Bachmann 31-137A

Tooling

In 2012, Bachmann Branchline introduced an all-new OO gauge tooling for the LNER Class D11 ‘Improved Director’ 4-4-0 locomotives. These models represented both the original Great Central Railway (GCR) D11/1 and the later North British Railway (NBR) D11/2 variants, which were adapted for the Scottish loading gauge. The prototype locomotives, designed by John G. Robinson, were among the most successful express passenger engines of their era, operating from 1919 until the early 1960s. Bachmann’s release filled a significant gap for pre-grouping and early LNER enthusiasts, offering a highly detailed and accurate representation of these iconic locomotives.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76).
• Construction: Precision-moulded plastic bodyshell with a mixed metal/plastic chassis for strength and weight.
• Detailing: Factory-fitted separate details including handrails, pipework, sanding gear, turned brass safety valves, smokebox door dart, and opening smokebox door. Fully detailed and painted cab interior with glazing.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers.
• Tender: Permanently coupled to the locomotive, housing the PCB and space for a speaker.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: Smooth-running can motor
• Minimum Radius: Compatible with second radius curves (approx. 18 inches).
• Weighting: Metal components within boiler and chassis for improved adhesion.
• Lighting: No factory lighting fitted.
• Power Collection: 2-rail DC.

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready with a 21-pin socket located in the tender.
• Provision for a 28mm round speaker for sound installation.
• Popular upgrade options include Zimo MX644D decoders and IceCube speakers, with space for stay-alive capacitors.

Liveries Produced

The 2012 tooling has been released in a wide range of authentic liveries, including:

• GCR lined green (e.g., Butler Henderson).
• LNER green.
• LNER black (Scottish D11/2 variants).
• BR black with early emblem.
• BR black with late crest.
• Special editions such as BR apple green for collectors.

Reviews & Commentary

Model railway reviewers and enthusiasts have praised the Bachmann D11 for its fine detailing, smooth running, and accurate proportions. Video reviews highlight the model’s elegant appearance and reliable mechanism, with some noting its impressive size for a 4-4-0 design. Social media discussions generally regard the tooling as “one of Bachmann’s best pre-grouping releases,” though occasional comments mention the absence of factory lighting and the permanently coupled tender as minor drawbacks.

Interesting Notes

• The tender design allows for advanced sound installations, making it popular among DCC sound enthusiasts.
• The tooling was part of Bachmann’s strategy to test demand for Scottish prototypes before expanding the range.

Class & Prototype

The GCR Class 11F "Improved Director" was John G. Robinson's finest express passenger design—thirty-five 4-4-0 locomotives built 1919-1924 serving British railways for 42 years. Eleven D11/1 variants operated GCR express services from London Marylebone to Sheffield, whilst twenty-four D11/2 Scottish variants with restricted loading gauge profiles served former NBR routes, all bearing Sir Walter Scott character names. Inside admission piston valves distinguished them from earlier Directors, delivering 5% coal savings. Only No. 506 "Butler-Henderson" survives at Barrow Hill Engine Shed. Bachmann Branchline produces exceptional OO gauge models (rated 4.8/5) with accurate D11/1 and D11/2 tooling across multiple liveries including GCR lined green, LNER apple green/black, and BR lined black (£106-160).

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The London & North Eastern Railway emerged in 1923 as Britain's second-largest railway company, combining seven major railways including the Great Northern, North Eastern, and Great Eastern into a 6,590-mile network stretching from London's four terminals to the Scottish Highlands. Despite serving economically challenged industrial regions, the LNER achieved worldwide recognition for engineering excellence and speed records that remain unbroken today.

Under Chief Mechanical Engineers Sir Nigel Gresley, Edward Thompson, and Arthur Peppercorn, the LNER developed revolutionary locomotive designs characterised by three-cylinder layouts and streamlined aesthetics. Gresley's masterpieces included the A1 Pacifics featuring Flying Scotsman and the legendary A4 class, culminating in Mallard's world steam speed record of 126 mph in 1938.

The company pioneered luxury express services including the Silver Jubilee and Coronation streamliners, whilst investing in forward-thinking electrification schemes and massive marshalling yards. Notable achievements included operating the complete East Coast Main Line, introducing Britain's first regular 400-mile non-stop service, and commissioning Eric Gill's iconic typography that influenced railway design for decades.

Nationalised in 1948, LNER locomotives continued serving British Railways until the 1960s, with some A4 Pacifics working Scottish expresses until 1966. Today, the LNER's engineering legacy thrives through extensive preservation, new-build projects like Tornado, and comprehensive model ranges covering every major class in all popular scales, making LNER subjects essential for discerning railway modellers seeking authentic British steam-age atmosphere.

The LNER lined black livery represented the company's commitment to aesthetic excellence across all locomotive types during the early period of its existence. Introduced from 1923, this elegant scheme adorned freight engines and secondary passenger locomotives with distinctive red lining that transformed utilitarian workhorses into smart, professionally finished machines. The red lines were carefully applied to running plates, boiler bands, and cab panels, following the locomotive's mechanical contours and emphasising engineering features whilst maintaining the practical benefits of a dark base colour for heavy-duty operations.

Distinctive features of this livery included yellow lettering and numbering with red shading (contrasting with the gold used on prestigious green passenger locomotives), and "L N E R" applied in full to tenders. The lined black scheme demonstrated the LNER's philosophy that even freight locomotives deserved visual dignity and corporate identity. However, economic pressures forced changes to this refined approach: red lining was removed from goods engines as an economy measure in 1928, though secondary passenger locomotives retained their lined finish until 1941. For model railway enthusiasts, this livery perfectly captures the LNER's early optimism and attention to detail, making it ideal for depicting 1920s freight operations, mixed-traffic locomotives, and the period when the newly-formed company took pride in presenting a cohesive, quality image across its entire 6,300-locomotive fleet.