Bachmann 31-690

Tooling

The Bachmann Branchline LMS Stanier Mogul was first announced in 2013 and entered production around 2016–2017. This model represents the LMS Class 5 2-6-0 mixed traffic steam locomotive designed by William Stanier, with forty prototypes built between 1933 and 1934. The tooling was developed to fill a notable gap in LMS motive power offerings and was welcomed by enthusiasts, especially those familiar with preserved locomotive No. 42968.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76)
• Construction: Combination of plastic and metal components
• Detailing: Separately fitted handrails, lamp irons, turned brass safety valves and whistle, detailed cab interior, footplate, and fallplate. Pipework and bufferbeam details are pre-fitted.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension lock couplings
• Tender: Permanently coupled Fowler-style tender with pick-ups and detailing including coal rails and brake gear

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: Can motor located in the locomotive
• Drive: Loco-driven with pickups on driving wheels
• Minimum Radius: Designed to run on 2nd radius curves (438mm)
• Weighting: Moderate weight for good traction; performance noted as smooth and reliable
• Lighting: No factory-fitted lighting

DCC Capability

• Socket: 21-pin DCC ready
• Sound: No factory-fitted speaker; space not provided for sound installation

Liveries Produced

• LMS Lined Black No. 2965 (Era 3)
• BR Lined Black Early Emblem No. 42969 (Era 4)
• BR Lined Black Late Crest No. 42968 (Preserved) (Era 5/9)

Reception & Commentary

The Stanier Mogul tooling was well received for its attention to detail and smooth running performance. Reviewers praised the model’s finish, separately fitted parts, and accurate representation of the prototype. The model was featured in several video reviews, including Sam’sTrains and Class47Peter, both of which highlighted its historical significance and mechanical reliability.

Social media and forums such as RMweb noted the long anticipation for the model and its popularity among LMS and Severn Valley Railway enthusiasts. The preserved No. 42968, often seen on the SVR, added to the appeal of the preserved livery version.

Additional Notes

• Accessory packs included optional static display parts such as cab doors and brake pipes
• Instruction sheets provided detailed guidance on lubrication and maintenance

The Bachmann Stanier Mogul tooling remains a respected addition to the LMS model range, offering a blend of historical accuracy and reliable performance for OO gauge modellers.

Class & Prototype

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 Lined Black livery was a standard steam locomotive finish adopted by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway for many passenger and mixed-traffic engines, particularly in the years from the 1920s through the mid-20th century. The base colour was gloss black, often called varnished black, and this was complemented with lining in contrasting colours—typically a maroon (or crimson-lake) centre stripe edged by fine straw (yellowish) lines, sometimes flanked by thin black shadow lines. The lining highlighted the engine’s outline, cab and running plate edges, tender sides, and other panels, giving the locomotive a refined and distinguished appearance. Lettering and numerals were usually in brass or gold tones, and nameplates, where present, were edged to match the lining scheme.

This livery combined elegance with practicality: black was tolerant of soot and grime, while the lining added identity and visual distinction. On many preserved and restored LMS locomotives, the Lined Black scheme is used to evoke the classic era, with hand-painted lining and traditional finishes to match originals.