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Bachmann 31-999Z

LMS 10000 Black & Chrome With LMS Lettering Diesel Locomotive

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

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

Exclusive to Rails of Sheffield

The LMS ‘Twins’ – Nos. 10000 and 10001 – were the very first mainline diesel locomotives built in the UK. Launched in December 1947, this model, exclusive to Rails, showcases the pioneering No.10000 in its as built guise with full LMS Chrome lettering.

Entering traffic in the final days of the LMS, the locomotive was inherited by British Railways which soon applied its colourful emblems providing a stark contrast with the black bodysides and silver roof, bogies and embellishments. In this original condition, No. 10000 operated on the Midland Region hauling trains both alone and as a pair with its twin, providing additional haulage power and range.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale

• Eras 3 and 4

• Pristine LMS Black livery

• Running No. 10000

• Equipped with a 21 pin DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-557A

• Sound files produced specifically for the LMS 10000/10001 using recordings from real locomotives

• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Four Headcode Lights & Brackets at each end

• Bodyside Steps

• Original Exhaust Panels

LMS 10000 & 10001 CLASS HISTORY

The LMS ‘Twins’ Nos. 10000 and 10001 were the first mainline diesel locomotives built in Great Britain. A joint venture between the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) and English Electric, the pair were first conceived in 1946. The body and chassis design was undertaken by the LMS’s Chief Mechanical Engineer H. G. Ivatt, and English Electric provided the engine, electric systems and machinery. Construction of No. 10000 began at Derby Works in 1947 and the locomotive was outshopped in December of that year, days before Nationalisation of Britain’s railways.

Both locomotives entered traffic in an eye-catching black and silver livery, with large chrome numbers fitted at each end of the bodysides, below the cab windows. The letters LMS were also applied in chrome to No. 10000, however No. 10001 did not enter service until mid-1948, with British Railways completing its construction, and so it entered traffic with neither LMS nor BR markings.

The locomotives worked both singularly and as a pair on the Midland Main Line and West Coast Main Line, hauling named expresses and lower key services, and venturing north of the border into Scotland. Interconnecting doors were fitted within the noses of each engine, allowing crew and personnel to move between the two in motion, but this feature was seldom used.

In 1953 the Twins were sent to the Southern Region, being fitted with an additional pair of marker lights and lamp brackets beforehand which made them compatible with the SR’s practice of using headcodes to denote both train types and routes. During a two year period on the Southern Region the Twins worked alongside the Southern’s own diesel prototypes before returning to the Midland Region in 1955.

As prototypes, changes and modifications were made to the locomotives during the years and this included the fitting of water scoops to allow water for the steam heat boiler to be collected from troughs located between the rails ‘on the move’. Ironically, in common with many early diesels, the performance of the steam heat boilers was woeful, and in colder months the pair were often relegated to freight workings where steam heat provision was not required.

By the late-1950s new, production series diesel locomotives were arriving en-masse and whilst their time in service had been highly educational and helped to shape the BR diesel fleet, the writing was on the wall for this pair on non-standard prototypes. No. 10000 was officially withdrawn in December 1963, whilst No. 10001 lasted to March 1966, kept going with components salvaged from its Twin. Sadly, neither was saved and both were subsequently scrapped, but their legacy carried on in the Class 40s, 50s and 56s which all used versions of the English Electric 16SVT engine and today, works is ongoing to build a replica of No. 10000.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Bachmann LMS 10000 Black & Chrome with LMS lettering is a limited‑edition OO‑scale model released exclusively for the Rails of Sheffield range. It carries the manufacturer part number 31‑999Z and is supplied with a 21‑pin DCC decoder socket (decoder item No 36‑557A) and interior lighting. The model is fitted with sound files recorded from the original locomotives and can operate on both DCC and analogue control.

The prototype, LMS nos 10000 and 10001, were the first main‑line diesel locomotives built in the United Kingdom. No 10000 was completed at Derby Works in December 1947, just before the nationalisation of the railways, and entered traffic in the final days of the LMS before passing to British Railways.

In its original condition the locomotive is presented in LMS black livery with silver roof, bogies and chrome lettering on the bodysides. Detail variations include four headcode lights and brackets at each end, bodyside steps, original exhaust panels and inter‑connecting doors in the noses.

During service the twins worked on the Midland and West Coast Main Lines, later spending a period on the Southern Region where additional marker lights were fitted. No 10000 was withdrawn on 31 December 1963 and No 10001 in March 1966; both were subsequently scrapped. The model reflects the prototype’s historical appearance and technical specifications for collectors and railway enthusiasts.