Bachmann 31-828

Tooling

The Bachmann Branchline model of the Great Western Railway (GWR) 4300 Class 2-6-0 Mogul was introduced in 1996, based on tooling inherited from Mainline Railways. Originally developed by Palitoy/Mainline in the early 1980s, the tooling was later acquired and refined by Bachmann following their entry into the UK market. The model represents Churchward’s mixed-traffic locomotive design, which was built between 1911 and 1932 and became a staple of GWR and later BR operations.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76 scale)
• Construction: Plastic bodyshell with separately fitted details; metal chassis
• Detailing: Includes fine valve gear, cab detail, and prototypical tender
• Couplings: Standard tension-lock couplings; NEM pockets not present on early releases

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: Ringfield motor mounted in the tender (Mainline/Bachmann split chassis design)
• Drive: Split chassis with drive to locomotive wheels via coupling rods
• Minimum Radius: Compatible with 2nd radius curves (438mm+)
• Lighting: No directional or interior lighting
• Weighting: Moderate weight; traction tyres used on some versions

DCC Capability

• DCC Compatibility: Not DCC-ready; split chassis design makes conversion difficult
• Sound: No sound decoder provision

Liveries Produced

Models have been released in a variety of liveries reflecting both GWR and BR eras:

• GWR Green (lined and unlined)
• BR Black (plain and lined)
• BR Green with early and late crests

Reviews & Commentary

Early reviews praised the model’s appearance and affordability, though criticism was directed at the split chassis mechanism, which was prone to gear splitting and electrical issues over time. The model has a nostalgic following among collectors and GWR enthusiasts, despite its mechanical limitations.

Forum discussions on platforms like New Railway Modellers and ModelRailroadForums highlight the model’s charm and historical significance, while also noting its dated drive system. Some users have undertaken conversions or repairs to extend its operational life.

Media & Social Media

The model has featured in YouTube restoration videos and enthusiast blogs, often showcasing repairs to the split chassis and upgrades to detailing. It remains a popular subject for weathering and customization projects.

Additional Notes

• The tooling has been used for both 4300 and 9300 series variants
• Later models from Dapol and Heljan offer more modern mechanisms and DCC readiness

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 black livery was designated for mixed-traffic and secondary passenger locomotives from 1949, following pure LNWR style with black base colour and elaborate red, cream (off-white), and grey lining patterns. The lining specification comprised 5/8" grey, 1/8" cream, 1½" black, and ¼" red bands, with the layout consistent with LNWR practice including deep and shallow valances lined along bottom edges only, unlike green engines. The first lined black engines appeared in August 1948 when Hall 5954 appeared so painted, becoming one of the first to carry the "Lion and Wheel" emblem around the same time.

A wide range of engines was eligible for this livery, from powerful V2s and Counties down to tiny Southern Terriers, encompassing County, Hall, Grange, Manor, Saint, Prairie tanks, and numerous pre-grouping designs of varied shapes and sizes. This created many variations and interpretation problems due to the diverse locomotive types involved, with regional differences in splasher lining treatment—the Eastern Region used red-only splasher lining, whilst the Southern Region evolved from inset to edge lining styles. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides above the middle axle box, with the Western Region favouring larger sizes on tenders and bigger tank engines. An interesting period detail saw number plates routinely painted red from late 1949 to early 1952, adding colour contrast to the otherwise black scheme. This livery represented BR's commitment to standardising mixed-traffic operations whilst maintaining the decorative traditions that distinguished passenger-rated locomotives from plain freight engines.