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Bachmann 32-131A

GWR 4575 Prairie Tank 5526 GWR Green (Great Western)

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

Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

Unveiled in the Spring 2022 British Railway Announcements, we are delighted to present the Bachmann Branchline GWR 4575 Class Prairie Tank as No. 5526 in GWR Green livery with Great Western lettering.

The Great Western Railway has long been a favourite subject amongst railway modellers and the Bachmann Branchline 4575 Class Prairie Tank is sure to be a valuable addition to the motive power fleet of any GWR-based layout. With its fine lines and beautiful livery, this Branchline model is assembled from countless components to produce a highly detailed model which reflects all the character of the prototype. With No. 5526 now preserved at the South Devon Railway, this model is sure to be a popular addition to the Branchline range.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 3
• Pristine GWR Green (Great Western) livery
• Running No. 5526
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Powerful 3 Pole Motor
• Equipped with a 8 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-566
• Length 150mm

4575 PRAIRIE TANK HISTORY

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4575 Class is a Small Prairie Tank locomotive which was built as a continuation of the 45XX Class. The key difference between the two Classes is the 4575’s increased water capacity of 1,300 gallons, some 300 gallons more than the 45XX and housed in larger tanks which are distinguished by their sloping top at the front end. This increased capacity added 4 tons to the weight of the locos when compared to the 45XXs, with the 4575s tipping the scales at 61 tons. Built at the GWR’s Swindon Works, exactly 100 engines were constructed between 1927 and 1929 and these were numbered 4575–4599 and 5500–5574. These would be the last of the Small Prairies built to the 45XX/4575 design.

Designed for branch line operation, these charming little engines were an everyday feature of the West Country scene and in the early-1950s, a small number were fitted with auto apparatus to work push-pull trains in the South Wales valleys. With the introduction of diesel traction, the first 4575s were withdrawn in the mid-1950s, however this process was drawn out over many years and four survived until December 1964. With many of the Class ending up in Barry Scrapyard after withdrawal, the 4575s became easy targets for preservationists and some 11 examples survive today.

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 Branchline GWR 4575 Prairie Tank No 5526 is an OO‑scale model of a Great Western Railway small Prairie Tank locomotive. The model is finished in pristine GWR Green livery, carries the running number 5526 and measures 150 mm in length. It is fitted with a three‑pole motor and an 8‑pin DCC decoder socket (recommended decoder No 36‑566), and includes NEM coupling pockets, sprung buffers and an accessory pack. The manufacturer part number is 32‑131A and the model is classed as Era 3.

The locomotive is a 2‑6‑2T steam engine designed by Charles Collett and built by the GWR at Swindon Works between 1927 and 1929. One hundred examples of the 4575 Class were produced, numbered 4575‑4599 and 5500‑5574, and they were intended for branch‑line work in the West Country. The class featured an increased water capacity of 1 300 imperial gallons and a weight of 61 tons. Withdrawal began in the mid‑1950s, with the last four engines taken out of service in December 1964; eleven have been preserved, including No 5526 at the South Devon Railway.

The model was announced in the Spring 2022 edition of British Railway Announcements and is marketed as a suitable addition to GWR‑based layouts, representing the period of the Big Four railway companies (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR).