Bachmann 31-778

Tooling

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 6959 ‘Modified Hall’ Class was introduced in 1944 as a development of the Hall Class by Frederick Hawksworth. Bachmann’s OO gauge model of the Modified Hall entered the market in the mid-1990s, using tooling originally created by Replica Railways around 1990. This tooling represented a significant step forward in UK RTR steam locomotive standards at the time, offering improved detailing compared to earlier Mainline and Airfix designs.

Tooling Features

• Scale: OO gauge (1:76) for 16.5mm track.
• Construction: Injection-moulded plastic bodyshell with diecast chassis components.
• Detailing: Factory-fitted handrails, smokebox door detail, cab glazing, and basic cab interior. Brake rigging and pipework were moulded rather than separately fitted on early runs.
• Couplings: Standard tension-lock couplers mounted directly to the chassis (no NEM pockets on this tooling).

Mechanical & Electrical

• Chassis: Split-frame design typical of early Bachmann tooling.
• Motor & Drive: 3-pole can motor mounted in the chassis, driving the locomotive wheels via a gear train.
• Pickups: Electrical pickup from driving wheels only.
• Minimum Radius: Recommended second radius (approx. 438–450mm).
• Weighting: Internal weights in boiler and chassis for traction.
• Lighting: No factory lighting provision.

DCC Capability

The 1990s tooling was not DCC-ready. Its split-chassis design makes conversion possible but complex, requiring isolation of the motor and rewiring. This was widely regarded as a weak point for digital control adoption.

Liveries Produced

Bachmann issued a range of authentic liveries during the 1990s production runs, including:

• GWR Lined Green (Era 3)
• BR Lined Black with Early Emblem (Era 4)
• BR Lined Green with Early Emblem (Era 4)
• BR Lined Green with Late Crest (Era 5)

Reviews & Commentary

At launch, the model was praised for its smooth running and improved finish compared to earlier Replica releases. However, enthusiasts noted limitations in fine detail and the complexity of DCC conversion. Over time, axle muff splitting became a known issue, requiring repairs. Despite these drawbacks, the model was considered a reliable performer for layouts of the period and remains fondly remembered by collectors.

Interesting Notes

• The tooling lineage from Replica Railways to Bachmann illustrates the transitional era in UK RTR steam models during the 1990s.
• Later Bachmann runs using this tooling sometimes included minor refinements, but the core split-chassis design remained unchanged until the 2012 retool.

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.