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Bachmann 32-701A

Class 46 Centre Headcode 46020 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

Highlights:

• Accessory-pack
• Directional lights

History

The Class 46 1Co-Co1 BR-Sulzer Type 4 locos were built from 1961–1963 at British Railways' Derby Works and were initially numbered D138–D193. With the arrival of TOPS they were renumbered to Class 46. Fifty-six locomotives were built. The first was withdrawn in 1977 and all of them were withdrawn by the end of 1984. Class 46s began their lives with twin headcode panels situated in the centre of the nose, and later built examples a single central headcode panel, to which all class members were progressively converted. The majority received plated over nose ends with sealed beam headlights in the 1970s. Liveries worn were standard BR lined green, 'austerity' green without the cream relieveing embellishments of the original livery, and BR Blue with full yellow ends.

The Class 46 design was structurally the same as the preceding Class 45 build, and had the same Sulzer engine, but differed in the fitment of a Brush generator and traction motors, in place of the Crompton Parkinson equipment fitted to the Class 45. Along with the other Sulzer class 44 and 45 designs they are often referred to as "Peaks", so named because the earliest of the Class 44 were named after mountains.

Despite intermittent use on freight trains, Class 46s were regular performers on passenger turns, particularly North East-South West, Trans-Pennine and secondary North East-London trains, and depot allocations reflected this with locos at Gateshead and Plymouth in 1977 giving a typical spread. Freight workings were also quite often worked over long distances, particularly "clay hoods" carrying china clay from Cornwall to the area around Stoke-on-Trent. In the 1980s the remaining locomotives were concentrated at Gateshead depot, and the final booked passenger workings for the class were the dated summer Saturday services Bradford - Weymouth (between Bradford and Birmingham New Street), Newcastle - Plymouth, Newcastle - Blackpool North, and York - Blackpool North. The Class 46s also worked several named expresses including the Yorkshire Pullman, Flying Scotsman, Hull Executive, Thames-Clyde and Thames-Forth, also known as The Waverley, on the much lamented route from Carlisle to Edinburgh via Hawick.

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 Class 46 Centre Headcode 46020 is a 2019 range model in pristine condition, representing a British Rail Class 46 “Peak” locomotive in the original BR Blue livery. The kit measures 275 mm in length, runs on a 21‑pin DCC ready socket and is capable of directional lighting. It is designed for a minimum curve radius of 438 mm (2nd radius) and is supplied with an accessory pack that includes directional lights.

Key specifications: running number 46020, diesel motive power, maximum speed 90 mph, built between 1961 and 1963, with a total production run of 56 locomotives. The model carries manufacturer part number 32‑701A and depicts the locomotive as it appeared under the TOPS British Rail Blue scheme, complete with full yellow ends.

The real Class 46 locomotives were constructed at British Railways’ Derby Works, initially numbered D138–D193, and later renumbered under TOPS. They entered service in the early 1960s, were withdrawn between 1977 and the end of 1984, and were commonly seen on passenger routes such as North East‑South West, Trans‑Pennine and secondary North East‑London services, as well as on freight duties like the “clay hoods” from Cornwall to Stoke‑on‑Trent. The class was part of the “Peak” family, sharing a Sulzer engine with Class 45 but using Brush generators and traction motors.