Bachmann 32-216

Tooling

Introduced in 1999, Bachmann's new tooling for the GWR Class 8750 (from 1999) and 57xx, 67xx (from 2005) Pannier Tank locomotives marked a significant upgrade over the earlier Mainline-derived models. Designed for modern standards, this tooling offered improved fidelity, mechanical reliability, and full DCC compatibility, making it a favourite among modellers seeking accurate and versatile representations of these iconic locomotives.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO Gauge (1:76)
• Construction: Injection-moulded bodyshell with separately fitted components
• Detailing: Rivet and panel detail, turned brass whistles, metal handrails, sprung buffers
• Couplings: Tension-lock couplings in NEM pockets
• Variants Covered: 57xx, 67xx, and 8750 subclasses

Mechanical & Electrical

• Motor: 3-pole can motor
• Drive: All-wheel drive with smooth gearing
• Minimum Radius: Compatible with Radius 1 curves
• Weighting: Balanced with internal weights for traction
• Lighting: No factory lighting
• Electrical Pickup: All wheels

DCC Capability

• DCC Ready: Yes, with 8-pin socket
• DCC On Board: Some models released with factory-fitted decoders
• Sound: No speaker provision; requires modification for sound fitting

Liveries Produced

This tooling has supported a wide range of authentic and fictional liveries:

• GWR Green and Black
• BR Black (plain, early emblem, late crest)
• London Transport Maroon
• National Coal Board Green
• Private Owner and Freelance schemes
• Preservation-era specials (e.g. Railway Children Train Pack)

Reviews & Commentary

• Performance: Smooth and quiet running with good haulage
• Detailing: Widely praised for accuracy and realism
• Community Sentiment: Positive reception across forums and YouTube reviews
• Media: Featured in layout showcases, unboxings, and preservation-themed videos

Train Sets

Notable releases include:

• 30-575: Railway Children Train Pack featuring No. 5775 in GNSR ochre

Interesting Notes

• Tooling designed to accommodate multiple subclasses with accurate cab and boiler variations
• Models remain popular for both layout operation and display
• Often used in preservation-themed layouts due to wide livery selection

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

The ‘Pannier Tank’ is undoubtedly one of the most iconic tank locomotives to have operated in Great Britain, with the real locomotives being built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) over a period of more than fifty years and to evolving designs. The Class 8750 Pannier Tank was part of the 57XX family, the most numerous of any Pannier built by the GWR, and now you too can enjoy OO Scale models of this Western stalwart thanks to the Bachmann Branchline range.

Humble yet unmistakable, the Branchline model carries all the hallmarks of the GWR’s Class 8750 Pannier Tank and offers high performance to match. Employing a high fidelity bodyshell which is injection moulded complete with rivet and panel detailing, numerous components are then added separately to capture many aspects of the prototype in full relief, from the tank fillers to the safety valves, whistles and whistle guard. Metal handrails are then added, fitting into individual metal handrail knobs where appropriate, and the model also sports sprung metal buffers at each end along with fine metal took rests mounted to the rear of the bunker.

The chassis, powered by a substantial 3 pole motor, carries an 8 pin DCC decoder socket and is adorned with details like the springs, brake blocks, brake rigging and sand boxes – accompanied by separate wire sandpipes. NEM couplings pockets can be found at the front and rear, allowing the tension lock couplings supplied with the model to be easily removed and exchanged for an alternative system. The livery is applied to the usual high standard you would expect from a Bachmann model, with rich paintwork adorned with finely printed lining, lettering and numbering to produce a model that is fit for those modelling BR’s Western Region or the preservation scene.

Class & Prototype

The GWR 5700 Class was Britain's most prolific pannier tank locomotive, with 863 examples built between 1929 and 1950. Designed by Charles Collett as standard replacements for ageing Victorian tank engines, these versatile 0-6-0 locomotives featured revolutionary pannier tanks that enabled efficient Belpaire firebox adoption whilst providing superior maintenance access.

Operating across 90% of the GWR network, they handled everything from coal trains to passenger services, with thirteen examples serving London Transport until 1971. Built by seven manufacturers including North British, Swindon Works, and various contractors, the class demonstrated exceptional standardisation despite diverse construction sources.

Sixteen locomotives survive in preservation across heritage railways, whilst modern models from Accurascale, Bachmann, and others capture their distinctive character with unprecedented detail accuracy. The class epitomised GWR engineering excellence and became the template for all subsequent British pannier tank development.

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' plain black livery remained the standard finish for freight and shunting locomotives from 1956 onwards, representing the most economical and practical scheme for inherently dirty industrial operations. Plain black locomotives retained red buffer beams and received white lettering in Gill Sans style, maintaining the utilitarian approach established in the early BR period. The livery was applied to a vast range of locomotive types, from powerful freight engines like the 9F class down to humble shunting locomotives and industrial engines working in goods yards, collieries, and freight terminals.

From 1956, these locomotives received the new "Lion and Crown" emblem (nicknamed the "Ferret and Dartboard"), a proper heraldic device featuring a rampant lion emerging from a crown and holding a spoked wheel, enclosed in a roundel with "British Railways" displayed on bars either side. Unlike earlier practice, the new emblem was positioned centrally on tender sides or tank sides without reference to axle boxes, following heraldic conventions with the lion facing left. This livery period coincided with increasing neglect as steam operations wound down, with locomotives often covered in layers of grime that obscured the paintwork and made the already austere black finish appear even more weathered. The plain black finish continued until individual locomotives were withdrawn from service, with many examples lasting into the final years of steam operation in 1968. For modellers, this livery represents the twilight of steam freight operations, capturing the workaday reality of British Railways' industrial locomotive fleet during the final phase of steam traction.