Bachmann 31-166

Tooling

In 2013, Bachmann Branchline unveiled its OO gauge model of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 5 2-4-2T Radial Tank, designed by J.A.F. Aspinall. This class was a mainstay of suburban and branch passenger services from 1889 onwards, with over 300 locomotives built at Horwich Works. The prototype is notable for being the only British standard-gauge 2-4-2 tank engine preserved—No. 1008, now at the National Railway Museum. Bachmann’s release filled a significant gap in pre-grouping and LMS-era modelling, offering enthusiasts an accurate representation of this iconic radial tank.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76)
• Construction: Plastic bodyshell with metal chassis for strength and weight
• Detailing: Separately fitted handrails, lamp irons, coal rails, brass safety valves, smokebox door dart, whistle, bufferbeam detailing, fully detailed cab interior with painted gauges and glazing, pre-fitted pipework, brake rigging, and fluted connecting rods with chemically blackened finish
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: 3-pole motor located in the locomotive body
• Drive: Loco-driven wheels with pickups on all axles for smooth running
• Minimum Radius: Second radius (approx. 450 mm)
• Weighting: Built into the boiler for improved adhesion
• Lighting: None provided

DCC Capability

DCC Ready with a 6-pin socket located in the bunker. Decoder installation requires removal of the blanking plate. No factory sound provision, but aftermarket sound fitting is possible.

Liveries Produced

The tooling has supported a wide range of liveries across multiple eras:

• L&YR lined black (including NRM Special Edition of No. 1008)
• LMS black and LMS crimson lake (1923–1947)
• BR black with early emblem and British Railways lettering (1948–1957)

Weathered and DCC-fitted variants have also been offered.

Reviews & Commentary

The model has received strong praise for its fine detailing, cab interior finish, and smooth running:

• Sam’s Trains Review – Highlights diecast chassis, crisp lining, and reliable mechanism
• Class47Peter Running Session – Commends intricate rivet detail and accurate cab fittings

Social media and forums note its appeal to pre-grouping modellers and versatility for LMS and BR layouts.

Interesting Facts

• The prototype featured a water scoop system—unusual for a tank engine—allowing water pickup from troughs without stopping.
• Bachmann’s choice of No. 1008 for the NRM edition reflects its historical significance as the first Horwich-built locomotive and sole survivor of the class.

Class & Prototype

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Class 5 comprises John Aspinall's innovative 2-4-2T radial tank locomotives built at Horwich Works between 1889-1911. Three hundred and thirty examples dominated L&Y suburban services, working 70% of all passenger mileage by 1912 across Lancashire and Yorkshire's intensive industrial railway network. Featuring Webb's distinctive radial trailing truck and Joy valve gear, these locomotives served for 72 years through L&Y, LMS, and BR eras until final withdrawal in October 1961. Only No. 1008—the first locomotive built at Horwich Works in February 1889—survives at the National Railway Museum, now on loan to Bury Transport Museum. Bachmann's 2013 OO gauge models (now discontinued, available second-hand £76-£120+) offered ten variants across L&Y lined black, LMS black/crimson, and BR lined black liveries with exceptional detail including visible radial truck and Joy valve gear.

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.