EFE Rail E82001

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• BR Blue with full yellow ends (as withdrawn in 1969).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 brand new model of the Southern Railway ‘Booster’ Electric Locomotive No. CC1 in SR Grey 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 3
• Pristine SR Grey livery
• Running No. CC1
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-557A
• Length 225mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Small Cab Windows
• Single Windscreen Wiper
• Single Whistle
• Stencil Route Indicator Box
• Twin-tread Steps between Bogies
• Original Axle Boxes
• Five Sandboxes per Bogie
• Bogie Fuse Boxes
• T-Shape Shoe Beam Flash Guards
• Bufferbeam-Mounted 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

The Southern Railway (SR), formed in 1923 through the amalgamation of numerous railway companies, became Britain's most passenger-focused railway company. The three principal constituents were the LSWR, LB&SCR, and SE&CR, alongside several smaller railways including the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway and various light railways. Operating 2,186 miles across southern England, the SR pioneered extensive third-rail electrification and developed distinctive locomotive classes under Chief Mechanical Engineers Maunsell and Bulleid. The company's malachite green and olive green liveries, Art Deco architecture, and premium passenger services like the Golden Arrow established new British railway standards. Nationalised in 1948, the SR's innovations in electric traction and passenger comfort influenced modern railway practice. Today, SR locomotives remain highly popular with railway modellers for their elegant designs, varied operational roles, and distinctive Southern Railway heritage that connected London with the Channel ports and southern resorts.