372-875 No. 319004 in the colourful Network SouthEast (Revised) livery of red, white and blue as the units would have been when fresh into traffic, this model is fitted with a Sprung Stone Faiveley pantograph.
372-876 The Thameslink franchise was operated by Thameslink (Govia) from 1997. The Class 319/1s built in 1990 were the only 319s to feature first class seating but this was quickly removed by Thameslink, following which the units were reclassified as Class 319/3s. No. 319382 depicts a typical Thameslink Class 319/3 in its bold blue and yellow livery and fitted with a Sprung Brecknell Willis pantograph.
372-877 As new trains were acquired for Thameslink services, many 319s found work away from London including twenty 319/3s with Northern Rail. Following light refurbishment, the units were decorated in Northern Electrics livery as carried by No. 319362 which is fitted with a Sprung Brecknell Willis pantograph.
The DTSO with the missing 3rd rail shoe beam from the leading bogie. Picture Courtesy and Copyright KMRC
It is noted that the DTSO is missing the 3d rail shoe beams on the leading bogie and Bachmann Europe are correcting this error by making a replacement bogie available. They will announce more details on that shortly and the process for obtaining them, and should be commended for taking this action.
The Class 319 dual-voltage, four-car Electric Multiple Units were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in York between 1987 and 1988 (Class 319/0) and 1990 (Class 319/1) for use on the north-south cross-London services, notably the then-new Thameslink service which commenced in May 1988 running between Bedford and Brighton. Entering traffic in Network SouthEast colours, the units later received Thameslink livery, and many have subsequently found use with other operators away from London including Northern Rail.
372-875 Class 319 Network South East (revised)
372-875 No. 319004 in the colourful Network SouthEast (Revised) livery of red, white and blue as the units would have been when fresh into traffic, this model is fitted with a Sprung Stone Faiveley pantograph.
372-876 Class 319 Thameslink
372-876 The Thameslink franchise was operated by Thameslink (Govia) from 1997. The Class 319/1s built in 1990 were the only 319s to feature first class seating but this was quickly removed by Thameslink, following which the units were reclassified as Class 319/3s. No. 319382 depicts a typical Thameslink Class 319/3 in its bold blue and yellow livery and fitted with a Sprung Brecknell Willis pantograph.
372-877 Class 319 Northern
372-877 As new trains were acquired for Thameslink services, many 319s found work away from London including twenty 319/3s with Northern Rail. Following light refurbishment, the units were decorated in Northern Electrics livery as carried by No. 319362 which is fitted with a Sprung Brecknell Willis pantograph.
Class 318 NSE close upClass 319 NSE Sprung Stone Faiveley pantographThe Class 319 front face
The new model boasts an impressive specification with highly detailed bodyshells, underframes and bogies. Fitted with a sprung pantograph (Brecknell Willis or Stone Faiveley depending on the unit modelled) and with conductive couplings between each vehicle, just one Next18 Decoder is required for use on DCC. Installing a decoder is a simple process due to the easy-access decoder socket which is accessed by removing one of the underframe panels which is held in place by a single screw.
The powerful coreless motor is coupled to a flywheel, all of which is fitted into the underframe of the MSO vehicle meaning that all four vehicles have unobstructed interiors which are further enhanced by the interior lighting. The models feature switchable directional lighting, plus a pre-fitted speaker.
The Graham Farish Class 319 feature:
Bachmann Europe advised at the start of the year, before the advent of Covid-19 a change to the way they make product announcements and that they would take place every quarter revealing new items that would be actually available in the following three months. The aim was that they would hold a product showcase event for members of their Collectors Club. Whilst Covid-19 has stopped the physical showcase event taking place Collectors Club members were able to get a sneak virtual preview of today’s announcement earlier this morning. Although no stand out new tooling has been announced we do see the launch of a new brand.
A new brand – EFE Rail
Bachmann Europe launch its all-new brand EFE Rail. The led by a new motorised version of the popular EFE 1:76 scale (OO) London Underground Tube Train. This much requested model is joined by a number of other Great British Model Railways to complete the launch range for EFE Rail.
