Now, I start my brief commentary with an admission; I am not an expert on the prototype.  I should be surprised if I saw the loco for real on more than 10 occasions in all.  However, it was an important player in the area I model, and so needed to be acquired. 

The immedaite impression, on opening the box, is of an impressive model.  Heavy, and nicely detailed.  Criticism of moulded cantail hanrails in the recent Rail Express review is misplaced; they are clearly separate mouldings.  Neither do I consider that the absence of etched side grilles (through wich one would see only chassis, in any event), or working roof fans detract.  Performance is as I expect from Heljan; smooth and responsive straight from the box.  The model comes with alternative handrails, which, when fitted (and they are easy to fit), considerably impove the appearance of the loco (although I must agree with those who have said elsewhere that the alternative rails supplied are not of the correct type for 58 047).  The vacuum pipes nd coupling are already fitted, so there is no need to spend a frustrating hour fiddling with these (although I removed them from one end to allow the coupling to be fitted).

All that said, I have become uneasy with the appearance of the model as Ihave researched the prototype; are the windscreens too rectangular (not sufficiently tall); and does this impact on the cab sides?  I am no rivet-counter, so this is just a impression.  But I mention it because it troubles me; the views of others on this issue would be most welcome.

Then those lovely headlights have disappointed.  There appears to be a glitch on the circuit board, so that traction current is finding its way to the red light on the loco's leading end (and to the white lights on the tail end).  This exacerbates the already-present leak-through of light from one fibre-optic channel to its neighbour.  I understand that the circuit board problem can be solved by excising the capacitors (which I haven't yet tried - so be warned) but the leaky fibre-optics are harder to resolve.  All-in-all the headlights do not compare to those on the recent Hornby 56 or 60.

Haulage capacity is good, but is compromised by the need to narrow the slab of metal which forms the chassis to incorporate the shape of the prototype.  The loco is not therefore as weighty as oter recent Heljan offerings and it suffers bcause of it.  At present, the loco cannot start my rake of 30 HAAs - although that rather nice fuel tank is a prim candidate for some liquid lead as soon a I finish this.