Today Bachmann Europe Plc. having brought forward the timing from their traditional March slot, and hot on the heals of Hornby last week, announced their plans for the next 18 months, or so (as we have seen in the past progress on some of the previously announced models have certainly taken, or are taking longer longer than their intended 18 month timescales for a number of reasons),  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.

Following the last few years that have had to be a case of consolidation, to catch up with previously announced models due to resource and manufacturing capacity issues, the addition of new resources put into the areas of CAD and tooling has started to see an improvement in bringing existing projects to fruition, overall 12 new tooling products have been delivered to the market in 2016, such as the excellent USA tank on behalf of Model Rail magazine and also the progress now seen in the Engineering prototypes of the ex SECR Birdcage coaching stock and the ex LBSC 4-4-2 H2 Class ‘Atlantics’.

The overall theme for both brands this year is the 30th Anniversary of the launch of the RailFreight sector in 1987, the Railfreight brand was relaunched with a bold new colour scheme combining three-tone grey paintwork with colourful sector symbols and imaginative depot plaques.
Also included in both brands is a unique Vulcan collectors pack featuring Class 37 ‘Vulcan XH558’ locomotives in each respective scale and newly tooled 1:144 scale models of the Vulcan aircraft.

The full details of the Bachmann and Graham Farish ranges can be found on there website here.

Despite post Brexit exchange rates falls (up to 20%) Bachmann held pricing during 2016 and although rises will be seen during 2017 they tried to mitigate this and keep such rises to a minimum as much as possible. Just 28% of the 00 range (36% in N)  will see an increase with an average rise of approximately 6% (4% in N).

Bachmann 00 gauge

The headline new tooling is the Class 410 4BEP EMU.

The Class 410 (or 4BEP) electrical multiple units (7003 to 7012) were delivered from Eastleigh works in 1958/59. The 4BEP was conceived alongside the existing 4CEP to provide buffet accommodation and were often to be found as the centre 4 coaches in a 12 car formation between two 4CEP units, but could also be found running singularly or paired with a single 4CEP.

The models feature full underfloor equipment, dedicated coupling system, internal lighting and illuminated train head code boxes.

• 31-490   4 BEP 4 Car EMU No. 7003in BR Green livery with Small Yellow Panel
• 31-491   Class 410 4 Car EMU No. 7010 in BR Blue & Grey livery

Other items of SR / BR(s) interest being released as new items for 2017 are as follows:

• 32-860 BR Standard Class 9F Numbr 92211 BR(s) Large Tender with late crest as allocated to Eastleigh 1961, then to Feltham 6/1963 before being transferred to ER 9/1963. Used on Fawley Oil traffic.
• 31-236A Class 205 No. 1121 BR Green livery with Small Yellow Panel (Weathered)
• 31-238 Class 205 No. 1122 in BR Blue livery with Full Yellow Ends – No Headlight (Weathered)
• 38-526 Mk1 Horse Box in BR Green(S) livery

New tooling for 00 also includes: Midland Class 1532 (1P), Class 20/3, MK1 Carflats (to a different diagram to the Oxford Rail planned release), VEA Vanwide ventilated vans and BR ‘Prestwin’ Twin Silos wagons.

Not specifically SR / BR(s) related (although she visited Salisbury only last week)  I also feel it is worth mentioning their release of Class 37 ‘Merl Evans’
To honour their colleague:, who unfortunately passed away last year following his retirement from being head of Research and Development, Bachmann are producing a OO scale model of the Class 37 locomotive number 37099 in Colas Rail livery that was recently named ‘Merl Evans’.

I had the pleasure of dealing with Merl during his time at Bachmann and this is a fine tribute to the work he put in to moving the hobby fowards as a whole. The locomotive has just been extensively overhauled and modified for the latest chapter in its working life with Colas working on the Main Line. As part of these works, a change had to be made to the headlight position on the nose (something that we will replicate on our tooling) and it was out-shopped in the latest Colas livery proudly carrying its unique tribute to Merl. A donation will be made from the sale of each model towards LOROS, the chosen charity of Merl’s family. LOROS provides hospice care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and further details can be found here.

• 32-789   Class 37/0 No. 37099 “Merl Evans” in Colas livery with Split Headcode

Graham Farish N gauge

New tooling in N Gauge is the ex SECR C Class 0-6-0

C Class (which is sound enabled) Designed primarily for goods duties, Harry Wainwright’s ‘C’ Class 0-6-0 also proved useful for local passenger and excursion trains. Built by Neilson, Reid & Co., Sharp Stewart and the South Eastern & Chatham Railway’s works at Longhedge and Ashford, they proved to be a successful and long-lived class with the last trio surviving in use until 1966. No. 592 is preserved at the Bluebell Railway.
This will be a perfect companion for the SECR ‘Birdcage’ coaches, also due to be released this year, as well as the many Southern Railway goods wagons in the range.
The model will feature a NEXT 18 DCC decoder socket, coreless motor, loco drive, fine cab detail and NEM couplers

• 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

Other items of SR / BR(s) interest being released as new items for 2017 are as follows:

• 374-432 Bulleid 63ft Semi Open Brake Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery,  number S4019 of Set 84
• 374-432A Bulleid 63ft Semi Open Brake Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery number S4020 of Set 84
• 374-442 Bulleid 63ft Corridor Third in BR(s) Malachite Green livery, number S34 of Set 84
• 374-462 Bulleid 63ft Corridor Composite in BR(s) Malachite Green livery, number S5831 of Set 84
• 374-951 BR Mk2A FK Corridor First in BR(s) Green livery
• 374-631A SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van in BR(s) Green livery
• 374-683 BR Mk2 BSO in Network Rail livery
• 374-633 SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van in BR Departmental livery
• 377-850A SR 25 Ton ‘Pill Box’Brake Van in SR Brown livery with white Roof
• 377-854A SR 25 Ton ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van in BR Bauxite early livery

Note that the four versions of Bulleid coaches, although being sold separately,  will be numbered and branded to make a correct 4 coach Set Number 84, as introduced in May 1949 for the South Eastern Section, with set numbers on the ends of the two Semi Open Brake Thirds. Set 84 remained in this livery until gaining the darker BR(s) green in August 1956. 

New tooling for N also includes: Stanier 8F 2-8-0, Refurbished Class 31, Thompson coaches and retooled 100 T TEA tanker wagons.

Work in Progress

From a work  in progress perspective, in 00: the ex SECR Birdcage coaches and ex LBSC 4-4-2 H2 Class ‘Atlantics’ are as already seen at last year at the Engineering Prototype stage and are now at the artwork / livery samples stage. The 450 Desiro EMU should be available in June this year and the warflat wagons should also be in production this year. The Class 414  2HAP and the 45 ton Ransomes and Rapier steam crane are both still at the R & D stage.

The Class 438 / 491 4TC (exclusively for Kernow) is now at the artworl / livery stage.

In N: the Ckass 319 EMU is still at the R & D Stage whilst the SECR Birdcage coaches are in the drawing office.

The full details of the Bachmann and Graham Farish ranges can be found on their website here.

Note: for both brands and scales I have not relisted above those items already announced last year as per their announcement here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bachmann for their kind hospitality at their media event today.