The diecast model range Exclusive First Editions (EFE) has been part of the Bachmann Europe portfolio since 2016 and the new EFE Rail brand is an extension of this brand and sees an initial range includes numerous OO and N scale locomotives and wagons which have been produced in collaboration with third parties, such as Kernow Model Rail Centre and Heljan, to make these products accessible via Bachmann Europe Stockists for the first time.
The EFE Rail Motorised 1938 stock
The range in 00 initially includes six versions of the J94 0-6-0t (reworked with a new coreless motor by The Kernow Model Rail Centre), four Class 35 Hymeks, and a number of JIA and PBA Wagons (also in conjunction with The Kernow Model Rail Centre.)
The N gauge range includes 12 versions of the Class 17 Clayton and 14t Mermaid side tipping wagon.
The majority of the new EFE Rail items are due to be released later this month with more to be added to the range in due course.
Bachmann
The LMS 10000
The main new additions to the range include a class 40 with modified tooling and sound, and relevant to BR(s) modellers the missing LMS twin adding 10000 to run alongside the previously announced 10001 and will be available in BR Black with the early emblem.
A number of Class 66s, BR VBA and VDA wagons, and also sound fitted Midland 1P 0-4-4 tanks (even as a southern modeller I can’t help but think they are delightful little engines!) top up the range.
Included within the August expected deliveries are the three versions of the Class 414 2-HAP 2-Car EMU 6061 BR (SR) Green, 6063 BR Blue & Grey and 4308 BR Network SouthEast that were first announced back in 2016.
Expected in October are the six versions of the 12t SR Box vans including both Plywood bodied, bauxite pristine and weathered; and 2+2 planking in LMS grey, BR grey weathered, bauxite weathered and GWR Grey.
Graham Farish
The Graham Farish range sees only the addition of two new livery Mk1 coaches including the Brake Composite in BR Intercity Charter livery. The brand new tooled LMS 8F will arrive this month along with the class 170/3 2 car DMU in South West Trains livery. The previously announced BR Mk1 Tourist 2nd open coach in BR(s) Green will arrive this quarter along with three versions of the SR 12t box van in SR Brown, LMS grey and BR bauxite.
Woodland Scenics and Scenecraft
Scenecraft N Gauge wooden engine shed
These ranges continue to grow with new additions to the woodland scenic range including grass tufts, a range of fencing types and different types of pre cabled wooden power poles and lines.
The N gauge Scenecraft range is further expanded with some scaled down versions of the 00 models and the addition of a wooden engine shed with cream and green paintwork that would not look out of place on a small Southern branchline.
The 00 ranges sees the reintroduction of the popular quayside stone walls.
Bachmann Europe have announced a change to their new product announcements and produced a new catalogue encompassing all their British Outline brands / scales including: Branchline, Graham Farish, Narrow Gauge, Scenecraft and other complimentary products; called “The Combined Volume” a term which I am sure will be familiar to those who were trainspotters in their younger days.
This new Combined Volume illustrates ongoing items that are available to purchase, or have been included within previous catalogues for delivery at a future date. It does not include any new re-liveries (announced today) or new tooling products.
We have come to expect new tooling announcements from a number of manufacturers during the first couple of months of each year with some having been criticised in the past for the length of time between announcements and the products being released. Some of you might have been expecting a post regarding new product tooling announcements today.
Bachmann’s Managing Director; David Haarhaus explains about their ‘new era’: “In response to customer and consumer feedback, we have taken steps to reduce the lead time between the announcement and release of new products. Working with our colleagues at Kadar, real progress has been made in the latter half of 2019 to release many of the outstanding items announced several years ago. Last year 13 new tooling products were released, plus more that 200 re-liveried or modified models.” David continued that in appreciating the support of and benefits to members of their Collectors Club: “Each issue of the club’s Bachmann Times magazine will feature a new product brochure, highlighting completely new items to be released during the following three months. New tooling announcements will no longer be illustrated by black and white photographs of the original prototype, replaced instead by pictures of our actual models.”
