EFE Rail E82000

Tooling

Announced in Bachmann’s Winter 2023 range, EFE Rail introduced an all-new tooling for the Southern Railway Bulleid/Raworth "Booster" electric locomotives, later classified as Class CC and BR Class 70. These pioneering Co-Co locomotives were built between 1941 and 1948 to operate on the Southern Region’s extensive third-rail network, with provision for overhead pickup in yards. Their distinctive motor-generator-flywheel system earned them the nickname “Boosters,” enabling them to bridge gaps in the conductor rail without stalling.

Tooling Features

• Construction: Diecast metal chassis block for weight and stability; bodyshell with separately applied detail parts including lamp irons, handrails, roof vents, whistles, and sprung buffers.
• Bogies: Multi-component assemblies with full relief detail and authentic Bulleid profile wheels to NEM310/311 standards.
• Couplings: NEM362 pockets at each end, bogie-mounted.

Mechanical & Electrical Specification

• Five-pole skew-wound motor with twin flywheels.
• All six axles powered; electrical pickup from all twelve wheels.
• Separate metal bearings on each axle for smooth running.
• Gearing designed for prototypical speeds and haulage.
• Pre-fitted speaker for optional sound decoder installation.
• Lighting: Forward directional headlights (no tail lights on prototype) and cab lighting, operable via magnetic wand on DC or DCC functions.
• Weighting: Diecast chassis ensures excellent traction.

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready with 21-pin socket (recommended decoder: Bachmann 36-557A).
• Two DCC functions for cab lighting; sound-ready via pre-installed speaker.

Liveries Produced

Initial tooling covers five major eras and variations:

• 1941 Photographic Grey (CC1).
• Southern Malachite Green with Sunshine lettering.
• 1942 Black with aluminium lining.
• BR Lined Green (Southern Region).
• BR Blue with full yellow ends (as withdrawn in 1969).

Each version includes accurate detail variations such as cab window size, handrails, headcode panels, and bogie fittings.

Reviews & Commentary

The release was widely praised for its accuracy and depth of detailing. Enthusiasts highlighted the fine cab interiors, sprung buffers, and authentic bogie construction. Performance reviews note smooth running, strong haulage, and reliable electrical pickup. Social media and YouTube reviews (e.g., Sam’sTrains and Model Railways Unlimited) commended the model’s fidelity to prototype and ease of DCC/sound installation. The tooling was considered a significant addition for Southern electric modellers, filling a long-standing gap in ready-to-run offerings.

Interesting Notes

The real locomotives were unique in British practice, combining third-rail and overhead pickup with a flywheel booster system. All three prototypes were withdrawn by 1968 and scrapped, making this tooling the first mainstream OO gauge representation of these historically important electrics.

EFE Rail's Description & Specifications

Produced especially for the EFE Rail range, this all-new model features a wealth of detail with a varied tooling suite allowing the first two locomotives, CC1 and CC2, to be modelled accurately at various points in their careers. Driven by a 5 pole, skew wound motor with flywheel, each of the six axles are driven whilst all twelve wheels provide electrical pickup. Directional lighting will operate in the forwards direction (the real locomotives were not fitted with tail lights), whilst cab lighting can be operated using a magnetic wand when used on analogue control, or when a 21 Pin DCC decoder is fitted, via two DCC functions. A speaker is pre-fitted to every model, allowing a sound decoder to be fitted to bring another dimension to your model in an instant.

We are delighted to present this model of the Southern Railway ‘Booster’ Electric Locomotive No. 20001 in BR Green livery as part of the EFE Rail OO scale range. Conceived in the late-1930s to take advantage of the Southern’s expansive electrified network, two of these Co-Co locomotives were built, gaining the nickname the ‘Boosters’ due to their motor-generator-flywheel drive arrangement employed to overcome ‘gapping’, when the locomotive could momentarily loose its electrical supply when travelling over gaps in the conductor rail.

• EFE Rail OO Scale
• Era 5
• Pristine BR Green livery
• Running No. 20001
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-557A
• Length 235mm (over couplings)

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Standard Cab Windows
• Vertical Handrail alongside the Left Hand Cab Window
• Two Windscreen Wipers
• Twin Whistles
• Route Indicator Discs
• Single-tread Steps between Bogies
• Original Axle Boxes
• Two Sandboxes per Bogie
• Square Shoe Beam Flash Guards
• Standpipe Vacuum Pipes

MECHANISM:

• Five pole, skew wound, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies
• All axle drive
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
• Diecast metal chassis block
• Gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic ‘Bulleid’ profile and detailing
• Bogie-mounted coupling pockets to NEM362 standards at each end
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Metal Pantograph, sprung for posing in the up or down position
• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail
• Separately applied detail parts, including lamp irons, handrails, roof vents and whistles
• Sprung buffers
• Cab interior detailing including seats, power handle, brake wheel and dials
• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting (forward direction only)
• Cab lighting, switchable on/off via magnetic wand, or via two separate functions when used on DCC
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• 21 Pin DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction

LIVERY APPLICATION:

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

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.