Bachmann 32-135X

Tooling

In 2012, Bachmann Branchline significantly upgraded its OO gauge model of the Great Western Railway (GWR) 4500 Class “Small Prairie” tank locomotive. This revision built upon the original 2003 tooling, addressing feedback from modellers and aligning with the growing demand for digital control compatibility. The upgrade introduced a factory-fitted DCC socket, improved detailing, and refinements to the mechanism, ensuring the model remained competitive in an evolving market.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO (1:76)
• Construction: Die-cast chassis for weight and stability, precision-moulded plastic bodyshell with enhanced rivet and panel detail.
• Detailing: Separate handrails, finer pipework, improved cab interior, sprung buffers, and NEM coupling pockets.
• Couplings: Standard tension-lock couplers in NEM pockets for easy replacement.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: Smooth-running can motor with worm drive to the centre axle, providing reliable performance.
• Weighting: Metal chassis ensures good adhesion and realistic running qualities.
• Minimum Radius: Compatible with 1st radius curves (approx. 371 mm).
• Lighting: No factory lighting fitted.

DCC Capability

The 2012 upgrade introduced an 8-pin NMRA DCC socket, making digital conversion straightforward. A blanking plug was fitted for DC operation, and the motor was fully isolated from the chassis. This was a major improvement over the hard-wired design of the 2003 tooling.

Liveries Produced

The revised tooling was offered in a range of authentic liveries, including GWR green, BR black (early emblem), and BR lined green (late crest). Weathered and sound-fitted versions followed in later years.

Reviews & Commentary

Model railway magazines and online reviewers praised the upgrade for its improved ease of DCC installation and enhanced detailing. While the mechanism remained similar to the earlier version, the addition of sprung buffers and finer fittings was well received. Social media discussions highlighted the model’s smooth running and attractive finish, though some enthusiasts noted that the tooling was still based on the original 2003 design rather than a complete retool.

Interesting Notes

• The 2012 upgrade paved the way for later sound-fitted releases and factory-weathered options.
• This tooling continued to serve as the basis for Bachmann’s 4575 and 55xx variants until the full retool in the 2020s.

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The 4575 ‘Prairie Tanks’ were some of the GWR’s most versatile locomotives and this Bachmann Branchline model brings the same versatility to any OO Scale layout set in the Western Region.

The charm of the prototype is captured in the Branchline model which features a highly detailed, precision moulded bodyshell that is adorned with a multitude of separate components, from the metal handrails and tank vents to the lamp irons, tank fillers, lubricators and whistle. Sprung metal buffers are carried on each bufferbeam and inside the small but perfectly formed bunker, a realistic coal load is fitted.

The chassis, powered by a substantial 3 pole motor, carries an 8 pin DCC decoder socket and is adorned with details like the springs, brake blocks, brake rigging and sand boxes – accompanied by separate wire sandpipes. Each of the front and rear pony trucks is sprung to provide superb track holding and NEM coupling pockets are moulded integrally; guard irons are also incorporated giving the trucks an authentic appearance. The livery is applied to the usual high standard you would expect from a Bachmann model, with rich paintwork adorned with finely printed lettering and numbering to produce a model that is fit for service straight out of the box.

Class & Prototype

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.

British Railways' lined green livery continued for express passenger locomotives from 1956, painted in BS224 Deep Bronze Green (also known as Land Rover Deep Bronze Green) with orange and black lining, maintaining the prestigious finish for the railway's premier motive power. The livery was reserved for the most powerful express passenger classes, including Britannias, Castles, Kings, A4s, Merchant Navy Pacifics, and other premier locomotives rated for top-link express duties. From 1954 onwards, green became more widely adopted across the locomotive fleet, with some mixed-traffic engines also receiving the prestigious finish as regional freedom in livery matters increased following the 1953 Transport Act.

From mid-1956, these locomotives received the new "Lion and Crown" emblem (nicknamed the "Ferret and Dartboard"), a proper heraldic device registered with the College of Arms featuring a rampant lion emerging from a crown and holding a spoked wheel, all enclosed in a roundel with "British Railways" on bars either side. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides, with the heraldically correct lion facing left, though some locomotives initially received forward-facing applications during the transition period. Lettering and numbering remained in golden yellow Gill Sans Medium, maintaining the high-quality finish appropriate for express passenger duties. Regional variations in the shade of green occurred depending on which works applied the paint, the suppliers used, and the number of paint layers applied, creating subtle differences between locomotive classes and individual engines. This livery represented the final flowering of BR's steam-era corporate identity, combining technical excellence with heraldic dignity during the twilight years of express steam operations before the Rail Blue revolution of the mid-1960s.