecting up to any rolling stock.

The thumbnail makes it show it has tones of detail keep it up sam

What a neat little loco. I have a soft spot for little industrial shunters. Hey Heljan- less 1361 and Tango, more Garratt and Lucky 07, please! Other Heljans I'd be interested in seeing reviewed are the Class 15, 16, & 17. I have to give them props for making models of such obscure & unsuccessful locos, and I'm fascinated by how US-style road switchers (15 & 16) and Continental-style offset cab (17) engines failed in the UK. Get the newest version you can find of them: I've read that early versions of each were plagued with reliability and detail problems.

For shunting Heljan probably expect the NEM coupling to be the one with the Kadee Coupler as it will extend a little further and does not need the up and down movement. What is it in 2020 to keep making Locos with out proper bearings. I totally agree with you Sam. It is high time that proper bearings became a standard for all manufactures.

Wow love the paint job on that!!!!!

Love the music when the train was running in the beginning it shows the engine much better thanks

Awesome video today Sam you had Thomas real life basis and Rosie and salty running today lol really enjoyed the video

It's a nice brightly colored shunter I would assign it to a steel mill or a factory of some sort. I happen to like industrial shunters. You should have an engine like this running in the background on an auto reversing line, shunting wagons or made to look like it is. 👍

I have a specific phrase that I don’t think I made up, every plus has a minus. In this case there are more pluses, but I do hate how you take the thing apart. Sure it’s astonishing in the detail aspect but you need to keep the details on. Why Heljan haven’t thought of this I will have no idea. Brilliant review. Looking forward to seeing more, Dan.

Hi Sam, I will be definately purchasing one...

As an American, I always watch your videos just in case there is anything I want to import. I think I’m importing this one! I’m a sucker for separately-applied details. I will get one in BR Blue and hopefully put some ESU LokSound inside it. Debating whether or not to put Salty’s theme from the original T&F on the sound file as an Easter egg!

I couldn't resist clicking on this video, the shunter looks amazing

Didn't realise they have lights. Very nice. Going on the wishlist.

Great review Sam. Hopefully by the end of next year we will see the 100k subscriber silver plague in your room!!!

Judging by Heljans and Bachmanns prices I have a feeling they are cousins! I was going to get one but not paying close to a hundred pounds for a three pole motor! Why do these people keep Insulting and gouging everyone at every opportunity? Shameful. The detail is quite impressive. With the three link coupling chum, you can actually hook the bottom link on the hook; that will keep it out of the way of the NEM slot. I used to do it sometimes when shunting with real locos! (Except there was no NEM couplings on life sized locos) I am normally a BR blue modeller but I actually love the golden yellow livery as depicted. Great review mukka. Cheers from Oz. Gaz

Always been tempted by the Class 07 model, will have to look into getting one for the future. Quick question have you ever thought about reviewing 009 scaled models? (Narrow gauge). Heljan have made a few in the past and have been fairly tempted by them in the past. Fantastic video as usual!

Did I hear correctly, you are proud to own a Heljan locomotive. A couple of frustrations aside it does look a nice model in quite a striking livery.

Yes to buying. The detail is excellent so it'll probably grow on you, just don't think about the next service. Need a longer necked coupling, there's something Heljan should include but wont.

You should do a shunting vid with no couplings so that the buffers function,this would also look very nice

Hi Sam, You are very productive these days ! Wow.. another review and this time rather positive although - again - not perfect but limit reasonable. Sure nice looking. I wonder what the price difference would be with a 5-pole motor ? (Regarding couplers: I use Kadee's with great success and total satisfaction). Your score is spot on. I hope Heljan takes note of your fine review! Thanks for sharing. Greetings.

Love the 07s, I really need to get myself one, as well as a USA tank. The Harry Needle Railroad Company owns several locos, a lot of which are based at Barrow Hill. As a future addition to reviews, could you include details on DCC features, like what sort of socket is fitted, how easy it is to access the socket (like you did the bachmann hall), and if a speaker or space for a speaker is included?

Nice train and very interesting vid sam

The anticipation before watching every Heljan review is like playing the lottery - will Sam finally get a winning ticket? I wonder if Sam's Heljan experience would miraculously improve were he to start pronouncing their name as the Danes do? 😹

On modern models, having the buffer details not applied is actually good as it makes adding your preffered couplings easier. I like using Kadees and those for NEM pocket have a swivelling motion and you are in that case having it easier not only to add the Kadees but also have the most of them without hitting on the brake lines and prototype coupling imitations. On steamers this genrally an issue as they lack all these details.

Good review and useful buying advice for DCC users; buy one with DCC fitted!

That looks great!!

Fun fact: The British Rail Class 07 was used as the inspiration for the character Salty from “Thomas and Friends”.

Extremely well detailed Sam, still a way to go to justify the price tag, but will be popular with many modelers I'm sure...Bob

Now I might be wrong, but the Harry Needle livery seems very similar to the old (70's-80's) ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) livery that they used on their industrial locos. And I notice that it's pulling ICI Salt wagons.

Aside from the nem couplings not fitting (i had to file them to fit) my 07 was perfect. best model in my collection

Arrrr, what a sensationally seaworthy video...Salty approves, me heartie!

Would you think 🤔 a little more grease around the bearings. And possibly a more wider on the base for the wheels.

