Hornby brings back sound-fitted OO gauge Class 66s in new liveries

Hornby has put OO-gauge buyers in front of a clean two-way choice: order Freightliner’s 66601 in 60th anniversary green, or go for GB Railfreight’s 66775 HMS Argyll in Royal Navy branding. Both are back as RailRoad Class 66s, both are sound-fitted, and both are aimed at modellers who want a modern freight diesel that can go straight from the box onto a working layout.

The stronger buy for a Freightliner-heavy scene is 66601. Hornby says the Class 66/6 sub-class arrived in 2000 with a lower gear ratio for heavier trains, and Freightliner put 25 of them into service, numbered 66601 to 625. Hornby also says 66601 is one of 22 still operating in the UK and was turned out at Eastleigh Works in its green Freightliner 60 livery on 18 March 2025. That makes it a natural fit for contemporary oil, aggregate and cement work, especially on intermodal terminals and freight yards where a plain but accurate operator-specific locomotive matters as much as the train behind it.

66775 HMS Argyll is the more distinctive shelf piece and the stronger talking point. Hornby describes the model as a faithful replica, and the sound-fitted version uses an HM7000 decoder preloaded with realistic Class 66 recordings, along with etched nameplates. Key Model World noted that the real locomotive carries F231 lettering on the side instead of the locomotive number, plus a White Ensign on the cabside, details that give the model a sharper identity than a standard fleet machine. For a modern-image layout that needs one locomotive to stand out in a freight roster, that branding does a lot of work.

The price gap also shapes the decision. Hornby lists the DCC-ready 66775 HMS Argyll at £94.99, while the sound-fitted version is £149.99. That makes the sound option a clear step-up purchase rather than an automatic default, and it leaves room for modellers to choose between a lower-cost fitted loco or a more complete ready-to-run package with sound already onboard.

For layouts built around present-day freight, the appeal is straightforward. 66601 is the sensible operator-led pick, all freight business and roster accuracy. 66775 HMS Argyll is the one with more visual drama, more personality, and a stronger chance of becoming the loco that pulls attention before it even moves. Hornby’s return of these RailRoad Class 66s gives OO-gauge freight modelling both choices in one release.