Bachmann 35-027A

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.

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 5
• Pristine BR Black (Late Crest) livery
• Running No. 9463
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Powerful Coreless Motor
• Firebox Glow (on analogue) / Firebox Glow & Flicker (on DCC)
• Speaker Fitted
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567B
• Length 138mm

Class & Prototype

No prototype found.

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' plain black livery remained the standard finish for freight and shunting locomotives from 1956 onwards, representing the most economical and practical scheme for inherently dirty industrial operations. Plain black locomotives retained red buffer beams and received white lettering in Gill Sans style, maintaining the utilitarian approach established in the early BR period. The livery was applied to a vast range of locomotive types, from powerful freight engines like the 9F class down to humble shunting locomotives and industrial engines working in goods yards, collieries, and freight terminals.

From 1956, these locomotives received the new "Lion and Crown" emblem (nicknamed the "Ferret and Dartboard"), a proper heraldic device featuring a rampant lion emerging from a crown and holding a spoked wheel, enclosed in a roundel with "British Railways" displayed on bars either side. Unlike earlier practice, the new emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides or tank sides without reference to axle boxes, following heraldic conventions with the lion facing left. This livery period coincided with increasing neglect as steam operations wound down, with locomotives often covered in layers of grime that obscured the paintwork and made the already austere black finish appear even more weathered. The plain black finish continued until individual locomotives were withdrawn from service, with many examples lasting into the final years of steam operation in 1968. For modellers, this livery represents the twilight of steam freight operations, capturing the workaday reality of British Railways' industrial locomotive fleet during the final phase of steam traction.