Bachmann 35-025B

Tooling

The Bachmann Branchline GWR Class 94xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank was introduced in 2015 as an all-new tooling, replacing older models and setting a new benchmark for detail and performance in OO gauge. The prototype locomotives were heavy freight pannier tanks built for the Great Western Railway and later British Railways, designed for shunting and short-distance freight duties.

Tooling Features

• Scale: 4mm:1ft (OO gauge)
• Construction: Die-cast metal chassis and body for weight and durability, with fine plastic detailing parts.
• Detailing: Separately fitted handrails, pipework, lamp irons, and fully detailed cab interior with painted controls.
• Buffers: Sprung metal buffers front and rear.
• Couplings: NEM coupling pockets with tension-lock couplers; accessory pack includes screw-link couplings and additional detailing parts.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: Powerful coreless motor driving the rear axle via a precision gear train; all-wheel pickup and metal axle bearings.
• Minimum Radius: Suitable for 2nd radius curves (438mm) and above.
• Lighting: Firebox flicker feature in both analogue and DCC modes.
• Weighting: Approx. 280g for excellent traction and stability.

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready: Equipped with a Next18 decoder socket.
• Sound Options: Factory sound-fitted versions available using ESU Loksound decoders with synchronized exhaust beats and firebox glow.

Liveries Produced

The tooling has been released in a variety of authentic liveries, including:

• GWR unlined green with ‘GREAT WESTERN’ lettering
• BR black with early and late crests
• Special editions such as preserved No. 9400 for Locomotion Models

Reviews & Commentary

The 2015 Bachmann 94xx was widely praised in the model railway press and online communities for its accuracy, weight, and smooth running. Reviewers highlighted its ability to haul heavy trains—up to 15 coaches on level track—and its exceptional detailing for a tank engine. Social media and forums noted the model’s robust build and the inclusion of modern features like Next18 DCC and firebox flicker.

Interesting Facts

• The prototype 94xx class was among the last pannier tanks built for the GWR, with many constructed under BR ownership.
• Bachmann’s tooling represents the early Swindon-built batch (Nos. 9400–9409) with correct detail variations.

Class & Prototype

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The Great Western Railway (1835-1947) was Britain's most innovative railway company, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel with his revolutionary 7ft ¼in broad gauge system. Known affectionately as "God's Wonderful Railway" and the "Holiday Line," the GWR connected London Paddington with the West Country, Wales, and Birmingham through 3,800 miles of superbly engineered routes.

Renowned for its Brunswick green locomotives, chocolate and cream carriages, and engineering excellence centred at Swindon Works, the GWR pioneered advanced steam technology under chief mechanical engineers Daniel Gooch, George Jackson Churchward, and Charles Collett. The company's legendary locomotive classes—including Castle, King, Hall, and Manor—established performance standards that influenced British locomotive design for decades.

The only "Big Four" railway to retain its original identity through the 1921 grouping, the GWR maintained its distinctive corporate culture until nationalisation in 1947. Today, the company's engineering legacy lives on through extensive preservation efforts, heritage railways, and detailed model railway recreations that celebrate the finest traditions of British steam railway operation.