New livery items
As Bachmann continue to deliver the models previously announced it does mean that fewer items and no new tooling announcements are being being made at this moment in time, but that this will clear the path for new models to be revealed later in the year. However the SR related new 00 livery items, out of a total of 20, announced today and due to arrive this spring, within the next three months, are as follows:
31-464A – ex SECR C Class 0-6-0 No. 1573 in post 1931 SR Lined Black livery
39-600A – SECR 60ft Birdcage Brake Composite Lavatory No. 1157, Set 143 in SECR Dark Lake livery
39-610A – SECR 60ft Birdcage Composite Lavatory No. 1150, Set 143 in SECR Dark Lake livery
39-620A – SECR 60ft Birdcage Brake Third No. 1164, Set 143 in SECR Dark Lake livery,
Also announced within the Scenecraft range are the suite of Bluebell buildings in either Crimson and Cream or Green and Cream including: Booking office, station canopy, Waiting room and toilet, and office and store room.
Work in Progress Update
A total of 30 previously announced models are confirmed as being released this spring, however by way of an update of items with a Southern / Southern Region flavour I advise as follows:
The latest limited edition model to be produced exclusively for Bachmann Collectors Club members is the N Scale Class 08 Diesel Shunter as No. 878 ‘Basra’ in Longmoor Military Railway livery (371-020K). Although not technically Southern Railway related the extensive Longmoor Military Railway was located in the heart of the Southern Railway territory in Hampshire between Bordon and Liss, where it had a connection to the SR network on the Portsmouth Direct Line. The model is priced at £109.95 and just 504 have been produced, each is supplied with a certificate of authenticity.
The real locomotive was delivered new to the LMR from Derby Works in 1945 as War Department No. 70272. It later gained the number 878 and was named ‘Basra’, carrying the iconic blue and red livery of the LMR. When the Longmoor Military Railway closed in 1969, ‘Basra’ was transferred to the Ministry of Defence site at Bicester and was renumbered to AD601. After spells at Bicester, Shoeburyness, Welford Park and Thatcham, the locomotive was eventually sold to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway in 1980 where it survives in preservation.
The Bachmann Collectors Club produces a range of limited edition models, which are available exclusively to Club Members, and the latest model was launched in the Spring 2019 Bachmann Times – the official quarterly magazine of the Bachmann Collectors Club. For further details visit the Clubs website here.
This latest release is based on the popular Graham Farish Class 08 Diesel Shunter and features a highly detailed body with numerous separately fitted detail parts. The chassis incorporates NEM coupling pockets and an accessory pack is included with additional bufferbeam
detailing parts. ‘Basra’ joins a growing number of LMR-themed models from Graham Farish, with the Longmoor Military Railway Train Pack that was produced in 2015 now highly sought after and the WD 2-8-0 No. 79250 ‘Major-General McMullen’ (372-429) due for release later this year.
The 2019 Bachmann Branchline and Graham Farish Catalogues were launched today at a trade event held in London. Alongside the announcement of a small number of new-tooling projects, mainly wagons in 00 and N gauges the 009 range increases with new tooling for the delightful and minuscule Baguley-Drewry 70hp Diesel 0-4-0 shunter, as used since the early 1980s by the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, along with 4 suitable wagons.
Although no new tooling specifically for SR / BR(s) modellers have been announced as many previously announced models are still under development such as the 64ft Bulleid coaches, a host of new models utilising existing tooling were unveiled.
Bachmann Europe advised that with a changing retail climate and increased competition across multiple sectors, 2018 proved to be a challenging, but ultimately still a successful year for Bachmann Europe, culminating in the release of several key products during the final quarter. These of course included the lovely 00 scale ex LBSC H1 and H2 4-4-2 Atlantics. Bachmann Europe also stated that despite the closure of one of the production facilities operated by their parent company, Kader, the new facilities in China (Gaobu) that were in the process of being commissioned during 2018, are now fully operational with staffing levels and output continuing to rise.
