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Bachmann 32-617

Class 90 90044 Freightliner G&W

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

Prototype Eras
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Announced as part of our Summer 2022 British Railway Announcements, we are delighted to present the beautiful Bachmann Branchline Class 90 as No. 90044 in Freightliner Genesee & Wyoming livery.

Look no further than the Branchline Class 90 if you’re searching for the pinnacle in British OO scale Electric locomotives. Combining a highly accurate and detailed body shell with an authentic chassis and bogies – each featuring a wealth of separately fitted detail – the Branchline Class 90 captures the distinctive shape and character of the real locomotives to a tee. Add to this the multiple lighting functions and their realistic operations, such as the Day or Night mode for the directional lighting and the cab lights that illuminate only in the direction of travel and when the model is stationary, and it’s easy to see why this model is the complete package. What’s more, when used on DCC the Pantograph, which itself is a fine reproduction featuring metal components, can be operated remotely via the built-in servo motor, meaning you can raise and lower this characteristic feature at any time, without having to intervene by hand. For the ultimate experience opt for one of our SOUND FITTED models which offers authentic sound effects and is pre-configured for DCC operation of the motorised pantograph.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 9
• Pristine Freightliner G&W livery
• Running No. 90044
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-569A
• Length 250mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Rectangular Freight Buffers
• Screw link Couplings
• TDM Cables fitted to the Buffer Sides
• Original Slatted Horn Grille with Two Horns
• Large Battery Charger
• Battery Boxes and Switch with Hinged Access panels which are Ribbed

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 90 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Five pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies
• All axle drive
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
• Diecast metal chassis block
• Gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Close coupling mechanism fitted at each end, each of which is fitted with coupling pockets to NEM362 standards
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Metal Pantograph, sprung for posing in the up or down position, or can be raised/lowered via the built-in servo motor when operated on DCC
• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail
• Separately applied metal detail parts, including horn grilles, roof grilles, lamp irons and aerials
• Sprung buffers
• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control
• Day/Night Mode, selectable on DCC or Analogue control
• Directional lights and Day/Night Mode selection is controlled via easy-access switches on the roof when operated on Analogue control
• Cab lighting, switchable on/off (at the leading end, when used on DCC only)
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• 21 Pin DCC decoder interface
• Easy-access DCC decoder socket located underneath removable roof panel

SOUND:

• Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
• ESU Loksound V5DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 90 using recordings from real locomotives
• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied.

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models
• Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR/TOC specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours

 

 

CLASS 90 HISTORY 

Fifty Class 90 locomotives were ordered by British Rail in 1986 to replace the ageing Class 85 fleet on West Coast Main Line duties, whilst also allowing BR to cascade a number of Class 86s to East Anglia. Constructed at British Rail Engineering Limited, Crewe, the new locomotives were initially classified as 87/2s however this was soon changed to Class 90 as the design featured a completely new body-shell – although much of the technology within was shared with the Class 87s.

Construction of the 110mph rated locomotives was completed in 1990 and the fleet was split between different sectors of British Rail – 15 were allocated to InterCity services, five for Rail Express Systems (mail and parcels traffic) and the remaining 30 for Railfreight Distribution. Most of those allocated to Railfreight Distribution would later be downgraded to 75mph and reclassified as 90/1s numbered in the 901xx series following work to isolate the Electric Train Heating and push-pull equipment making them dedicated freight locos.

Upon privatisation the Class 90 fleet was split between Virgin Trains, EWS and Freightliner. By 1999 all of the Class 90/1s acquired by EWS had been converted back to 90/0s due to an increased requirement for passenger locomotives to work contracted ScotRail sleeper trains and for hire to GNER for East Coast Main Line services. Further renumbering by EWS occurred when nine locos were fitted with different brake blocks and these became Class 90/2s numbered in the 902xx series. The Freightliner locos were also converted back to their original specification in the early 2000s.

The Class 90s have carried numerous liveries including three decorated in European liveries for the Freightconnection event in 1992 which coincided with the opening of the Channel Tunnel to freight services. No. 90128 was decorated in SNCB turquoise (Belgium), No. 90129 in DB red (Germany) and No. 90130 in SNCF orange and grey (France) and each carried the name Freightconnection in their respective languages, alongside No. 90022 which was named ‘Freightconnection’ and carried Railfreight Distribution livery.

The majority of the Class have carried names whilst in service and the 90s have appeared a variety of other post-Privatisation liveries such as GNER, DB Schenker, First ScotRail, One (Anglia), Greater Anglia, National Express, DRS and Malcolm Logistics. Today, Class 90s remain in operation with Freightliner, DB Cargo UK (ex-EWS/DB Schenker) and most recently Locomotive Services which has acquired Nos. 90001 and 90002 and repainted them into InterCity Swallow livery for use on charters and excursions.

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 Class 90 (model number 32‑617) is an OO‑scale replica of British Rail Class 90 locomotive No. 90044, presented in Freightliner G&W orange livery. The model is described as being in pristine condition, measures 250 mm in length and carries a 21‑pin DCC decoder socket, making it DCC‑ready. It features directional and cab lighting, a metal pantograph with a built‑in servo motor for remote operation, and optional sound fitting with an ESU Loksound V5DCC decoder.

The locomotive is powered by a five‑pole twin‑shaft motor with two flywheels driving both bogies, and each axle is equipped with separate metal bearings. It reproduces the original’s electrical pickup from all wheels and runs on 16.5 mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM‑310/311 standards. The model includes rectangular freight buffers, screw‑link couplings, TDM cables, a slatted horn grille with two horns, and detailed metal parts such as roof grilles and lamp irons. It is suitable for operation on curves of second radius (438 mm) or greater and can achieve both 75 mph and 110 mph speed settings.

The prototype locomotives were built between 1987 and 1990, with a total of 50 produced for British Rail’s initial privatisation period. They were originally intended for West Coast Main Line duties and later re‑classified for freight work, ultimately entering service with operators such as Freightliner, Virgin Trains and DB Cargo UK. This model represents the initial privatisation era and was announced as part of the summer 2022 British Railway announcements.