Bachmann 35-076A

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.

Operator & Livery

The Southern Railway (SR), formed in 1923 through the amalgamation of numerous railway companies, became Britain's most passenger-focused railway company. The three principal constituents were the LSWR, LB&SCR, and SE&CR, alongside several smaller railways including the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway and various light railways. Operating 2,186 miles across southern England, the SR pioneered extensive third-rail electrification and developed distinctive locomotive classes under Chief Mechanical Engineers Maunsell and Bulleid. The company's malachite green and olive green liveries, Art Deco architecture, and premium passenger services like the Golden Arrow established new British railway standards. Nationalised in 1948, the SR's innovations in electric traction and passenger comfort influenced modern railway practice. Today, SR locomotives remain highly popular with railway modellers for their elegant designs, varied operational roles, and distinctive Southern Railway heritage that connected London with the Channel ports and southern resorts.