- Builder
- Bachmann
- Catalogue Number
- 31-362
- Category
- OO Scale Modern Image Locos
- Scale
- OO
- Finish
- Pristine
- Year
- 2009
- Pages
-
- Bachmann 2009 (56)
- Bachmann 2010 (52)
- Era
- 7 - British Rail Blue TOPS
- DCC
- Ready (6 pin)
- Decoders
- -
- Motor
- -
- Coupling
- -
- Curve
- 1st Radius (371mm) +
- Length
- 108 mm
- Based on Preserved
- No
- Directional Lighting
- No
- Interior Lighting
- No
- Pickup in Tender
- No
- Sound Decoder Ready
- No
- Passenger Figures
- No
Bachmann 31-362
British Rail Class 03 03066 British Rail (Blue)
Class & Prototype
Class: British Rail Class 03
- Traction: Diesel
- Transmission: Mechanical
- Built: 1957-1961
- Total Built: 230
The BR Class 03 was one of British Railways' most successful small diesel shunters, with 230 locomotives built between 1957-1962 at Swindon and Doncaster Works. Weighing just 30 tons and powered by reliable Gardner 8L3 engines producing 204hp, these versatile 0-6-0 locomotives handled shunting duties, station pilot work, and specialized services on weight-restricted lines where heavier Class 08s couldn't operate. Notable for their jackshaft drive arrangement and compact wheelbase, Class 03s served across four BR regions until withdrawals began in 1968, with the last example retiring in 2008. Today, 56 locomotives survive in preservation, while Bachmann produces detailed OO gauge models with DCC sound capability, making them popular choices for industrial and dock modelling scenarios.
Prototype: 03066
- Ordered By: -
- Built By: -
- Built At: -
- Built: -
- Withdrawn: -
- Length of Service: -
- Running Numbers: -
- Names: -
Operator & Livery
Operator: British Rail
British Rail (1965-1997) transformed Britain's railways through revolutionary modernisation, introducing the iconic double arrow logo, Rail Blue livery, and business sectorisation. BR pioneered high-speed rail with the InterCity 125 and Advanced Passenger Train, electrified major routes, and created profitable divisions like InterCity and Network SouthEast. From steam succession through diesel and electric development to privatisation preparation, British Rail's diverse locomotive fleet, multiple livery schemes, and operational scenarios provide unparalleled variety for railway modellers across all scales and periods.
Livery: Blue
BR Blue, also known as Rail Blue or Monastral Blue, was introduced in 1965 as part of British Rail's comprehensive corporate identity overhaul that accompanied the rebranding from British Railways to British Rail. The colour was officially defined by British Standards BR28/6001 (airless spray finish) and BR28/5321 (brush finish), representing a dark, greyish blue tone specifically chosen to hide dirt and weathering effects well.
The livery was prototyped on the experimental XP64 train in 1964 before becoming the standard scheme from 1 January 1965. Rail Blue was applied to all diesel and electric locomotives with yellow warning panels (initially small, then extending to full yellow ends from 1966). The standardised application included the iconic double arrow logo and Rail Alphabet typeface, creating one of the most successful transport corporate identities of the 20th century.
The livery dominated British Rail operations for over two decades until sectorisation in the 1980s began fragmenting the unified appearance. Despite initial colour fading problems in early applications, these were resolved by the late 1970s when the Large Logo variant was introduced featuring extended yellow areas and full-height double arrow symbols. Rail Blue's enduring appeal among railway enthusiasts reflects its role as the definitive British Rail image during the organisation's most unified period.