Railway Models UK

Bachmann has revealed a fresh line of OO gauge diesel multiple units within its Branchline range, unveiling them before Model World LIVE at the NEC in Birmingham.

The new family will span the Class 168, 170 and 171 families and has been engineered from scratch. Bachmann says the project is already at an advanced stage, with production bodyshells incorporating refinements over the first engineering prototypes.

The launch programme centres on the Class 170, presenting four variations in both DCC‑ready and DCC‑Sound‑fitted versions.

35‑580/SF – Class 171/7 two‑car DMU 171727 Southern (GTR)
35‑601/SF – Class 170/1 two‑car DMU 170114 Midland Mainline
35‑602/SF – Class 170/1 two‑car DMU 170111 Cross Country

35‑625/SF – Class 170/4 three‑car DMU 170412 ScotRail
35‑626/SF – Class 170/4 three‑car DMU 170420 East Midland Railways (EMR Regional)

A tooling set will also support Class 168 variants, including /1 and /2 sub‑classes, enabling future releases in a wide range of liveries for the Turbostar fleet.

Each model will have a precision moulded bodyshell with finely engraved panel lines, door openings and ventilators. Ribbon glazing will run along the bodysides, with separate flush glazing for doors and cab windscreens. Etched metal windscreen wipers and roof grilles are also planned.

Below the bodyside, the underframe will feature a complete range of separately fitted components for engines, fuel tanks, batteries and other equipment, with all pipework and cabling reproduced. Bogies will include detailed brake and suspension parts, metal wire sandpipes, and where appropriate, tripcocks.

Both kinematically powered cars will be motorised. Bachmann states a low‑level drive system will power the inner bogie via a diecast gearbox, driving both axles, while the trailing axles run on metal pinpoint bearings. All wheels will provide electrical pickup.

A Plux22 DCC decoder will be fitted to the main driving vehicle and accessed through a removable underframe panel. Conductive couplings with close‑coupling mechanisms will link vehicles, allowing a single decoder to control the entire unit. A Bach‑Up stay‑alive system will also be included.

Lighting will feature directional lights with day and night modes, independently switchable at each end, passenger saloon illumination, and illuminated destination panels. Cab lighting and door interlock lights are available when the unit is used in DCC mode.

Working miniature couplings will be fitted at the cab ends. BSI types are used on Class 168 and 170 units, while Dellner couplings are in development for Class 171.

The Turbostar family was built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works from 1997 onwards, based on a modular design partly derived from earlier Class 165 and 166 Networker units.

The first Class 168 units were delivered to Chiltern Railways as Class 168/0 with Networker‑style cabs, later batches featuring revised cab designs. They were fitted with BSI couplings compatible with existing Chiltern stock.

Class 170 units entered service in 1999, ordered by Midland Mainline, and were produced over a seven‑year period. More than 120 units were built in two‑ and three‑car formations for a range of operators.

The Class 171, launched in 2004 for Southern, mainly differs by using Dellner couplings and adding bodyside destination displays.

Today, Turbostar units remain in extensive use across the UK, operating regional and longer‑distance services at speeds up to 100 mph.

The first models are expected to reach customers by the end of 2026.