Locomotion reveals Class 91 91150 in National Railway Museum livery

Locomotion’s decorated sample of Class 91 91150 is the kind of OO gauge release that does not linger for long. This is not just another modern traction variant for the shelf; it is a commemorative run tied to the National Railway Museum’s 50 Years 1975-2025 livery, and the allocation is tiny, with only 300 DCC-ready models and 200 sound-fitted examples planned.

The prototype story gives the model its pull. The real locomotive was LNER Class 91 no. 91105, temporarily renumbered 91150 for the anniversary scheme, and the special livery and nameplate were unveiled at the National Railway Museum in York on 8 July 2025. It entered traffic in its new colours in the week of 22 September 2025 and has since been working LNER London-Leeds, York and Newcastle services on the East Coast Main Line. That matters because this is a commemorative model of a locomotive that is still visible in daily service, not a museum-only tribute.

Locomotion has based the model on Hornby’s 2022 Class 91 tooling, and the sample shows why that matters. The spec includes a five-pole motor with twin flywheels, a 21-pin DCC socket, a die-cast chassis, a posable pantograph, directional lighting and cab lighting. For a premium electric that is expected to sit on display as often as it runs, those are exactly the practical touches that separate a decent release from a frustrating one. The sound-fitted version will come with Hornby’s Triplex Sound Bluetooth decoder pre-loaded with Hornby’s Class 91 sound profile, which should make the most of the type’s fast, confident ECML presence.

The finish is the other big talking point. Locomotion has indicated the livery will be brightened slightly before production, with particular attention to the maroon stripe, so the decorated sample reads as an active stage in the process rather than a final sealed example. Even so, the sample already shows the appeal: the colourful ribbon treatment, the commemorative numbering and the direct link to the National Railway Museum’s 50th birthday give it a much stronger identity than a standard renumbered Class 91. Locomotion has also tied the release to the wider partnership between LNER and the museum, with support from Eversholt Rail, which leases the InterCity 225 fleet to LNER. The model line also supports the Science Museum Group’s conservation work.

Pricing and timing put real pressure behind the pre-order window. The DCC-ready version is £244.99 and the sound-fitted version is £299.99, with pre-order deposits set at £30. Stock is due to begin shipping in summer 2026. With 91150 carrying a living East Coast Main Line story and a milestone museum livery, this looks set to be one of those limited runs that sells on meaning as much as detail.