The white discs will be headcode discs but used to identify the duty the loco was on. Think they are a hold over from their time at Southampton docks

Hehehe... "Grinds my gears!" Change the oil in your gearbox often mukka! My gears were stripped years ago!

This engine reminds me of Salty the Dockyard Diesel.

Even though im not modeling Southampton docks, im seriously considering getting one.

Hi SamGood Review. Great Looking Loco and model, very usefull on preserved lines. Harry Needle railroad Co Worksop ( the old DB Schenker wagon repair depot). Model a bit expesive although it is amazingly detailed.

The review was as usual superb with the technicality of the loco being brought into attention which I like the most besides the look of the gadget...but man this little diesel is slow as a tram!!!!!!!! I hope you're running this in normal volts. Were the dockyard locos really slow in real life???

“Yo ho ho a couple of prawns the tiller spins-“ “AND THE CAPTAIN YAWNS”

Looks very good, working lights as well. Maybe a little too fragile for me and it looks like another locomotive where fitting DCC will be a world of adventure. Just wondering if it does have a definite front though, I would have thought the front would have been nearest the cab.

YES I LOVE THIS LOCOMOTIVE

Nice review on the Heljan Class 07! I have to say, the details on this locomotive look really astonishing as to expected with Heljan and their diesel locomotives. It’s a shame that the price is a little too expensive along with it having a poor mechanism and bad quality. But other than that, this Heljan Class 07 doesn’t look too bad at all! I’m giving this a C+. Nice review you made today! 😃👍

Just from the thumbnail alone I can tell that this will be an amazing model.

A competition between this and the Bachmann salty would be really cool! However the Bachmann salty is discontinued so you might have to do some searching on eBay. I was able to get mine as a Christmas gift a few years ago back when it wasn’t too much money, but I don’t know how much they go for on eBay now.

That is a very attractive little engine. Used to work at Southampton Docks. HNRC = Harry Needle Railroad Company, owns a variety of traction for spot hire.

I would like one of these I have seen them reviewed before and they look great. In terms of performance is sounds better than the mechanism on my super detailed Hornby class 08, which I am yet to add some modelling white grease to see if it stops the horrible grinding noise.

Great review Sam, this Loco looks stunning, why can’t Heljan do this with their steam locos? We may never know

The unpainted axel ends aren't entirely inaccurate, it depended on where the loco was based or if it was on a special train as sheds liked to shine up their locomotives, in preservation it happens now and again because railways are proud of their locos and just like in the old days want to shine up the loco.

Maybe Heljan expects people to use those chain-links, but trying a Hornby or Dapol NEM might solve the issue, OR just drop the slim tension-lock and try some other style/type one! But it is a decent model. BTW i serviced my Roco (H0) class 08 today (yes they made one), and i was surprised to find brass bearings in a 20+ years old modell (not DCC ready), I knew about the 5 pole motor with a huge flywheel (parts list), but the directional lights used selenium plates (not diodes)! That loco has quite a few other interesting technical solutions too!

Possibly one of the only partially competent Heljan locos, it seems (save for the price, god damn that's a lot for a 0-6-0). Early diesel shunters do tend to look nice, and this one is no exception. (I only have a Railroad BR Class 06 when it comes to diesel shunters, but it still looks nice)

Hi Sam yes the locomotive looks really good, I have 2 of them Industrial Sands and the same one you have. I like them but for what I am shunting they should do the job. This was a good review dcc chipping isn't easy, I watched Strathpepper Junction chip one and his journey was similar to yours. Looking forward to the next one. Happy Halloween

That loco Looks great h.n.r.c is Harry needle railroad company which is based at barrow hill Roundhouse Although the loco is now preserved at peak rail great video as normal.

Hey sam I have the heljan class 17 and it's been amazing the whole time I've had it I can't seem to fault it maybe you could try that one day also seeing as my layout is dc and dcc I'd be ok with this one as my shunt yard is dc no need for chip 😁

I managed to get a new style never unboxed Bachmann 03 in weathered BR Blue with a cab light for £55 (They also had two more at that price but not weathered). It’s my most detailed loco and probably the best bargain I’ve ever gotten.

@20:50 Lol there is a reason it's called "Thomas and Friends". Wow have to say the detail is really nice; wish we also got to see it running from the left side as I was intrigued with seeing the extra coupling rods in action. It's a wonder why they never got the couplings right as that's a very important element especially for a shunter.

Great review and I agree with your assessment of the engine but I think these companies should be held accountable for the shoddy ness no matter what the price for the benefit of the hobby. Keep those great videos coming.

I’m just coming back to OO gauge after moving house… this would fit my plans perfectly. Do Heljan only do limited runs? Eg: should I buy one now and keep it rather than hoping to buy later and see they’re all out of stock?

I feel most modern locos are made with the idea most discerning modelers use DCC as their primary method of control, based on some locos tendencies to stutter at low speed on DC.

Just like to point out that the only times I have recieved locos with minor damage, such as your handrail, it's been when I've ordered from Hatton's. They're a very good retailer overall. Their range and online features are superb, but I do notice they have a tendency to damage their stock.

I’m tempted at £94. But coupling and bearings might make it a no. Very good looking though. Thanks Sam as usual, always helpful