Bachmann 31-369SF

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

We are delighted to welcome the Class 03 Diesel Shunter back to the Bachmann Branchline OO scale range. Taking advantage of the technical upgrades undertaken to the popular Branchline model a few years ago, this Class 03 features a coreless motor, Next18 DCC decoder socket and has space for a speaker for those wishing to add sound – or why not opt for our SOUND FITTED model which has a Speaker and DCC Sound Decoder pre-fitted.

The Bachmann Branchline model combines a detailed chassis, depicting the jackshaft drive arrangement of the prototype and complete with sandboxes, sandpipes and underframe equipment, with a high fidelity bodyshell adorned with numerous separately-fitted detail parts. The distinctive bonnet doors are fitted with separate handrails, with further separate handrails to be found around the cab, at the front of the locomotive and on the running plate. Lamps irons and windscreen wipers are each fitted individually, as is the flowerpot chimney and the turned metal air horn. With NEM coupling pockets, the standard tension lock couplings can be removed and replaced with the supplied filling piece to complete the look of the deep bufferbeams that are a feature of the prototype. Finished with an exquisite livery application using authentic colours, logos and fonts, this is an attractive addition to any OO scale collection.

We are delighted to welcome No. D2054 in its White British Industrial Sand livery.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 7
• Pristine British Industrial Sand White livery
• Running No. Ex-D2054
• Flowerpot Chimney
• Radiator-side Steps
• Twin Air Horns
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Powerful Coreless Motor
• Detailed Cab Interior with pre-fitted Driver in one cab
• Cab Lighting (when used on DCC only)
• Locomotive Ready to Accept a Speaker
• Accessory Pack
• SOUND FITTED - Fitted with a Zimo MS590N18 DCC Sound Decoder
• Length 105mm

Class & Prototype

The BR Class 03 was British Railways' standard light diesel-mechanical shunter, with 230 built at Doncaster and Swindon Works between 1957-1962. Powered by the legendary Gardner 8L3 engine and featuring distinctive jackshaft drive with coupling rods, these 30-ton locomotives excelled on weight-restricted lines, docks, and industrial sidings where heavier Class 08s couldn't operate. Notable variants included nine cut-down cab examples for the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway and two for Isle of Wight tunnel clearance. With 56 preserved (24% survival rate) and the last example working until 2008, the Class 03 remains popular with heritage railways and modellers alike.

Operator & Livery

British Industrial Sand (BIS) was a major quarrying company operating from the 1940s through the 1990s, with significant railway operations at multiple sites across Britain. The company operated diverse locomotive fleets at locations including Holmethorpe Quarry in Surrey and Moneystone Quarry in Staffordshire. The company's railway operations connected to the British Rail network through exchange sidings, enabling bulk sand transport to industrial customers, particularly glass manufacturers like Crosfields at Warrington. BIS locomotive types included Hibberd Planet diesels, former BR Class 07 shunters, and various industrial diesel types from manufacturers such as Yorkshire Engine Company and Stephenson & Hawthorn. Several BIS locomotives survive in preservation, whilst ready-to-run models are available from major manufacturers including Bachmann and Graham Farish, making this distinctive industrial railway operation accessible to model railway enthusiasts across popular scales.

The locomotive's main body features a pristine white finish that provided excellent visibility and professional appearance in industrial quarry environments. This clean white livery was complemented by distinctive company branding, including the prominent "BIS" lettering and the company's unique camel motif logo prominently displayed on the cab sides, creating an instantly recognisable corporate identity.