Bachmann 35-076K

Tooling

The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) E4 Class was a versatile 0-6-2T tank engine designed by R.J. Billinton and built at Brighton Works between 1897 and 1903. Seventy-five were constructed, with the class serving into Southern Railway and later British Railways days; one example, No. 473 Birch Grove, survives in preservation at the Bluebell Railway. Bachmann’s OO-gauge E4 model arrived as a brand-new tooling in 2015, bringing the distinctive Brighton radial tank to ready-to-run form across multiple liveries and eras.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76, 16.5 mm track).
• Construction: Diecast boiler, side tanks and footplate for heft; precision-moulded plastic cab, bunker and smokebox for crisp detail.
• Detailing: Factory-applied handrails, lamp irons, pipework, safety valves, smokebox dart and whistle; separately supplied route discs and bufferbeam fittings.
• Couplings: NEM 362 pockets with tension-lock couplers.
• Finish: Chemically blackened wheels, painted and detailed cab interior; sprung buffers and glazed spectacles.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & drive: 3-pole motor mounted in the loco; all-wheel electrical pickup on a 2-rail DC system.
• Minimum radius: Recommended operation on second-radius curves (approx. 18 in / ~450 mm).
• Weighting: Mass concentrated within the chassis to aid adhesion.
• Lighting: No factory-fitted lighting listed for the 2015 tooling.
• Maintenance: Bachmann recommends a ~1 hour run-in each direction at moderate speed and sparing lubrication of bearings and gears.

DCC Capability

The original 2015 release is DCC Ready with a 6-pin NEM651 socket on the PCB. A DC blanking plug is fitted out of the box. There is no dedicated speaker provision in the 2015 tooling.

Liveries Produced (from the 2015 tooling)

The first-run tooling covered the principal eras for the class: LB&SCR lined umber, Southern Railway green, and BR black with both early and late crests. A collectors’ club special representing preserved No. 473 Birch Grove was also issued.

Reviews, Media & Community Commentary

• Hornby Magazine (Issue 94, March 2015) featured a first look and running footage showcasing smooth performance.
• Online forums highlighted interest in a small Southern tank with good haulage and praised the decoration and detail levels.
• User videos demonstrated detailing options and DCC installs, reflecting positive reception.

Other Notes & Trivia

• An earlier hand-built E4 (OO Works, c.2006) existed prior to Bachmann’s mass-produced tooling; the 2015 Branchline model brought the class into mainstream RTR availability.
• The official instruction sheet illustrates body removal and lists service parts useful for maintenance and repairs.

Class & Prototype

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.

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

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1846-1922) remains one of Britain's most beloved railway companies among modellers and enthusiasts. Famous for William Stroudley's distinctive yellow ochre "Improved Engine Green" livery and iconic A1 "Terrier" tank locomotives, the LB&SCR operated intensive passenger services from London to Sussex seaside resorts. The company pioneered electric lighting in carriages and overhead electrification, while its compact triangular network offers perfect prototype inspiration for model layouts. Following absorption into the Southern Railway in 1923, LB&SCR locomotives continued serving with new numbering systems and gradual livery changes, before entering British Railways service in 1948 with the famous 30000+ number series. Many "Terriers" survived into the 1960s on branch lines, providing modelling opportunities across three distinct eras. With strong preservation heritage through heritage railways like the Bluebell Railway and active support from the Brighton Circle historical society, LB&SCR models benefit from extensive research resources covering the full timeline from Victorian origins through nationalisation.

The LB&SCR Lined Umber livery was introduced by Douglas Earle Marsh when he became Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent in November 1904, replacing Stroudley's famous yellow ochre "Improved Engine Green." Express passenger locomotives were painted in umber (a rich brown colour) edged with a darker shade of umber and lined with black bands having gilt lines either side. Tender sides carried "L B & S C R" in gilt block letters shaded in black, while buffer beams were red with similar lettering for locomotive numbers. Secondary passenger and suburban tank locomotives used similar treatment but with yellow lining instead of gilt. Marsh controversially removed locomotive names from the famous "Terriers," which then carried just "LB&SCR" lettering between 1905-1911, shortened to "LBSC" from 1911 until the Southern Railway grouping in 1923. Though Marsh was reportedly unpopular at Brighton (possibly partly due to removing cherished locomotive names), his umber livery remained standard until the LB&SCR's absorption into the Southern Railway. This livery can be seen today on preserved locomotives such as A1 Terrier No. 662 "Martello," which has been restored in authentic Marsh Umber with "LBSC" lettering. The scheme represented a more sombre, business-like approach compared to Stroudley's distinctive golden liveries, reflecting early 20th-century railway aesthetics.