Bachmann Branchlines 00 Gauge
The only new 00 gauge tooling is that of the HKA bogie hopper wagon seen on the current network since 1995 and these will be released three livery variants, with plug in buffers to be adaptable between inner and outer wagons within rakes.
31-381 Class 416 2-EPB 2-Car EMU 6262 BR Blue & Grey – weathered
31-426C Class 411 4-CEP 4-Car EMU 7122 BR (SR) Green (Small Yellow Panels)
31-427C Class 411 4-CEP 4-Car EMU 7106 BR Blue & Grey – weathered
31-265A Class 419 MLV S68002 BR (SR) Green
31-267A Class 419 MLV S68008 BR Blue & Green
Coaches
39-604 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Brake Composite Lavatory SE&CR Wellington Brown
39-614 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Composite Lavatory SE&CR Wellington Brown
39-624 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Brake Third SE&CR Wellington Brown
39-526A SR PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Crimson
Wagons
37-935 3 Plank Wagon SR Brown
38-081C SR 12T 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van BR Grey (Early) – weathered
38-082D SR 12T 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Early) – weathered
38-076D SR 12T Plywood Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Early)
38-401B SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van Left-Hand Duckets BR Grey (Early) – weathered
38-077 SR 12T Plywood Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Late) – weathered
38-402B SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van Right-Hand Duckets BR Bauxite (Early) – weathered
and in 009
391-032 Baldwin 10-12-D Tank E763 ‘Sid’ SR Maunsell Green
393-030 Bogie Covered Goods Wagon SR Insulated
Graham Farish N Gauge
New tooling in the Graham Farish range includes the WD 40T ‘Parrot’ bogie wagon in WD department and LMS grey liveries and also, as per in 00, the HKA bogie hopper wagon in the three livery versions. The British Railways Class 5 MT 4-6-0 has been upgraded to include for the fitting of Sound with options of a fully sound fitted version or just a factory fitted speaker. The sound upgrade has also been applied to the Class 14, Class 60, Class 101 DMU and Class 150 DMU.
372-727A BR Standard 5MT with BR1B Tender 73109 BR Lined Black (Early Emblem)
372-728SF BR Standard 5MT with BR1 Tender 73049 BR Lined Green (Late Crest) – SOUND FITTED
372-729 BR Standard 5MT with BR1 Tender 73050 BR Lined Black (Late Crest) – weathered
The new livery releases base on existing tolling of SR / BR(s) interest are as follows:
372-936 SE&CR N Class 1860 SR Black (Sunshine)
371-606 Class 42 ‘Warship’ D820 ‘Grenville’ BR Green (Late Crest)
374-418 SR PLV Passenger Luggage Van SR Maunsell Green
374-011C BR Mk1 TSO Tourist Second Open BR (SR) Green
374-010E BR Mk1 TSO Tourist Second Open BR Crimson & Cream
374-815A BR Mk1 FO First Open BR Crimson & Cream
374-160A BR Mk1 FK First Corridor BR Crimson & Cream
374-632A SR Bogie B Luggage Van BR Blue – weathered
374-419 SR CCT Covered Carriage Truck BR Departmental Olive Green
Wagons
377-875A SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van SR Brown
377-852A SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van BR Grey (Early)
377-876A SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van BR Bauxite (Late)
377-878 SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van BR Departmental Olive Green
Work in progress
In the Drawing Office
Bulleid Coaches (00)
Class 410 / 4Bep (00)
Class 450 (N)
Class 319 (N)
Engineering Samples
Class 414 / 2Hap (00) [Due Q4]
Class 117 (00) [Due Q4]
Artwork (and due to be in production this year)
Class 159 (00) [Due Q4]
Ransomes & Rapier 45T Steam Crane (00) [Due Q3]
ex SECR C CLass 0-6-0 (N) [Due Q2]
ex SECR Birdcage coaches (N) [Due Q1]
The full range can be found on the Bachmann website here. Many will consider this appearing to be a lean year for Bachmann Europe especially when compared to the 2019 range announcement made by Hornby last week, however with much work in progress from previous announcements still to appear this is perhaps hardly surprising and sensible especially in light of the factory upheaval experienced during 2018.
