Bachmann 31-965

Tooling

In 2011, Bachmann Branchline introduced a major upgrade to its long-standing A4 Pacific tooling. This retool replaced the older split-chassis design from 1995 with a modern mechanism and improved detailing, bringing the model up to contemporary standards. The upgrade was part of Bachmann’s broader program to modernize key LNER classes, ensuring competitive performance and finish against Hornby’s super-detailed A4 range.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76).
• Construction: Plastic bodyshell with separately fitted details; chassis combines metal and plastic for strength and weight.
• Detailing: Factory-fitted handrails, lamp irons, safety valves, whistles, bufferbeam detail, and pipework. Sprung buffers and chemically blackened wheels add realism. Cab glazing and painted cab interior included.
• Couplings: NEM pockets with tension-lock couplers; cosmetic screw-link couplings supplied for display.

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor & Drive: Smooth-running 5-pole motor located in the locomotive, driving the main driving wheels.
• Chassis: Modern solid-frame design with all-wheel pickup for reliable performance.
• Minimum Radius: Designed for second radius curves (approx. 438 mm).
• Lighting: No factory lighting provision.
• Weighting: Metal components within chassis and tender for improved adhesion.
• Power Collection: 2-rail DC.

DCC Capability

The 2011 tooling is DCC Ready with an 8-pin socket located in the locomotive. Provision for a 28mm round speaker is included for sound installation, although sound was not factory-fitted.

Liveries Produced

The retooled A4 has been released in a variety of authentic schemes, including:

• LNER Garter Blue (with and without valances)
• LNER Silver Grey (“Silver Jubilee”)
• BR Express Passenger Blue
• BR Green (early and late crests)
• Special editions for preserved locomotives such as Mallard, Sir Nigel Gresley, Union of South Africa, Dominion of Canada, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Performance & Reviews

The upgrade was widely praised for its smooth, quiet running and improved slow-speed control compared to the older split-chassis design. Reviewers noted the model’s excellent finish and robust mechanism, though some commented that body mouldings were less refined than Hornby’s equivalent. Enthusiasts appreciated the ease of DCC fitting and the inclusion of sprung buffers and NEM couplers. Haulage capacity was considered adequate for typical express passenger trains.

Media & Community Commentary

The 2011 A4 tooling received positive coverage in model railway magazines and online forums. Video reviews on platforms like YouTube highlight its reliable performance and improved detailing. Social media discussions often compare it favorably to Hornby’s A4, citing availability and consistent quality as strong points.

Interesting Notes

• The upgrade marked the end of Bachmann’s split-chassis era for steam models.
• Accessory packs included additional detail parts for customization.
• Special commemorative releases coincided with events such as the “Great Gathering” of preserved A4 locomotives in 2013.

Class & Prototype

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 green livery was designated for express passenger locomotives from 1949, painted in BS224 Deep Bronze Green (also known as Land Rover Deep Bronze Green) with orange and black lining, contrary to popular misconceptions about it being GWR Brunswick Green. Official BR documentation described this as "Dark Green lined Black and Orange" for selected express passenger steam locomotives, with the lining following GWR-style patterns but with distinct BR specifications. The "Lion and Wheel" emblem (nicknamed the "Cycling Lion") adorned these prestigious locomotives from early 1949, showing a lion standing over a spoked wheel with "British Railways" lettering across the centre.

Only the most powerful passenger classes received this elaborate livery—on the Western Region, this included Kings, Castles, and Stars, whilst other regions applied it to their premier express types like Coronations, A4s, A3s, A1s, and Merchant Navy Pacifics. Initially, the most prestigious locomotives of each region were actually painted in Sky Blue with black and white lining, but this proved unpopular and was quickly superseded by the green scheme. The emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides above the middle axle box, with regional variations in size preference—the Western Region favoured larger emblems whilst other regions typically used smaller versions. Lettering and numbering appeared in golden yellow Gill Sans Medium, normally outlined in black where the background wasn't black. This prestigious livery represented BR's finest locomotives until the corporate identity changed in 1956, making it essential for authentic early BR express passenger operations in model form.