Bachmann 35-820K

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The Brush Type Twos – Class 30s and Class 31s – by Bachmann Branchline are back and better than ever, now featuring a Bach-Up Stay Alive System fitted as standard and all-wheel electrical pickup assuring the smooth and powerful performance you’ve come to expect from Bachmann Branchline models.

With high fidelity mouldings, numerous separately fitted parts and countless tooling variations to capture the minutiae of the real locomotives throughout their lives, our new Class 30 is brought to life with an exquisite livery application using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos. Along with an unprecedented array of lighting features, our Dual Fitted speaker system is fitted to all models – bringing to life our SOUND FITTED models. For the ultimate experience, choose one of our SOUND FITTED DELUXE models with their motorised radiator fan, authentic tinted windscreen glazing and hands-free DCC-uncoupling thanks to Bachmann’s revolutionary Auto-Release Coupling System!

Depicting a Class 31/1, this locomotive has had its Mirrlees engine replaced with an English Electric 12SVT and the Branchline model faithfully recreates this, with the correct roof exhaust ports and 12SVT engine block detail visible through the bodyside windows.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 7
• Locomotive is now Preserved
• Pristine BR Blue livery
• Running No. 31101
• Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket - recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B
• Length 228mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Original Body
• Original Gangway Doors
• Glazed Headcode Panels – displaying Blinds 2B99 and 6M65
• Windscreen Washer Jets with Covers
• Modified Bufferbeam Cowling
• Original Windscreen
• Original Main Fan Grilles with Horizontal Fins
• English Electric Exhaust Ports
• English Electric Engine Block Detail
• Original Open Boiler Port
• Original Water Filler Hatch
• Open Bodyside Steps
• Original Battery Boxes

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 30/31 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Five pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies
• All axle drive
• Electrical pickup from all wheels on each bogie
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
• Diecast metal chassis block and bogie towers
• Diecast metal gearboxes, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie
• Auto-Release Couplings fitted at both ends – DCC operated, hands-free uncoupling with the press of a function button (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail
• Rotating radiator fan, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated as part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
• Tinted windscreen glazing (Driver and Second Man windscreens only as per the prototype, SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
• Separately applied metal detail parts, including grab handles, windscreen wipers and etched fan grilles
• Sprung metal buffers
• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts including three-piece, body-mounted snow ploughs

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, including illuminated headcode panels and high intensity headlights where applicable, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control
• Cab lighting*, assigned to two DCC functions for separate switching of each
• Separately switched Engine Room lighting*
• Single or twin red tail lights* (*when used on DCC)
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface
• Bach-Up Stay Alive Systemproviding uninterrupted power to prevent stalling, light flicker and sound cut-outs (operates on DCC only)

SOUND:

• Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, fitted to every model as standard
• Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions
• Two sound projects to accurately capture the sounds of Class 30 (Mirrlees Engine) and Class 31 (English Electric Engine)
• Sound files for each project produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 30/31 using recordings from real locomotives and archive audio
• SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied. On Analogue, an authentic engine start up sequence and running sounds are produced when power is applied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models
• Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR and corporate specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours
• In addition, where applicable Etched Nameplates and Plaques are also provided

Class & Prototype

The Brush Type 2 represents one of British Railways' most remarkable transformation stories. Built by Brush Traction between 1957-1962, these 263 A1A-A1A diesel-electric locomotives initially struggled with unreliable Mirrlees engines, earning TOPS classification as Class 30. The comprehensive re-engining programme of 1964-1969 replaced the problematic powerplants with proven English Electric 12SVT engines, transforming them into dependable Class 31 locomotives that served for over 50 years. Originally nicknamed "Toffee Apples" (pilot batch) and "Skinheads" (early production), they evolved from operational liability to versatile workhorse, handling everything from branch line passenger services to main line freight duties. The class demonstrates how systematic engineering solutions can rescue unsuccessful designs, with the final locomotive withdrawn in 2017 after six decades of service. Today, 36 examples survive in preservation, whilst excellent ready-to-run models from Accurascale, Hornby, and Bachmann enable authentic recreation of both Class 30 and Class 31 configurations across multiple scales and eras.

D5613 was built by Brush Traction in May 1960 for the Eastern Region, entering service in BR green with small yellow warning panels. Like all early Brush Type 2s, it was originally a Class 30 with a Mirrlees JVS12T engine, but was re-engined with the English Electric 12SVT in the late 1960s, becoming a Class 31/1.

By the end of the 1960s, the “D” prefix was dropped from its number, leaving it simply as 5613 in BR blue. Under the TOPS renumbering scheme, it became 31190 in March 1974. Over its long career, it worked a wide variety of duties—secondary passenger services, mixed freight, and later engineers’ trains—making it a versatile subject for layouts spanning multiple eras.

Remarkably, 31190 remained in mainline service until May 2015, one of the last operational Class 31s. In preservation, it carried the name "Gryphon" from June 2000 to November 2006 and has since been based on heritage lines, including the Plym Valley Railway.

Operator & Livery

West Coast Railways is Britain's premier heritage railway operator and charter train company, operating from the historic Carnforth MPD in Lancashire since 1998. The company runs the world-famous Jacobite steam train through the Scottish Highlands from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films.

As a licensed train operating company and spot-hire operator, West Coast Railways provides steam and diesel locomotives, heritage carriages, and crews for charter services across the UK's most scenic routes. Their extensive fleet includes preserved Black Five locomotives, Royal Scot and Jubilee classes, plus heritage diesel traction including Class 37 and Class 57 machines.

The company also operates popular services including the Scarborough Spa Express and Dalesman tours over the spectacular Settle and Carlisle line. Based at the former LMS depot featured in the 1945 film Brief Encounter, West Coast Railways maintains comprehensive workshop facilities for steam locomotive restoration and heritage carriage maintenance.

Despite facing modern regulatory challenges, the company continues to provide authentic railway heritage experiences using preserved locomotives and period rolling stock, attracting both railway enthusiasts and international tourists to Britain's steam railway legacy.

West Coast Railways Standard Maroon Livery represents the company's primary locomotive scheme applied to their diverse diesel fleet since 1998. This distinctive livery features a maroon base colour with grey roof sections and the characteristic West Coast Railways gold logo prominently displayed on the locomotive bodysides.

The scheme has been applied across multiple locomotive classes including Class 31, Class 37, Class 47, and Class 57 machines, creating visual consistency throughout the WCR fleet. Notable examples include Class 37 locomotives 37516 Loch Laidon, 37518 Fort William/An Gearasdan, 37669, 37676 Loch Rannoch, 37685 Loch Arkaig, and 37706, plus Class 47 locomotives such as 47854, and Class 57 examples including 57313.

The livery maintains the West Coast Railways corporate identity established to complement their maroon coaching stock, creating cohesive train formations for charter services. The scheme uses a simplified two-tone approach with clean lines and minimal complications, ensuring easy maintenance whilst providing professional appearance standards required for mainline operations.

Class 31/1 locomotive 31190 Gryphon also carried this standard maroon scheme, demonstrating WCR's consistent application across their entire diesel fleet regardless of locomotive class or operational role.

For railway modellers, the Standard WCR Maroon scheme offers an authentic contemporary heritage railway livery suitable for charter train operations from the late 1990s onwards. Multiple manufacturers produce accurate representations in various scales, making this an accessible prototype for modern railway modelling scenarios featuring preserved steam locomotives, heritage diesel traction, and period coaching stock.