Bachmann 30-055

Tooling

In 2005, Bachmann Branchline unveiled a significant upgrade to its GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T tank locomotive model. This retooled version replaced the 2002 release and addressed key limitations by introducing Digital Command Control (DCC) readiness and a more refined mechanism. The prototype, designed by Charles Collett and built between 1924 and 1928, was a staple of South Wales coal traffic, requiring high tractive effort and robust braking.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO Gauge (1:76)
• Construction: Plastic bodyshell with separately fitted details; die-cast metal chassis for strength
• Detailing: Includes handrails, lamp irons, injector pipework, safety valve bonnet, smokebox door dart, water tank caps, whistle, cab glazing, and detailed cab interior
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: Powerful 3-pole motor
• Drive: Worm and gear drive to two axles
• Pickup: All wheels
• Minimum Radius: 1st radius (approx. 371 mm)
• Lighting: None
• Weighting: Internal die-cast weight for adhesion

DCC Capability

DCC Ready with an 8-pin NMRA socket, allowing easy installation of decoders. This was a major improvement over the 2002 tooling, which required hardwiring.

Liveries Produced

• GWR Green (pre-nationalisation)
• BR Green with Early Emblem (1948–1957)
• BR Black with Early Emblem (1949–1957)
• BR Green with Late Crest (1957–1972)
• BR Black with Late Crest (1957–1968)

Reviews & Commentary

The 2005 upgrade was praised for its improved detailing and digital readiness. While the motor remained a 3-pole type, Bachmann refined the gearing for smoother performance. Enthusiasts welcomed the addition of an 8-pin DCC socket, making this model far easier to convert for digital layouts. Social media and forums from the time highlight its popularity among GWR fans and its reputation as a solid mid-range steam model.

Interesting Facts

• The 5600 Class was the only 0-6-2T design built new by GWR.
• The prototype locomotives were primarily used in South Wales coal traffic, requiring high tractive effort and strong braking.
• This tooling set a benchmark for Bachmann’s approach to DCC-ready steam models in the mid-2000s.

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The 56XX 0-6-2 Tank Locomotives were some of the GWR’s finest workhorses and we’re delighted to welcome OO Scale models of these popular machines back to the Bachmann Branchline range.

The prototype’s aura of strength and ruggedness comes across in the Branchline model which packs a punch thanks to the substantial use of diecast metal in the chassis and bunker, ensuring that this smooth-running machine can pull significant loads. Meanwhile the bodyshell is produced from precision moulded plastic components to which separate details are fitted, like the metal handrails, intricate lubricators, tank ventilators and sprung metal buffers.

The chassis, powered by a substantial 3 pole motor, carries an 8 pin DCC decoder socket and is adorned with details like the springs, brake blocks, brake rigging and sand boxes – accompanied by separate wire sandpipes. Completing the package is the livery application of rich paintwork adorned with finely printed lettering and numbering to portray this preserved locomotive at its finest.

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' 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.