Bachmann 31-480

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

The LNWR Class G2A comprised 327 rebuilt 0-8-0 heavy freight locomotives (1936-1964) featuring distinctive Joy valve gear and 28,045 lbf tractive effort. These 7F-classified engines outlasted their supposedly superior LMS 7F replacements, working across the former LNWR network until December 1964. Bachmann produces comprehensive OO gauge models with multiple LNWR, LMS, and BR livery variants featuring authentic Joy valve gear sound effects.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) was Britain's largest railway company from 1923-1948, formed by merging over 120 independent railways under the Railways Act 1921. Operating 7,790 route miles across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the LMS became the world's largest transport organisation and the British Empire's biggest commercial enterprise. Famous for iconic locomotives like the streamlined Princess Coronation class, versatile Black Fives, and Royal Scots, the company evolved from inherited pre-grouping designs to revolutionary Stanier innovations. The LMS operated major routes including the West Coast Main Line from London Euston to Scotland, serving as the UK's second-largest employer after the Post Office. Nationalised in 1948 to form British Railways' London Midland Region, the LMS legacy continues through extensive preservation efforts and remains a favourite subject for railway modellers seeking authentic British steam-age prototypes.

The LMS plain black livery served as the standard finish for freight locomotives and represented practical railway economics during the company's existence. Applied without lining or embellishment, this utilitarian scheme recognised that goods engines operated in inherently dirty conditions where elaborate paintwork proved both expensive and impractical.

Most LMS freight classes including the ubiquitous 0-6-0 goods engines, 0-8-0 heavy freight locomotives, and tank engines used for shunting duties wore plain black throughout their service lives. The scheme extended beyond locomotives to goods wagons, where black paint provided adequate weather protection at minimal cost.

During World War II, plain black became increasingly common as material shortages and wartime economies forced the abandonment of more elaborate liveries. Even some passenger locomotives temporarily adopted unlined black finishes when crimson lake supplies became unavailable. The practical benefits of black paint - its ability to hide dirt, soot, and industrial grime - made it ideal for locomotives working coal trains, mineral traffic, and heavy industrial duties.

For modellers, plain black represents the workhorse reality of LMS operations, particularly appropriate for freight yards, colliery branches, and industrial settings where authentic weathering and operational realism take precedence over passenger train glamour.