Today Bachmann Europe Plc. announced their plans for the next 18 months, or so for both the Bachmann Branchlines (00) and Graham Farish (N) brands. They also provided updates on the current work in progress. I outline below the items of Southern / Southern Region interest.
The headline new tooling for Southern Railway and Southern Region modellers is the much requested Bulleid 64ft coaches. The original Bulleid 64ft coaching produced by Bachamnn are now a bit long in the tooth and these completely new toolled versions will be most welcome especially as the range will incorporate both the SR and later BR(s) built versions with both 10″ and 15″ window vents and also the later bodyside strengthening rib within tooling options.
Five body toolings will include: Semi Open Brake Third (BTK), Corridor Composite (CK), Brake Composite (BCK), Corridor Third (TK) and Open Third (T).
This will allow number of possible correct set combination and the initial releases are as follows:
Bulleid Corridor Composite image courtesy and copyright Bachmann / M King
3 coach ‘L’ set 790 (BTK-CK-BTK) from range 770-793 with 10″ window vents in Southern Malachite introduced 1946
5 coach ‘H’ set (BTK-TK-CK-TK-BTK) 847 from range 830 -849 with 15″ window vents in BR Crimson and Cream introduced in 1950. These sets often also ran as 3 coach ‘L’ sets (often a winter formation) minus the two TKs’
2 coach ‘R’ set (BTK-BCK) 69 from range 63 – 75 with 10″ window vents in BR Green livery with side strengthening ribs
Initial release as follows:
34-725 Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 4341
34-725A Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 4342
34-750 Bulleid Corridor Composite (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 5771
New Tooling, 34-725/725A/750 will make set 790
34-775 Bulleid Corridor Third Dia 2019 (10″ Vents) in Malachite Green but with BR “S” prefixes as delivered in late 1948, this coach is a ‘loose’ coach that would be added to strengthen sets. No. TBC from range s1932 to s1936
34-726 Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in BR (SR) Green No. S4377S
34-800 Bulleid Brake Composite Dia 2405 (10″ Vents) in BR (SR) Green No.S6706S
New Tooling, 34-726/800 will make set 69
34-727 Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S4005S
34-727A Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S4006S
34-751 Bulleid Corridor Composite Dia 2318 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S5865S
34-776 Bulleid Corridor Third Dia 2019 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S75S
34-776A Bulleid Corridor Third Dia 2019 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S76S
New Tooling, 34-727/727A/751/776/776A will make set 847
LBSCR H1 Class Atlantic 4-4-2
The H1 in LBSC Livery Image courtesy and copyright Bachmann
Five H1 Class locomotives were built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway by Kitson & Co. between December 1905 and February 1906 to the design of D.E.Marsh. The first was withdrawn in January 1944 and the last in July 1951. This is new tooling specific to the H1 Class. Differences from the H2 Class currently in production include the curved running plate, early cab and boiler fittings. It has been developed alongside the H2 and will available for delivery later this year. Initially only the LBSC livery is being released but others will be in the pipeline for future years.
31-910 H1 Class Atlantic No. 39 ‘La France’ in LBSCR livery
Class 171 DMU
9 x two-car and 6 x four-car units were built between 2003 and 2005 for Porterbrook Leasing Company for use on Southern’s Uckfield branch which is not electrified. This model is based on new tooling also being developed for the Class 170 DMU.
35-580 Class 171 2-Car DMU No. 171722 in Southern livery
Class 159 DMU
22 x three-car units were originally built as Class 158 units by British Rail Engineering Ltd in 1992 for Regional Railways, by the time construction had been completed they were no longer required. Rosyth Dockyard converted them in 1992 and 1993 to a new specification for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail. These units were to replace locomotive hauled trains on the London Waterloo – Salisbury – Exeter route. All saw service post privatisation with South West Trains and more recently with South Western Railway (since 20th August 2017).
