Bachmann 35-945SF

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The Class 13 Diesel Shunter is one of the few classes of diesel locomotive never to have been modelled in OO scale, until now! After mastering the Class 08, Bachmann Branchline has been slaving away on models of these enigmatic locomotives which were created from two Class 08s to shunt the Tinsley Marshalling Yard near Sheffield, South Yorkshire, between 1965 and 1985.

The new Branchline model shares a lot of its DNA with its Class 08 cousins, employing the same high mechanical and technical specification for smooth and powerful running, and with advanced electrical features like the Bach-Up Stay Alive system providing DCC users with uninterrupted power and the full suite of lighting which is user-configurable whether you’re running on analogue or DCC. What’s more, both the master and slave units are motorised and fully functional, meaning you’re effectively getting two locomotives in one!

Externally, new tooling has been produced to capture all the hallmarks of the master and slave units that made up the Class 13, from the heavy-duty bufferbeams that were thickened and enlarged to add weight and aid adhesion on the real locos to the drastic changes made to the slave unit with the removal of much of its cab and controls. This external beauty is brought to life by the exquisite livery application which uses true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos to create the ultimate diesel shunter.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 6
• Pristine BR Green (Wasp Stripes) livery
• Running No. D4502
• LMS Pattern Buffers
• SOUND FITTED – Fitted with a Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder (Master unit) and a Zimo MN330P22 Loco Decoder (Slave unit)
• Length 244mm

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 13 SPECIFICATION

EACH CLASS 13 COMPRISES 1x MASTER UNIT AND 1x SLAVE UNIT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE MOTORISED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL

MECHANISM (COMMON FEATURES FOUND ON BOTH THE MASTER AND SLAVE UNIT):

• Five pole motor with flywheel providing drive to the rear axle
• Sprung centre axle to aid running over uneven track
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
• Diecast metal chassis block incorporating the gearbox, 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 at the cab end of the Master unit and the radiator end of the Slave unit
• Master and Slave units connect with a rigid coupling bar that fits into NEM362 coupling pockets mounted to integral close coupling mechanisms
• Auto-Release Couplings fitted at the cab end of the master unit and the radiator end of the slave unit – 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 (COMMON FEATURES FOUND ON BOTH THE MASTER AND SLAVE UNIT, WHERE APPLICABLE):

• Precision moulded bodyshell and frames/running board with numerous separately fitted parts including footsteps, bonnet grilles and lamp irons
• Separately applied metal detail parts, including sand boxes and sand pipes, grab handles, windscreen wipers, light conduits and lifting points
• Authentic outside-framed running gear
• Frames constructed from multiple components, including separate springs and brake gear allowing full relief detailing
• Sprung metal buffers
• Cab interior detailing which includes the control desk, instruments & dials, equipment cabinets and handbrake, all with era-specific decoration
• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated bufferbeam pipework, master-to-slave pipes and cables, bufferbeam infills and accessory parts including screw-link couplings (cosmetic)

LIGHTING – MASTER UNIT:

• Four fully operational marker lights on the cab end, controlled by microswitches (easily accessed via the removable, clip-on roof panel) allowing user-configured light patterns and colours* (*selected lights only, choose between red or white)
• Shunting lights (one red and one white light) operated via a dedicated function on DCC (one DCC function controls the shunting lights on both the Master and Slave unit), or using an easy access microswitch on Analogue control
• Cab light operated via a dedicated function on DCC, or using an easy access microswitch on Analogue control
• All marker lights on the Master unit can be turned on/off independent of the Slave unit via two dedicated functions on DCC, or using an easy access microswitch on Analogue control
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application
• Lights fitted to the radiator end are prototypically non-functional

LIGHTING – SLAVE UNIT:

• Four fully operational marker lights on the radiator end, controlled by microswitches (easily accessed via the removable, clip-on roof panel) allowing user-configured light patterns and colours* (*selected lights only, choose between red or white)
• Shunting lights (one red and one white light) operated via a dedicated function on DCC (one DCC function controls the shunting lights on both the Slave and Master unit), or using an easy access microswitch on Analogue control
• All marker lights on the Slave unit can be turned on/off independent of the Master unit via two dedicated functions on DCC, or using an easy access microswitch on Analogue control
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC (COMMON FEATURES FOUND ON BOTH THE MASTER AND SLAVE UNIT):

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface
• Easy-access DCC decoder socket via a removable roof panel – secured by clips for ensured fit and alignment
• 2-pin connector wire for use between the Master and Slave units to ensure full DCC-functionality
• Bach-Up Stay Alive System providing uninterrupted power to prevent stalling, light flicker and sound cut-outs (operates on DCC only)

SOUND:

• Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, one in the Master unit and one in the Slave unit, fitted to every model as standard
• SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions come with a pre-installed Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder in the Master unit and a Zimo MN330P22 Loco Decoder in the Slave Unit
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 13 using recordings from real locomotives
• 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 specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing process, incorporating authentic typefaces, logos and colours

Class & Prototype

The BR Class 13 was Britain's only master-slave diesel shunting locomotive, comprising just three pairs created in 1965 by permanently coupling Class 08 shunters at Darlington Works. Built exclusively for hump shunting operations at Tinsley Marshalling Yard near Sheffield, these unique locomotives featured a distinctive asymmetric appearance with the slave unit's cab completely removed. The configuration delivered 700-800 hp combined power and 70,000 lbf tractive effort whilst maintaining a short wheelbase essential for safely traversing the yard's steep hump profile without grounding.

Operating at an extraordinarily slow 1.3 mph during hump shunting, the Class 13s (numbered 13001-13003) served Tinsley exclusively from May 1965 until withdrawal in 1981-1985 when the yard's hump operations ceased. The decline of wagonload freight traffic rendered both the yard and its specialised locomotives obsolete within 20 years. Tragically, no examples survived into preservation, making the class one of the most significant losses to British railway heritage.

In October 2025, Bachmann UK announced the first-ever ready-to-run BR Class 13 model for OO gauge, featuring two motorised units with advanced lighting, dual Stay Alive systems, and optional sound. Previously available only through conversion kits from Niu Models and RT Models, this groundbreaking release finally brings Britain's rarest diesel class to the mass market.

No prototype found.

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.

The Green with Wasp Stripes livery emerged around 1960 as a safety enhancement for British Railways shunting locomotives. This distinctive scheme combined the standard green body colour with bold yellow and black diagonal chevron patterns applied to cab ends, creating high-visibility warning stripes that mimicked natural wasp colouration.

Applied primarily to shunting classes including the Class 03, Class 08, and Class 14 locomotives, the wasp stripes were designed to improve visibility and safety around busy freight yards and industrial sites. The rollout was gradual, taking nearly a decade to reach all BR shunters, with application becoming more common throughout the 1960s.

This practical livery variant represented BR's evolving approach to railway safety during the diesel era, maintaining traditional green heritage whilst incorporating modern safety markings. For modellers, it perfectly captures the utilitarian character of British Railways freight operations during the transitional period from steam to diesel traction.