Bachmann 31-932

Tooling

In 2011, Bachmann Branchline introduced an all-new OO gauge tooling for the Midland Railway 1000 Class, commonly known as the ‘Midland Compound’. This 4-4-0 locomotive was a landmark design by Samuel W. Johnson and later modified by Richard Deeley, featuring a three-cylinder compound arrangement. The prototype served under Midland Railway, LMS, and British Railways, making it a popular subject for modellers seeking pre-grouping through BR steam era representations.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76).
• Construction: High-quality plastic bodyshell with separately fitted details; die-cast chassis for weight and stability.
• Detailing: Fine rivet detail, accurate cab interior, sprung buffers, and NEM coupling pockets.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers supplied.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: Smooth-running motor housed in the locomotive, driving the coupled wheels via a gear train.
• Minimum Radius: Second radius curves (approx. 450 mm) recommended.
• Lighting: No factory-fitted lighting.
• Weighting: Die-cast chassis provides good adhesion for prototypical haulage.
• Running-in: Recommended one hour in each direction before regular use.

DCC Capability

• Socket: 21-pin MTC socket located in the tender.
• Sound: Space provided in the tender for a speaker; compatible with sound decoders.
• Operation: DCC Ready; some versions supplied DCC-fitted or sound-equipped.

Liveries Produced

• Midland Railway Crimson Lake (including NRM exclusive No. 1000).
• LMS Crimson Lake.
• LMS Black.
• BR Black (Early Emblem).
• BR Black (Late Crest).

Reviews & Commentary

Positive Feedback: Praised for accurate proportions, crisp detailing, and smooth running at moderate speeds.

Criticism: Some users report jerky performance at very low speeds on DC, often improved after running-in or decoder adjustment.

Media Coverage: Featured in YouTube reviews and enthusiast forums, where collectors highlight its fine finish and historical appeal.

Interesting Notes

• Includes accessory pack with optional detailing parts such as vacuum pipes and dummy couplings.
• Adjustable tender drawbar for different curve radii.
• Recommended for ages 14+, reflecting its fine detail and handling requirements.

Summary

Bachmann’s 2011 Midland Compound tooling remains a benchmark for pre-grouping and LMS-era modelling, combining historical accuracy with modern features like DCC readiness and provision for sound. Its broad livery range and strong detailing make it a favourite among collectors and layout builders.

Class & Prototype

The Midland Railway 1000 Class represents Britain's most successful compound locomotive design, with 45 locomotives built at Derby Works 1902-1909. Samuel Johnson's original five compounds pioneered the three-cylinder system that Richard Deeley refined with his ingenious automatic starting arrangement. These elegant 4-4-0 express passenger engines excelled on the challenging Settle-Carlisle route and demonstrated superior fuel economy in rigorous 1924-1925 comparative trials, inspiring 195 additional LMS compounds. Only No. 1000 survives in preservation at the National Railway Museum. Excellent OO gauge models available from Bachmann Branchline (£100-120, DCC Ready with 21-pin socket) and Hornby Railways (£75-100, budget Railroad range), offering authentic representation across Midland crimson lake, LMS maroon, and BR lined black liveries spanning five decades of British railway history.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

British Railways transformed Britain's fragmented rail network into a unified national system following nationalisation on 1st January 1948. Created from the "Big Four" companies under the Transport Act 1947, BR operated most of Great Britain's railways until rebranding as British Rail in 1965, managing over 20,000 route miles and inheriting nearly 20,000 locomotives of diverse designs.

The organisation pioneered standardisation through its revolutionary BR Standard locomotive programme (1951-1960), producing 999 advanced steam engines under Robert Riddles' direction. These included the versatile Britannia Pacifics, mighty 9F freight engines, and mixed-traffic classes that incorporated the best features from all predecessor companies. The 1955 Modernisation Plan accelerated diesel and electric traction development, creating fascinating mixed-traction operations.

Notable achievements included establishing unified locomotive classification systems, introducing distinctive corporate liveries, and managing the complex transition from steam to modern traction. BR's six regional structure preserved operational diversity whilst enabling standardisation of practices, signalling, and rolling stock that had eluded private enterprise for over a century.

The BR era represents steam traction's final flowering alongside emerging diesel technology, creating unparalleled locomotive variety. Today, this heritage remains highly popular with railway enthusiasts through extensive preserved fleets, heritage railway operations, and comprehensive model ranges from manufacturers like Hornby, Bachmann, and Dapol, making BR subjects essential for authentic post-war British railway modelling across all scales.

British Railways' lined black livery was designated for mixed-traffic and secondary passenger locomotives from 1949, following pure LNWR style with black base colour and elaborate red, cream (off-white), and grey lining patterns. The lining specification comprised 5/8" grey, 1/8" cream, 1½" black, and ¼" red bands, with the layout consistent with LNWR practice including deep and shallow valances lined along bottom edges only, unlike green engines. The first lined black engines appeared in August 1948 when Hall 5954 appeared so painted, becoming one of the first to carry the "Lion and Wheel" emblem around the same time.

A wide range of engines was eligible for this livery, from powerful V2s and Counties down to tiny Southern Terriers, encompassing County, Hall, Grange, Manor, Saint, Prairie tanks, and numerous pre-grouping designs of varied shapes and sizes. This created many variations and interpretation problems due to the diverse locomotive types involved, with regional differences in splasher lining treatment—the Eastern Region used red-only splasher lining, whilst the Southern Region evolved from inset to edge lining styles. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides above the middle axle box, with the Western Region favouring larger sizes on tenders and bigger tank engines. An interesting period detail saw number plates routinely painted red from late 1949 to early 1952, adding colour contrast to the otherwise black scheme. This livery represented BR's commitment to standardising mixed-traffic operations whilst maintaining the decorative traditions that distinguished passenger-rated locomotives from plain freight engines.