Bachmann announce all new Class 09 and Class 08 Shunters in 00 Gauge

Bachmann Europe revealed on Saturday (15th June) that it has been working on brand new OO Scale models depicting the iconic BR Class 09 and Class 08 Diesel Shunters.

The LMS and the Southern Railway, see my Talking Stock #15 post about the three SR Maunsel 350HP sunters here, had pioneered the idea of diesel shunters during the 1930s and following Nationalisation the LMS 12033 series was adopted by BR as the starting point for a new standard design of shunting locomotive.

The first British Railways Standard 350hp Diesel- Electric Shunter, latterly the TOPS Class 08, was constructed in 1952 and over the next ten years, no fewer than 996 Class 08 locomotives  built, making this the most numerous of all British locomotive classes.

The near identical Southern Region Class 09s (26 built) had higher gearing along with six lights at each end matching traditional SR head signal positions and also high level hoses for connection with EMUS .

The all-new Class 08/09 Diesel Shunters from Bachmann Branchline owe nothing to their predecessors, these new models have been developed from the rails up and benefit from the latest production techniques and material technologies, whilst incorporating all of the features that are expected of a modern Bachmann product – including lights, sound and Auto-Release Couplings.

The lighting features incorporated into this new model are impressive to say the least, with up to six individual lights fitted at each end (on the Class 09) and a cab light, all of which can be controlled independently when used on DCC or Analogue Control. Control switches for the lighting are accessed via the removable roof panel and include a ‘shunting lights’ option to provide one red and one white light at each end, as so often seen on the real locomotives when in operation.

DCC provision comes by way of a Plux22 DCC decoder socket which is accessed via a removable roof panel – this clip-fit component provides a positive fitment and ensures that unsightly misalignments are avoided. The pre-fitted speaker is utilised on SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models which will be fitted with a Zimo MS450P22 DCC
Sound Decoder. SOUND FITTED DELUXE models also feature Bachmann’s new Auto-Release Couplings providing hands-free uncoupling at the press of a single DCC function.
Another benefit for DCC users is the addition of a stay-alive system which will be fitted to all models – making the 08/09 the first Bachmann Branchline model to feature such a system which provides uninterrupted power to prevent stalling, light flicker and sound cut-outs.

With a fleet of more than 1,000 locomotives and a history of 72 years and counting, the detail variations seen on the prototype are many and the new Bachmann Branchline models cater for most of them, with hundreds of detail combinations available thanks to the flexibility of the tooling suite meaning that most models will be unique in one way or another. Prominent differences include the light configurations at each end which can feature two, four or six lights, alongside the presence or otherwise of radiator steps, exhauster cabinets and air compressor cabinets. Cab doors can be of wooden or steel construction and both locomotives fitted with high level air pipes and those with buck-eye couplings are catered for amongst the vast detail options available on the new Class 08/09.

Full details are included in the Bachmann  launch video which can be watched here: The individual details of those first models, including liveries, identity and pricing will be included in the Autumn 2024 British Railway Announcements on 7th August, at which point Bachmann retailers will begin taking orders ahead of the first models arriving in early-2025.