Bachmann 31-743

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The Midland Railway Class 1532, later known as the 1P, is one of many jewels in the Bachmann Branchline steam locomotive fleet and now, this OO scale model is returning to the range in British Railways condition.

Although the first examples were built in 1881, almost seventy years later British Railways inherited many of these Victorian machines following Nationalisation and set them to work on the branch lines and local services with which they were already very familiar. Reproduced as this marvel in miniature, the Branchline model comes packed with an impressive level of detail wherever you look. A significant proportion of the 1P is made from diecast metal, with fine engraving and detailing, which is complemented by precision moulded components capturing every aspect of the prototype in high fidelity. Sprung buffers are fitted to each bufferbeam, whilst in the cab, the locomotive controls are faithfully captured and decorated authentically.

A vast tooling suite caters for the many variations seen on the real locomotives throughout their careers, whilst the technical specification is equally impressive, employing a coreless motor and with a Next18 DCC Decoder socket, firebox lighting and pre-fitted speaker – SOUND FITTED models are available too. The livery application is the icing on the cake with a deep and consistent application of the black base layer which is then adorned with the colourful lining, numbering and BR emblems, all replicated using advance printing techniques to capture every element of decoration.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 4
• Pristine BR Lined Black ‘British Railways’ Livery
• Running No. 58066
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
• Length 142mm (over couplings)

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Belpaire Boiler
• Standard Side Tanks
• Welded Side Tanks and Bunker
• High Cab Front Windows
• Straight-Sided Bunker with 3-Bar Coal Rails
• Standard Lamp Irons
• Deeley 3’ Chimney
• Rivetted Smokebox
• Smokebox Door with BR Style Numberplate
• Low Smokebox Door Handrail
• Push-Pull Fitted
• Large Vacuum Exhauster
• Sandboxes Fitted Between Driving Wheels
• Running Plate Steps

MECHANISM:

• Coreless motor
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each driving axle
• Diecast metal chassis block
• Diecast metal gearbox, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• Pivoting and sprung rear pony truck
• Optional wheelset supplied in the accessory pack with traction tyres fitted, to provide increased haulage capacity where required
• 5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted at each end
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Diecast metal running plate with integral side tank weights
• Precision moulded plastic boiler, side tanks and cab
• Separately applied details including lamp irons, push-pull gear*, condensing apparatus*, handrails, whistle, vacuum pipes and turned brass safety valves* (*where applicable)
• Highly detailed and decorated cab interior including separately fitted regulator, reverser, handbrake and valve wheels
• Running gear detailing includes springs, brakes and separately fitted brake gear, sandboxes and sandpipes
• Glazed cab spectacles
• Sprung metal buffers
• Each model supplied with an accessory pack including cab doors, additional bufferbeam pipework, cab steps and screwlink couplings

LIGHTING:

• Firebox Glow (on analogue) / Firebox Glow & Flicker (on DCC or when SOUND FITTED models are used on analogue)

DCC:

• Next18 DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
• ESU Loksound Micro V5DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Midland Class 1532 (1P) using recordings from real locomotives
• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models
• Multiple paint applications employed on each model
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing incorporating authentic typefaces, logos and colours

Class & Prototype

The Midland Railway 1532 Class represented Samuel W. Johnson's refined 0-4-4T suburban tank design, with 65 locomotives built at Derby Works between 1881-1886. Featuring 5ft 3½in driving wheels optimised for stop-start suburban acceleration, these elegant crimson lake tanks formed the backbone of Midland branch and suburban operations from Yorkshire to Somerset. Thirteen locomotives carried specialised condensing apparatus for Metropolitan Railway London underground tunnel work, whilst the remainder saw widespread distribution across the entire Midland network.

The class exemplified the Midland's famous "small engine policy," classified 1P for light passenger duties hauling 3-6 coach suburban formations. Under LMS ownership from 1923, many locomotives received Belpaire boiler replacements that dramatically altered their appearance, creating two distinct visual variants—original round-top elegance and angular Belpaire practicality. Progressive modifications included push-pull equipment for branch line auto-train operation, various chimney patterns (Johnson shaped, Deeley, Stanier), and altered bunker profiles.

Service life totalled an extraordinary 75 years, with the final survivor, BR No. 58051, withdrawn in October 1956. Though none survived into preservation, Bachmann's comprehensive OO gauge range since 2020 offers unprecedented accuracy across Midland crimson lake, LMS black, and BR lined black liveries, with both DCC Ready and Sound Fitted variants capturing this historically significant yet previously overlooked class.

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.