Bachmann 31-960A

Tooling

The Bachmann Branchline A4 tooling introduced in 1995 marked the company’s entry into high-speed LNER Pacifics using designs inherited from Trix. At the time, this model filled a gap in the OO gauge market for streamlined Gresley A4 locomotives, competing with Hornby’s tender-drive offerings. While later superseded by a full retool in 2011, the 1995 version remained in production for over a decade and was widely regarded as a solid mid-range model for its era.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76).
• Construction: Die-cast split chassis with plastic body shell; tender and locomotive bodies featured separately applied details for their time.
• Detailing: Streamlined casing with moulded handrails, separately fitted nameplates on later releases, and optional detail packs (brake rigging, crew figures).
• Couplings: Standard tension-lock couplers; accessory packs included cosmetic screw-link couplings for display.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Drive: Motor located in the locomotive (not tender-drive), driving the main driving wheels via a gear train.
• Chassis: Split-frame design, typical of Bachmann steam models of the 1990s.
• Minimum Radius: Recommended second radius curves (approx. 438 mm).
• Lighting: No factory lighting provided.
• Weighting: Substantial die-cast chassis gave good traction compared to contemporary tender-drive models.

DCC Capability

The 1995 tooling was not DCC-ready. Conversion was possible but required hard-wiring due to the split chassis design. Later service sheets indicate space for an 8-pin socket in upgraded versions, but original releases were DC only.

Liveries Produced

A wide range of authentic liveries were offered, including:

• LNER Garter Blue (with and without valances)
• LNER Silver Grey (“Silver Jubilee”)
• LNER Wartime Black
• LNER Grey
• BR Express Passenger Blue
• BR Green (early and late crests)

Special editions featured named locomotives such as Mallard, Silver Link, Commonwealth of Australia, and Union of South Africa.

Performance & Reviews

Contemporary reviews praised the model’s weight and smooth running once properly serviced, but noted limitations:

• Split chassis design made maintenance and DCC conversion challenging.
• Detailing considered good for mid-1990s but dated compared to later super-detailed models.
• Some users reported gear wear and electrical contact issues over time.

Despite these drawbacks, the model was popular for train packs such as The Elizabethan and remained a staple on layouts until the 2011 retool.

Media & Community Commentary

The tooling is frequently discussed on forums and YouTube reviews, often compared to Hornby’s A4. Enthusiasts highlight its nostalgic appeal and robustness, while acknowledging that modern standards have surpassed it. Videos such as Sam’s Trains unboxing of Silver Link and Golden Eagle showcase the model’s finish and running qualities.

Interesting Notes

• The tooling originated from Trix designs, adapted by Bachmann for UK OO gauge.
• Models were often supplied with accessory packs for enhanced realism.
• Collectors value limited editions like the Silver Jubilee liveries for rarity and presentation.

Class & Prototype

Operator & Livery

British Railways transformed Britain's fragmented rail network into a unified national system following nationalisation on 1st January 1948. Created from the "Big Four" companies under the Transport Act 1947, BR operated most of Great Britain's railways until rebranding as British Rail in 1965, managing over 20,000 route miles and inheriting nearly 20,000 locomotives of diverse designs.

The organisation pioneered standardisation through its revolutionary BR Standard locomotive programme (1951-1960), producing 999 advanced steam engines under Robert Riddles' direction. These included the versatile Britannia Pacifics, mighty 9F freight engines, and mixed-traffic classes that incorporated the best features from all predecessor companies. The 1955 Modernisation Plan accelerated diesel and electric traction development, creating fascinating mixed-traction operations.

Notable achievements included establishing unified locomotive classification systems, introducing distinctive corporate liveries, and managing the complex transition from steam to modern traction. BR's six regional structure preserved operational diversity whilst enabling standardisation of practices, signalling, and rolling stock that had eluded private enterprise for over a century.

The BR era represents steam traction's final flowering alongside emerging diesel technology, creating unparalleled locomotive variety. Today, this heritage remains highly popular with railway enthusiasts through extensive preserved fleets, heritage railway operations, and comprehensive model ranges from manufacturers like Hornby, Bachmann, and Dapol, making BR subjects essential for authentic post-war British railway modelling across all scales.

British Railways' lined green livery continued for express passenger locomotives from 1956, painted in BS224 Deep Bronze Green (also known as Land Rover Deep Bronze Green) with orange and black lining, maintaining the prestigious finish for the railway's premier motive power. The livery was reserved for the most powerful express passenger classes, including Britannias, Castles, Kings, A4s, Merchant Navy Pacifics, and other premier locomotives rated for top-link express duties. From 1954 onwards, green became more widely adopted across the locomotive fleet, with some mixed-traffic engines also receiving the prestigious finish as regional freedom in livery matters increased following the 1953 Transport Act.

From mid-1956, these locomotives received the new "Lion and Crown" emblem (nicknamed the "Ferret and Dartboard"), a proper heraldic device registered with the College of Arms featuring a rampant lion emerging from a crown and holding a spoked wheel, all enclosed in a roundel with "British Railways" on bars either side. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides, with the heraldically correct lion facing left, though some locomotives initially received forward-facing applications during the transition period. Lettering and numbering remained in golden yellow Gill Sans Medium, maintaining the high-quality finish appropriate for express passenger duties. Regional variations in the shade of green occurred depending on which works applied the paint, the suppliers used, and the number of paint layers applied, creating subtle differences between locomotive classes and individual engines. This livery represented the final flowering of BR's steam-era corporate identity, combining technical excellence with heraldic dignity during the twilight years of express steam operations before the Rail Blue revolution of the mid-1960s.