EFE Rail E82005

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• BR Blue with full yellow ends (as withdrawn in 1969).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. 20001 in BR Blue 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 6
• Pristine BR Blue livery
• Running No. 20001
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-557A
• Length 225mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Standard Cab Windows
• Vertical Handrail alongside the Left Hand Cab Window
• Revised Windscreen Wipers
• Roof-mounted Horns
• Roller Blind Route Indicator
• Single-tread Steps between Bogies
• Roller Bearing 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 Rail (1965-1997) transformed Britain's railways through revolutionary modernisation, introducing the iconic double arrow logo, Rail Blue livery, and business sectorisation. BR pioneered high-speed rail with the InterCity 125 and Advanced Passenger Train, electrified major routes, and created profitable divisions like InterCity and Network SouthEast. From steam succession through diesel and electric development to privatisation preparation, British Rail's diverse locomotive fleet, multiple livery schemes, and operational scenarios provide unparalleled variety for railway modellers across all scales and periods.

BR Blue, also known as Rail Blue or Monastral Blue, was introduced in 1965 as part of British Rail's comprehensive corporate identity overhaul that accompanied the rebranding from British Railways to British Rail. The colour was officially defined by British Standards BR28/6001 (airless spray finish) and BR28/5321 (brush finish), representing a dark, greyish blue tone specifically chosen to hide dirt and weathering effects well.

The livery was prototyped on the experimental XP64 train in 1964 before becoming the standard scheme from 1 January 1965. Rail Blue was applied to all diesel and electric locomotives with yellow warning panels (initially small, then extending to full yellow ends from 1966). The standardised application included the iconic double arrow logo and Rail Alphabet typeface, creating one of the most successful transport corporate identities of the 20th century.

The livery dominated British Rail operations for over two decades until sectorisation in the 1980s began fragmenting the unified appearance. Despite initial colour fading problems in early applications, these were resolved by the late 1970s when the Large Logo variant was introduced featuring extended yellow areas and full-height double arrow symbols. Rail Blue's enduring appeal among railway enthusiasts reflects its role as the definitive British Rail image during the organisation's most unified period.