Bachmann 31-526

Tooling

The Bachmann Branchline Peppercorn A2 was introduced in 2010 as part of a new tooling initiative to represent the final evolution of LNER Pacific steam locomotives. Designed by Arthur Peppercorn, the A2 class was built between 1947 and 1948 and served under both LNER and British Railways. Bachmann’s model aimed to capture the distinctive features and elegance of these powerful express passenger locomotives.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO Gauge (1:76)
• Construction: Combination of plastic and metal components, with a screw-assembled body including cast metal footplate and cab, and a plastic boiler.
• Detailing: Factory-fitted separate details including handrails, pipework, safety valves, whistles, bufferbeam detail, fluted connecting rods with oily finish, and a detailed cab interior with painted fallplate and glazing.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension lock couplings; cosmetic hook coupling on bufferbeam.
• Tender: Riveted tender with painted wheels and brake rigging; easy-to-use coupling to locomotive.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: 3-pole motor located in the locomotive body.
• Drive: Loco-driven with pickups on driving wheels only.
• Minimum Radius: Compatible with second radius curves (approx. 438mm).
• Weighting: Internal chassis weighting to assist traction.
• Lighting: No directional or interior lighting fitted as standard.

DCC Capability

• Socket: DCC Ready with 8-pin NMRA/NEM 652 socket.
• Sound: No factory provision for speaker or sound decoder; some users have retrofitted sound systems in the tender.

Liveries Produced

• LNER Apple Green (e.g., 525 "A H Peppercorn")
• BR Green with Early Emblem (e.g., 60537 "Bachelors Button")
• BR Lined Green with Late Crest (e.g., 60533 "Happy Knight")
• BR Apple Green (e.g., 60528 "Tudor Minstrel")
• Preserved Livery (e.g., 60532 "Blue Peter")

Reviews & Commentary

• Initial reception praised the model’s fidelity to the prototype and crisp detailing.
• Some early examples exhibited minor cosmetic issues such as cab droop and misaligned handrails, which were correctable by users.
• Performance was generally smooth on DC, with good haulage capability and quiet running.
• Community feedback on forums like RMweb and New Railway Modellers highlighted the model’s visual appeal and mechanical reliability.

Media & Social Media

• Video reviews on YouTube showcased models such as 60532 "Blue Peter" and 525 "A H Peppercorn", noting strong finish and presentation.
• Custom upgrades including sound installations and lighting enhancements were shared by enthusiasts, demonstrating the model’s modding potential.

Additional Notes

• The 2010 tooling was later revised in 2012 with a 21-pin DCC socket and other refinements, which are covered separately.
• Limited edition releases, such as the wooden boxed "Blue Peter", added collector appeal.

Class & Prototype

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.

British Railways' lined green livery was designated for express passenger locomotives from 1949, painted in BS224 Deep Bronze Green (also known as Land Rover Deep Bronze Green) with orange and black lining, contrary to popular misconceptions about it being GWR Brunswick Green. Official BR documentation described this as "Dark Green lined Black and Orange" for selected express passenger steam locomotives, with the lining following GWR-style patterns but with distinct BR specifications. The "Lion and Wheel" emblem (nicknamed the "Cycling Lion") adorned these prestigious locomotives from early 1949, showing a lion standing over a spoked wheel with "British Railways" lettering across the centre.

Only the most powerful passenger classes received this elaborate livery—on the Western Region, this included Kings, Castles, and Stars, whilst other regions applied it to their premier express types like Coronations, A4s, A3s, A1s, and Merchant Navy Pacifics. Initially, the most prestigious locomotives of each region were actually painted in Sky Blue with black and white lining, but this proved unpopular and was quickly superseded by the green scheme. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides above the middle axle box, with regional variations in size preference—the Western Region favoured larger emblems whilst other regions typically used smaller versions. Lettering and numbering appeared in golden yellow Gill Sans Medium, normally outlined in black where the background wasn't black. This prestigious livery represented BR's finest locomotives until the corporate identity changed in 1956, making it essential for authentic early BR express passenger operations in model form.