Bachmann 35-079A

London, Brighton & South Coast Railway E4 Class 32473 British Railways (Lined Black with Early Emblem)

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The E4 Class 0-6-2 Radial Tank was one of the most successful and versatile tank locomotives that the Southern Railway inherited upon Grouping in 1923, with all 75 locomotives that the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway had constructed around the turn of the century passing to the SR, and all but one would make it to BR ownership as well. The Bachmann Branchline model of the E4 is just as versatile, featuring diecast metal construction supplemented with high-fidelity injection moulded parts to create a model as strong and capable as its prototype. What’s more, the Branchline E4 has been upgraded for 2025 and now features a Next18 DCC decoder socket and provision for a speaker, allowing SOUND FITTED models to be offered for the first time.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 4
• Locomotive is now Preserved
• Pristine BR Lined Black (Early Emblem) Livery
• Running No. 32473
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
• Length 149mm (over couplings)

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Dished Smokebox Door with Numberplate
• Westinghouse Brakes and Vacuum Brakes
• Lever Reverser
• Firebox Mounted Whistle
• Enclosed Coal Rails
• Countersunk Bufferbeam Rivets
• Smokebox Saddle Mounted Oil Pots
• Steam Injector and Pipes
• Boiler Clack Valves

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE LB&SCR E4 CLASS SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• 3-Pole motor
• Electrical pickup from all driving 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
• 5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Sprung rear radial truck
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted at each end
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Diecast metal boiler and side tanks, and running plate
• Precision moulded plastic cab and bunker, and smokebox
• Separately applied details including Westinghouse pump and pipework, front splashers, tank filler hatches, safety valves, dome and chimney, smokebox handles, clack valves* and vacuum pipes* (*where applicable)
• Individual metal detail components including handrails, handrail knobs, guard irons, lamp irons and turned metal whistle
• Highly detailed and decorated cab interior including controls, dials, gauges and tool cabinets with separately fitted regulator, reverser and valve wheels
• Running gear detailing includes springs, brakes, sandboxes and sandpipes which are made from metal wire
• Glazed cab front spectacles
• Metal buffers
• Each model supplied with an accessory pack including brake rigging, additional bufferbeam pipework, headcode discs and screwlink couplings

DCC:

• Next18 DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Space is provided for a speaker to be fitted along with connection points on the PCB
• SOUND FITTED models include a pre-fitted speaker
• Zimo MS590N18 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline E4 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

Class: London, Brighton & South Coast Railway E4 Class

• Traction: Steam
• Built: 1897-1903
• Total Built: 75

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E4 Class were versatile 0-6-2 radial tank locomotives designed by Robert Billinton and built between 1897-1903. These 75 mixed-traffic engines featured 5ft driving wheels and 170 psi boilers, making them ideal for both suburban passenger services and freight duties across the challenging South Coast network. Famous for working the 'Lancing Belle' service and serving as station pilots at London Waterloo, the E4s demonstrated exceptional longevity with some serving over 60 years until 1963. Only one survives in preservation - No. 32473 Birch Grove operates on the Bluebell Railway. Available as ready-to-run models from Bachmann Branchline in multiple authentic liveries including LB&SCR umber, Southern Railway olive green, and British Railways black, the E4 Class offers modellers authentic representation of Southern Railway mixed-traffic operations with excellent operational versatility for layouts featuring suburban passenger services, freight workings, and station pilot duties.

Prototype: 32473

• Ordered By: London, Brighton & South Coast Railway
• Built By: London, Brighton & South Coast Railway
• Built At: Brighton
• Built: 06/1898
• Withdrawn: 10/1962
• Length of Service: 64.3 years
• Running Numbers: LB&SCR 473, SR 2473, BR 32473
• Names: Birch Grove

Locomotive No. 473 "Birch Grove" was built by Brighton Works in June 1898 at a cost of £2,000, and holds the distinction of being the only preserved locomotive designed by Robert Billinton. Named after a small hamlet north of Horsted Keynes, this locomotive became one of the most historically significant E4 Class examples. In 1911, it received an I1 type boiler from D.E. Marsh, and remarkably still retains its original boiler number 891 from July 1898, which had been passed between various Brighton tank locomotives before being refitted in 1960.

During British Railways ownership, No. 32473 was based at Norwood Junction until October 1959, then transferred to Bricklayers Arms until June 1960, and finally moved to Nine Elms where it worked yard shunting duties and empty stock movements between Clapham Yard and Waterloo. After 64 years of service, it was withdrawn in October 1962 and purchased directly from British Railways by preservation enthusiasts, becoming the Bluebell Railway's first operational locomotive in 1963. Following various overhauls and livery changes—including LB&SCR umber, BR black, and currently Southern Railway olive green—"Birch Grove" returned to service in 1997 for its centenary year. The locomotive operated successfully until May 2016 when inner firebox issues required major attention, and it currently awaits overhaul while on static display, representing the sole survivor of the 75-strong E4 Class.

Operator & Livery

Operator: British Railways

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.

Livery: Lined Black with Early Emblem

British Railways' lined black livery was designated for mixed-traffic and secondary passenger locomotives from 1949, following pure LNWR style with black base colour and elaborate red, cream (off-white), and grey lining patterns. The lining specification comprised 5/8" grey, 1/8" cream, 1½" black, and ¼" red bands, with the layout consistent with LNWR practice including deep and shallow valances lined along bottom edges only, unlike green engines. The first lined black engines appeared in August 1948 when Hall 5954 appeared so painted, becoming one of the first to carry the "Lion and Wheel" emblem around the same time.

A wide range of engines was eligible for this livery, from powerful V2s and Counties down to tiny Southern Terriers, encompassing County, Hall, Grange, Manor, Saint, Prairie tanks, and numerous pre-grouping designs of varied shapes and sizes. This created many variations and interpretation problems due to the diverse locomotive types involved, with regional differences in splasher lining treatment—the Eastern Region used red-only splasher lining, whilst the Southern Region evolved from inset to edge lining styles. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides above the middle axle box, with the Western Region favouring larger sizes on tenders and bigger tank engines. An interesting period detail saw number plates routinely painted red from late 1949 to early 1952, adding colour contrast to the otherwise black scheme. This livery represented BR's commitment to standardising mixed-traffic operations whilst maintaining the decorative traditions that distinguished passenger-rated locomotives from plain freight engines.