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Bachmann 31-910

LB&SCR H1 Atlantic 39 'La France' LB&SCR Lined Umber

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

Prototype Eras
Era 2 (1875 to 1923) Pre-grouping
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

H1 Class Atlantic 4-4-2 No 39 'La France' LBSCR

Built: 1911 – 1912

Built for: LB&SCR (absorbed by the SR)

Designed by: Douglas E. Marsh

Duties: passenger

Wheels: 4-4-0

Highlights

• Hinged tender fall-plate

• Adjustable tender draw-bar length

• Opening fire-box door

• Accessory pack includes route indicator discs

• Representation of the inside valve gear

History

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway H1 class was a 4-4-2 steam locomotive designed for express passenger work. They were designed by D. E. Marsh and built by Messrs Kitson & Co. in 1905 and 1906.

No 39 was named La France from Jun 1913 to Jan 1926, following its use on the train for a State visit of the French President; this was the only Brighton Atlantic to carry a name in LBSCR days. During 1925 and 1926 the H1 class were gradually replaced on the London-Brighton express trains by the "King Arthur" and "River" classes, but there was still plenty of work for them on other express services, including the boat trains connecting with the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service. At the same time they were all named after geographical features of the south coast.

Following the cessation of the cross-channel ferries after 1940, due to hostilities, the class was left with reduced duties and several were put into store or else moved to miscellaneous duties in southern England. The first members of the class were withdrawn in 1944.

In July 1947 No. 2039 was experimentally rebuilt with sleeve valves by Oliver Bulleid as a mobile test bed in preparation for his Leader class locomotives. It was never returned to its original state and in common with the remainder of the class had been withdrawn by 1951. None have survived.

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 LB&SCR H1 Atlantic 39 “La France” is a 00 scale model locomotive presented in a pristine finish. The model is supplied in two liveries – a green finish with the running number 6943 and an umber finish with the running number 39. Both versions carry a pristine appearance and are designed for use on layouts with a minimum radius of the first curve (371 mm) for the green version and the second curve (438 mm) for the umber version.

The umber‑liveried La France measures 250 mm in length, is DCC ready with a 21‑pin socket and bears the original LB&SCR number 39. The green‑liveried version measures 138 mm, is not DCC equipped and carries the number 6943. Both models are listed under Bachmann part number 31‑910.

The prototype was a London, Brighton & South Coast Railway H1 class Atlantic locomotive, wheel arrangement 4‑4‑2, designed by Douglas E. Marsh and built by Kitson & Co. in 1905–1906. Only five were produced; No 39 was named “La France” from June 1913 to January 1926 after hauling the state visit of the French President. The class served express passenger duties until the mid‑1920s and was progressively withdrawn after World War II, with the final examples gone by 1951. No original locomotives survive.