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Bachmann 31-367

Class 03 Ex-D2199 NCB Black

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

Manufacturer description

Class 03 D2199 NCB Black

Built: 1957 - 1962

Constructed by: BR Doncaster & Swindon Works

Duties: shunting & station pilot

Highlights

• New chassis with ‘Next18’ DCC decoder interface

• Optional buffer-beam in-fill plate to cover the NEM coupling pocket when not in use

• Flowerpot chimney

• Sprung buffers

• Driver figure fitted

History

The Class 03 diesel shunters were introduced in 1957 and were one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The 230 shunters were built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works between 1957-1962. Initially, allocation was spread around all regions except Scottish. Like other shunters of this size, the Class 03 was built for light duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially for shunting at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots.

The Class 03 locomotives survived to work over some lines with limited weight restrictions. The locomotives weighed 30 tonnes, as opposed to the 48 tons of Class 08. They were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, with two examples on the Isle of Wight lasting until 1993. In 1998, one of the Isle of Wight locos, No. 03 179, was re-instated into service by the West Anglia Great Northern Railway Company (WAGN) for service at their Hornsey depot. This remains the last operational Class 03 locomotive on the network. Over 50 locomotives have been preserved. Many 03s went on to see further service in industry, including with the National Coal Board, upon which our model is based.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Bachmann Class 03 ex‑D2199 NCB in black finish is a 108 mm (4.25 in) OO gauge model of the British Rail Class 03 diesel shunter. The kit is supplied in pristine condition with the original black livery and carries the running number D2199. The model is DCC ready via a Next18 socket and can negotiate a minimum radius curve of 371 mm (first radius). It represents a diesel‑mechanical locomotive designed for shunting and station pilot duties.

Key specifications are as follows: built between 1957 and 1961, a total of 230 examples were produced by BR Doncaster and Swindon works. The prototype locomotive has a 0‑6‑0 wheel arrangement, a maximum speed of 28.5 mph and a weight of 30 tonnes. The model bears the manufacturer part number 31‑367 and depicts the locomotive in the British Rail Blue TOPS period.

The model includes a new chassis with the Next18 DCC decoder interface, an optional buffer‑beam in‑fill plate to cover the NEM coupling pocket, a flower‑pot chimney, sprung buffers and a fitted driver figure.

The real Class 03 shunters entered service in 1957 and were among British Rail's most successful small diesel‑mechanical locomotives. They were allocated across most regions, performed light shunting duties where larger engines were unnecessary, and many later entered industrial service, including with the National Coal Board, which this model represents. Over 50 examples have been preserved, and the class remained in occasional operational use until the early 1990s.