2917 - Heljan OO BR Class 07 Diesel Shunter, BR Blue No.2997

Introduced in the early 1960's to replace the steam shunting locomotives at the extensive  Southampton Docks, these short wheelbase diesel electric shunters had a relatively short career with BR. Changing patterns of freight handling through the 1960's into the 1970's, away from small loaded wagons towards 'containers' meant that their work dried up by the mid 1970's. 
A number survived long enough to carry TOPS numbers from about 1974 and although a small class of locomotives, a number found use with industrial users after their BR service and a good number survive to this day in preservation, including the full size loco of this particular model.