Bachmann 35-946SF

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 7
• Pristine BR Blue livery
• Running No. 13003
• OLEO Buffers (Master unit, cab end only) / LMS Pattern Buffers (Master unit radiator end, and Slave unit)
• 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 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.