Bachmann 31-481

Tooling

Announced in 2008, Bachmann’s OO gauge tooling for the LNWR Class G2A – commonly known as the “Super D” – represented a major step forward in ready-to-run heavy freight locomotive models. The prototype was a powerful 0-8-0 design used extensively for mineral and goods traffic from the LNWR era through LMS and British Railways service. The tooling aimed to capture this workhorse with high fidelity detailing and modern mechanical standards.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76).
• Construction: Diecast running plate and chassis for strength and weight; precision-moulded plastic bodyshell with crisp rivet and boiler band detail; separately fitted metal handrails, lamp irons, whistles, and turned brass safety valves.
• Detailing: Hinged smokebox door, detailed cab interior with moulded controls and glazing, brake rigging, sandpipes, and realistic coal load in tender. Adjustable tender drawbar and poseable fallplate for prototypical appearance.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers; sprung buffers fitted.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: Powerful 3-pole motor located in the locomotive.
• Drive: Loco-driven wheels with electrical pickup from the locomotive; tender includes electrical connections via drawbar.
• Minimum Radius: Second radius (approx. 438 mm).
• Weighting: Diecast components provide excellent adhesion for heavy trains.
• Lighting: No factory lighting provision.

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready with 21-pin socket in the tender.
• Provision for speaker installation; later releases offered factory-fitted ESU Loksound V5 decoders with custom sound projects.
• DCC Sound versions operate on DC with basic automatic sounds.

Liveries Produced

• LNWR Black (Era 2).
• LMS Black (Era 3).
• BR Black – Plain, Early Emblem, and Late Crest (Eras 4 & 5).
• Weathered variants and special editions.

Reviews & Commentary

The G2A tooling has been widely praised for its accurate proportions, fine detailing, and smooth running. Reviewers highlight its strong haulage capability and robust mechanism. Community feedback on RMweb notes that the adjustable tender drawbar and hinged fallplate are welcome features, while some modellers replace the front tension-lock coupling for aesthetic reasons. Factory weathered versions have been commended for improved realism. YouTube reviews and social media posts often describe the model as “one of the best value heavy freight locomotives” in OO gauge.

Interesting Notes

• The third pair of driving wheels is flangeless, replicating the prototype for curve negotiation.
• Cab variations include open and closed tender cabs.
• Sound-fitted versions feature over 20 functions and authentic LNWR exhaust beats.

This tooling remains a popular choice for layouts depicting LNWR, LMS, and BR steam eras, combining historical accuracy with modern performance.

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The London & North Western Railway (LNWR) was known as the Premier Line and one of its premier freight locomotives, in terms of power and ability at least, was the G2 Class, and their later equivalents, the G2As. This Bachmann Branchline model brings the G2A to OO Scale with a high fidelity rendition of the early-twentieth century powerhouse.

With an impressive level of detail and a high performance mechanism, the Branchline G2A is the complete package and now for the first time, this model is available with the option of SOUND FITTED (see item No. 31-479ASF).

The model employs a diecast running plate, along with further metal components to provide an impressive weight ensuring the model’s strength and power match its prototype’s. Meanwhile, those components produced in plastic are precision moulded, with details such as rivets and boiler bands crisply reproduced. Separate parts are then added to enhance the authenticity of the model further, from the metal handrails to the whistle and safety valves, each of which are turned brass. The smokebox door is hinged and can be posed open or closed, whilst within the cab, controls, dials and pipework are all moulded authentically and decorated accordingly.

The locomotive’s diecast chassis is enhanced with brake blocks, brake rigging and sandboxes with separate wire sandpipes. Driving wheels are cast to the correct LNWR pattern, whilst the third pair of driving wheels are flangeless, as on the real locomotives. Moving to the tender and the locomotive to tender drawbar is adjustable to suit individual layout conditions, whilst electrical connections are incorporated into the drawbar and a poseable fallplate is fitted to the tender – not only is this a prototypical feature but it serves to reduce the visual impact of any gap in this area which may be necessitated by operating conditions. The tender itself is finely moulded, with several separately applied details including the lamp irons, tank vents, fire tool holder and handwheels. A realistic coal load is included whilst the tender chassis includes brake rigging and metal wheelsets are employed.

Whilst there is little to complicate the livery of this freight locomotive, the paintwork is applied to a high standard throughout, with the printed details, including the numberplate and cab dials, all reproduced and fully legible thanks to the specialist printing techniques implemented in the production of Bachmann models. 

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' plain black livery was designated specifically for freight and shunting locomotives from 1948, representing the most economical and practical finish for inherently dirty industrial machines. During the early nationalisation period, many locomotives were simply patch-painted over old company markings with black paint, which quickly weathered to match the existing finish as these engines were rarely cleaned. The "Lion and Wheel" emblem (nicknamed the "Cycling Lion") was introduced from December 1948 and applied to plain black locomotives from early 1949, featuring a lion standing over a large railway wheel with "British Railways" lettering across the centre.

The emblem was produced in three sizes and always faced forward, positioned centrally on tender sides or tank sides, with regional preferences evident—the Western Region favoured larger emblems whilst other regions used smaller versions. Plain black locomotives retained red buffer beams and received white "BRITISH RAILWAYS" lettering in Gill Sans style before the emblem's introduction. Some former company locomotives, particularly ex-GWR shunting engines, retained their original lettering well into the early 1960s as they didn't require renumbering and received minimal attention. This utilitarian livery remained standard for freight operations until the mid-1950s emblem change, making it essential for authentic early BR period modelling of goods yards, collieries, and industrial operations.