31-520 Class 159 3-Car DMU No. 159013 in Network South East livery
New liveries from existing tooling
32-510 – BR Standard Class 5MT No. 73118 ‘King Leodegrance’ BR lined black early emblem and large tender
39-623 – SECR 60′ Birdcage Brake 3rd Southern Railway Malachite Green No.3455
Items 39-603/13/23 will correctly make set 622
38-083A – 12 Ton Southern 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van GWR Grey
38-080C – 12 Ton Southern 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van LMS Grey
Graham Farish N gauge
Graham Farish N Class with revised tooling and DCC speaker fitted
Southern steam modellers in N Gauge get revised tooling for the N class model that has seen revisions to the tender tooling to provide a Next 18 DCC decoder socket and space for Digital Sound to be fitted. This year sees the much requested southern livery fitted with smoke deflectors for the first time.
372-934DS N Class No. 1823 in Southern Railway Lined Maunsell Green (DCC Sound)
372-935 N Class No. 31810 in weathered BR Black (Late Crest) livery
The Class 450 is a member of the Siemens Desiro family for which Graham Farish already produce the Class 350 variants. The Class 450 EMUs were built by Siemens for South West Trains. A total of 127 four-car units are currently in traffic on South Western Railway long distance routes in and out of London Waterloo (since 20th August 2017).
371-725 Class 450 4-Car EMU No. 450073 in South West Trains livery
Work in Progress
From a work in progress perspective, in 00: the ex LBSC 4-4-2 H2 Class ‘Atlantics’ and the newly announced H1 are now at the artwork / livery samples stage. As reported from Warley the the 45 ton Ransomes and Rapier steam crane is now at the Engineering prototype stage. and both should along with the H1 be delivered during 2018. The Class 159 DMU is already in the tool room, whilst the Class 414 2HAP and 4 BEP are still in the drawing office.
In N: the Class 319 EMU is now in the drawing office. The SECR C Class 0-6-0 is at the Engineering Prototype stage and the Birdcage coaches are at the livery sample stage, both of which should be delivered during 2018
The weekend saw the Warley National Model railway Exhibition at the NEC, as in previous years I have endeavoured to round up some of the news and items of interest from mainly a Southern / BR(s) perspective. It has been usual for some of the manufacturers to use the event to make announcements of new items or showcase updates to new products under development, this year however relevant new announcements were thin on the ground but there are a small number of SR / BR(s) related updates as shown below.
The full size H Class was the centrepiece of the combined Hornby and Hornby Magazine stand at Warley
Also many thanks to those of you who read this blog for popping by the Hornby Magazine Twelve Trees Junction layout where I was playing trains for the weekend. For the first time Hornby Magazine and Hornby had a joint stand, demonstrating the closer co-operation between the two separate organisations that has been in place for the last twelve months. The large stand made a big impact due to the centrepiece being the splendid and recently repainted in full SECR livery, twelve inch to the foot scale, Wainwright H class 0-4-4t that had travelled up from the Bluebell railway.
Hornby
In the last few years Hornby had made some of their new product announcements for the following year, however they are reverting to a single range announcement next January, date still to be confirmed, when of course I will fully cover the items of Southern interest on this blog.
Bachmann / Graham Farish
ex LBSC H2 Class SR livery sample. picture courtesy and copyright Bachmann
As is usual for Bachmann / Graham Farish no new models were announced at Warley. Their 2018 catalogue will be announced on Sunday January 7th 2018 and I will report the Southern related news then, direct from the media event. However they did have on display for the first time a few 00 gauge items of interest.
ex LBSC H2 Class BR livery sample. picture courtesy and copyright Bachmann
Firstly the livery samples of the ex LBSC H2 Class 4-4-2 ‘Atlantic’ locomotives first announced back in August 2013 and being initially produced in two liveries as
31-921 – 32424 “Beachy Head” BR Black Early Emblem
31-920 – 2424 “South Foreland” (note chane of name and number as was originally announced as being 2421 ‘St. Albans Head”) SR Olive Green
Other livery samples on display were: OO9 former War Department Baldwin Class 10-12-D (now in production), Freightliner Flats and Containers, Carflats and Class 66 No. 66779 ‘Evening Star’.
