Bachmann 32-490SF

Class 40 Centre Headcode (ScR) 40063 BR Blue

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

Prototype Era
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The Class 40 Diesel Locomotive has long been a highlight of the Bachmann Branchline OO scale fleet, and for 2023 this popular model has been upgraded to bring you more features than ever before. New tooling has also been produced and is employed here to depict this Scottish Region locomotive which has seen its headcode discs and communication doors replaced with central headcode panels. The distinguishing features of these Scottish locos – their square-cornered headcode boxes, the lack of handrails around the headcode boxes and the uneven bottom to the nose – are all present and correct on this model of No. 40063 which carries BR Blue livery which is supplied with SOUND FITTED.

With the DCC decoder interface upgraded to Plux22; new lighting features and enhanced speaker arrangements have also been employed on the Class 40 to enhance the operating experience – all of which can be enjoyed out of the box with this SOUND FITTED model. On track the model has a mighty presence, just like the real locomotives and, with its five pole, twin flywheel motor powering all six driving wheels, you can be sure of a performance to match too. This Class 40’s good looks are enriched by the superb livery application using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos to produce a model fit for any collection.

 

 

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

 

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 40 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

DETAILING:

LIGHTING:

DCC:

SOUND:

LIVERY APPLICATION:

 

SOUNDS

F0 - Directional Lights - On/Off (plus Light Switch Sound)

F1 - On - Warm Engine Start / On, Off - Failed Engine Start / On, Off, On - Cold Engine Start

F2 - Brake

F3* - Horn

F4* - Horn

F5 - Heavy Load

F6 - Coasting (Manual notch Down if F22 On)

F7 - Maximum Revs (Manual notch Up if F22 On)

F8** - On - Coupling Up / Off - Uncoupling

F9 - Flange Squeal (Speed Related)

F10 - Fan Noise

F11 - On - Guard’s Whistle / Off - Driver’s Response Horn

F12 - Cab Lights On/Off No. 1 End (plus Light Switch Sound)

F13 - Cab Lights On/Off No. 2 End (plus Light Switch Sound)

F14 - High Intensity Headlight (if fitted, F0 must be ON)

F15 - Auto Uncouple Cycle

F16 - AWS Horn

F17 - AWS Bell

F18 - On - Sound Fades Out / Off - Sound Fades In

F19 - Mute (Latch) / Volume Cycles 6 Levels (Trigger)

F20 - No. 1 End (Fan) Directional Lights Off

F21 - No. 2 End (non-Fan) Directional Lights Off

F22 - Manual Notching Logic On/Off (control with F6 & F7)

F23 - Spirax Valve

F24 - Station Announcement

F25 - On - Driver’s Door Open / Off - Driver’ Door Shut

F26 - Air Dump

F27 - Exhauster

*Alternative Horn sounds and behaviour can be selected via CV changes

** Alternative coupling sounds can be selected via CV changes

Analogue Users: Please note that normal load running sounds and any other automatic or randomised sounds will also operate when this model is used on analogue control (DC) straight from the box!

 

CLASS 40 HISTORY

The British Rail Class 40 is a British Railways diesel-electric locomotive, rated at 2,000 hp and classified as a Type 4. A total of 200 were built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962 and numbered in the series D200-D399. They were for a time the pride of the British Rail early diesel fleet. Despite their initial success, by the time the last examples were entering service they were already being replaced on some top-link duties by more powerful locomotives. As they were slowly relegated from express passenger uses, the type found work on secondary passenger and freight services where they worked for many years. The final locomotives ended regular service in 1985.

Class 40s operated in all areas of British Railways although Western and Southern Region workings were less common. After the early trials, the majority of Class 40s were based at depots in northern England; notably Longsight, Carlisle Kingmoor, and Wigan Springs Branch on the Midland Region, and Thornaby and Gateshead on the Eastern Region.

The heyday of the Class was in the early 1960s when they hauled top-link expresses on the West Coast Main Line and in East Anglia. However, the arrival of more powerful diesel locomotives, such as Class 47s and Class 55s, together with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line, meant that the fleet was gradually relegated to more mundane duties. In later life, the locomotives were mainly to be found hauling heavy freight and passenger trains in the north of England and Scotland. As additional new rolling stock was introduced, their passenger work decreased, partly due to their lack of electric train heating for newer passenger coaches. They lost their last front-line passenger duties - in Scotland - in 1980, and the last regular use on passenger trains was on the North Wales Coast Line between Holyhead, Crewe and Manchester, along with regular forays across the Pennines on Liverpool to York and Newcastle services.

Throughout the early 1980s Class 40s were common performers on relief, day excursion (adex) and holidaymaker services along with deputising for electric traction, especially on Sundays between Manchester and Birmingham. This resulted in visits to many distant parts of the network. It would be fair to say that few routes in the London Midland and Eastern regions did not see Class 40-worked passenger services from time to time. Regular destinations included the seaside resorts of Scarborough, Skegness and Cleethorpes on the Eastern region, with Blackpool and Stranraer being regularly visited on the West Coast.

Catalogue listing

Brand
Bachmann
Range
Branchline
Product Code
32-490SF
GTIN
803393072094
RRP
£329.95
Catalogue
Summer 2023
Release date
September 2023

Model details

DCC status
DCC Sound Fitted
Scale
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
Chassis construction
Plastic & metal
Coupling mount
NEM pockets
Coupling type
Tension lock
Minimum radius
Radius 2
Motor
5 pole & twin flywheel
Livery
Blue
Finish
Pristine
Based on preserved
No
Passenger figures
No
Coupling
NEM
Minimum radius curve
2nd Radius (438mm)
Tooling date
2023
Features
Pickup in tender
Interior lighting
Directional lighting

Prototype information

Locomotive type
Diesel-Electric
Builder
English Electric at Vulcan Foundry
Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns
Build dates
1958 to 1962
Total built
200
Tractive effort
52,000 lbf
Wheel configuration
1Co-Co1
Operated by
British Rail
Main duties
Mixed Traffic
In service until
1985
Locomotive class*
Class 40
Motive power
Diesel

* 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.

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Related products

The Bachmann Class 40 Centre Headcode (ScR) 40063 model is a British Rail Blue locomotive in OO scale, featuring new tooling and a range of authentic details. This model is part of the Branchline range by Bachmann and is available with a DCC sound decoder. The locomotive has a length of 285mm and a minimum radius curve of 2nd radius (438mm).

The model features a Scottish Region design, with central headcode panels, square-cornered headcode boxes, and an uneven bottom to the nose. The livery is a pristine BR Blue, and the model comes with directional lighting, interior lighting, and a range of authentic details such as grab handles, sand pipes, and etched fan grilles.

The mechanism of the model includes a five pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels, providing drive to both bogies, and a 1Co-Co1 drive arrangement with six axle drive. The model also features electrical pickup from all twelve driving wheels, separate metal bearings, and gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities.

The model is fitted with a Plux22 DCC decoder interface and features two quality speakers for optimum sound reproduction. The sound decoder is an ESU Loksound V5DCC, and the model comes with a range of authentic sound files recorded from real locomotives.

The Class 40 was a British Railways diesel-electric locomotive built between 1958 and 1962, with a total of 200 units produced. They were initially used for top-link duties but were gradually relegated to secondary passenger and freight services. The locomotives operated in various regions, including the North, Scotland, and the West Coast Main Line, and were eventually withdrawn from service in 1985.

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