The Impressive 45t Ransoms and Rapier steam crane EP. picture courtesy and copyright Bachmann
Engineering prototypes (EP) of the Bachmann 45t Ransoms and Rapier steam crane were also on display. These models were originally announced in Mach 2015 and initially they will be released in four versions:
SR Black (38-800),
GWR Black (38-801),
BR Black (38-802)
BR Red (38-803)
45t Ransoms and Rapier steam crane EP. picture courtesy and copyright Bachmann
These certainly looked impressive and had the ‘wow factor, although not motorised, all the moving parts do correctly move including all the gears, linkages, job and outriggers allowing the model to the posed accordingly and potentially motorised (DCC?) in the future.
Tooling variations correctly allow for the slight differences between the cranes supplied to the different railway companies such as toolboxes etc. and also the chimney can be in the raised or stowed positions. Final price is still be confirmed but due to the level of detail and fidelity of these models I would not expect them to be cheap but I am sure they would be worth it.
Also on display were the EPs of the LNER J72 and BR Class 90
Bachmann also advised that: “We are progressing positively with re-engineering a number of models that have been in the catalogue for a while and with the high profile of these items, the focus is in delivering fidelity to prototype that is not compromised by timescale”.
The ex SECR Birdcage stock, reviewed here, that originally arrived in BR Crimson Livery are now starting to arrive in Lined SR green and SECR Dark Lake (slightly revised from the original livery sample) liveries although at the time of writing the SR liveried composite is still to arrive.
Hattons
The Hattons P Class running sample on Twelve Trees Junction DCC fitted with sound!
Dapol livery sample of the ex LSWR B4 No. 88 in SR lined green
The first livery samples if their 00 gauge ex LSWR B4 0-4-0t were on display. These were first announced in March 2014 and initially five versions are being released:
‘Normandy’ (Number 96) as preserved by the Bulleid Society on the Bluebell Railway ‘Caen’ (Number 90) Southampton Docks brown livery with Drummond Chimney
Number 88 in Southern lined black
B4 No 30089 in BR Black early emblem
Number 30089 in BR black, early emblem (originally announced as being 30082 but changed to suit tooling options)
Number 30096 in BR black, late crest
Also being released as a Dapol collectors club model is No. 91 in LSWR pea green livery.
Also on display were the livery samples of the body toolings for the 4 compartment Brake 3rd and 6 compartment composite Maunsell coaches in N gauge.
Rapido Trains
The Canadian manufacturer Rapido Trains, whom have been extending into the UK market with a number of commissions, made an pre-announcement of their intention to release in 2018 LMS/GWR/BR Gunpowder Vans, they had a 3D print on their stand but it appears to be a combination of possible tooling variants, full details to follow next year. Although not SR related they are likely to have run on SR metals.
So that rounds up the Warley SR Related news for another year. I had a good time at the show and for a change had an opportunity to have a reasonable look around and there was certainly a variety of some great and interesting modelling on display amongst the 90 or layouts on show. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea as a show but I still believe it is well worth a visit.
The Bachmann Europe team met up this week with the model trade press to update the market on the latest developments and progress, a full report can be found on the RmWeb forum here and I take this opportunity to update on those items of a Southern / Southern Region interest. As in previous years at this Media day no new product announcements were made. All images on this post are copyright and courtesy of Andy York / BRM and or Bachmann Europe.
Firstly, in 00 gauge the relevant SR updates from Bachmann are as follows:
The impressive SECR livery sample of the 60′ birdcage stock
Since the London festival of model railways where I reported on the ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) 60′ Birdcage stock BR Crimson livery sample being shown, the livery samples for the SECR
The SECR 60′ composite livery sample
and SR Olive Green versions have now been received and signed off. I have to say the decoration and lining look extremely fine and
The other SECR brake 3rd livery sample
well done. The SECR dark lake version in particular is very impressive and must be a first such accurate and highly detailed ready to run rolling stock for the pre-grouping era . Delivery is expected in September.
SR livery sample of the ex SECR 60′ Birdcage stock
The first releases will comprise of the following:
39-600 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake Composite SECR Dark Lake
SR Composite livery sample
39-601 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake Composite SR Olive Green
39-602 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake Composite BR Vermillion
39-610 SECR 60’ Birdcage Composite SECR Dark Lake
39-611 SECR 60’ Birdcage Composite SR Olive Green
ex SECR Brake 3rd in SR livery
39-612 SECR 60’ Birdcage Composite BR Vermillion
39-620 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake 3rd SECR Dark Lake
39-621 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake 3rd SR Olive Green
39-622 SECR 60’ Birdcage Brake 3rd BR Vermillion
Bachmann H2 Class CADs
The ex London Brighton and South Coast H2 class Marsh Atlantic 4-4-2 announced in September 2013 is being delayed by another 3 months as an issue with the curvature of the rear splashers was identified and a decision made to address that so it is likely to be around February/March 2018 when they are finally released. The CAD drawings can be seen left.
Two versions are due for initial release:
31-921 – 32424 “Beachy Head” BR Black Early Emblem
31-920 – 2426 ‘St. Albans Head” SR Olive Green
The impressive CAD artwork is shown left, not all the gear wheels will work but some items such as the outriggers will be positionable.
Initially they are producing four versions:
38-800 SR livery,
38-801 GWR Livery
38-802 BR black livery
38-803 BR red livery
Lastly from a Graham Farish perspective there is an update on the N gauge version of the ex SECR 60ft Birdcage stock and also the ex SECR C class 0-6-0.
Graham Farish C Class 0-6-0 CADS
Firstly the ex SECR C Class 0-6-0 that was announced in January this year is now at the CAD stage as per the image left. The model will feature a NEXT 18 DCC decoder socket, coreless motor, loco drive, fine cab detail and NEM couplers, the initial release will comprise of:
372-775 C Class 0-6-0 No. 271 in SECR plain green livery
372-776 C Class 0-6-0 No. 1256 Southern Railway Black livery
372-777 C Class 0-6-0 No. 31227 in BR Black livery with early emblem
Graham Farish EP of the N Gauge 60′ Birdcage stock
The first EP samples of the 60′ Birdcage stock were on show, they were first announced in July 2014, and these are likely to be available in the second quarter of 2018. The initial releases will be sold as three coach sets, as follows:
374-910 60′ Birdcage Stock – 3-Pack – SECR Wellington Brown
374-911 60′ Birdcage Stock – 3-Pack – SR Olive Green
374-912 60′ Birdcage Stock – 3-Pack – BR Vermillion
Good to see further progress being made on the above items. As any additional information comes to light I will post accordingly.
As well as giving you the chance to vote for your favourite models and manufacturers of the year, the categories also celebrate excellence and innovation in the wider British model railway scene such as websites and exhibitions (see below).
There have of course been a number of Southern / Southern Region related models released during 2016 so I urge you to support the production of these models by choosing your best in the relevant category and voting accordingly. These Southern models are as follows:
Although not SR related the Hornby W4 Peckett 0-4-0t is also an excellent little model
Following a few difficult years Hornby certainly appear to have turned a corner, and with the Cattle trucks to Diagram 1529 and 1530 and the ex LSWR Muansell 58ft non corridor stock alone have provided us Southern modellers with some excellent models (and more are to come in 2017 I assure you) so must be in with a good chance in the 00 manufacturer of the year category this year…
I am also very humbled to see that this little corner of the blogosphere of mine has once again been nominated (it was voted 4th in last years awards) within the website of the year category, so and this is a bit of a, well a big, shameless plug, please feel free to vote for it, if you have enjoyed my ramblings over the last twelve months.
Regular readers will also know that I am member of the High Wycombe and District Model Railway Society and our annual Wycrail exhibition is once again of those that has been nominated in the Exhibition of the year category, so again if you attended it, enjoyed it and think it deserves your vote…
Also if like me you have received excellent service from a particular retailer such as Kernow Model Rail Centre please also vote accordingly.
