📢 Please take a minute to read this personal message from the creator of RailwayModels.uk

Bachmann 35-352

Class 20/0 Disc Headcode & Tablet Catcher D8032 BR Green (Late Crest)

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

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

The all-new Bachmann Branchline Class 20/0 broke cover in 2021, our first New Tooling project to be unveiled in the quarterly British Railway Announcements, and now we have expanded our tooling suite further in order to offer models of the locomotives that were fitted with tablet catcher apparatus. This model of No. D8032 has disc headcodes and comes pre-fitted with the tablet catcher, decorated in original BR Green livery.

This latest generation Bo-Bo diesel locomotive from Bachmann Branchline brings the classic BR Class 20/0 right up to date, capturing the subtle lines of these distinctive locomotives. The high level of detail is brought to life by the intricate livery application, whilst the powerful drive mechanism, Plux22 DCC interface and a full suite of lighting offers the perfect complement to the model’s good looks.

 

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 5
• Pristine BR Green (Late Crest) livery
• Running No. D8032
• Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570A
• Length 190mm

 

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Headcode Discs
• Large Cab Side Windows
• Tablet Catcher Recess and Tablet Catcher
• Two Piece Radiator Shutter
• Two Piece Bodyside Handrail (RHS)
• Early-style Fluted Bogie Equalising Beams
• Mechanical Speedo Drive
• Original Battery Boxes
• Four Sandboxes per Bogie (Inner Pairs are supplied in the Accessory Pack)
• Round Oleo Buffers
• Original-Style Bufferbeam
• Nose-end Solebar Handles
• Snowploughs (optional part supplied in the Accessory Pack)

 

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 20 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 and bogie towers
• Diecast metal gearboxes, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail
• Rotating radiator fan (un-motorised)
• Separately applied metal detail parts, including handrails, grab handles, sand pipes and etched fan grilles
• Sprung metal buffers
• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, including headlights and high intensity headlights where applicable, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
• Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 20 using recordings from real locomotives
• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied. On Analogue, an authentic engine start up sequence and running sounds are produced when power is applied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models
• Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR and corporate specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours
• In addition, where applicable Etched Nameplates and Plaques are also provided

 

CLASS 20/0 HISTORY

The British Railways Board's (BRB) 1955 modernisation plan called for a change to alternative forms of traction and manufacturers were asked to produce trial or initial designs for evaluation. English Electric adapted an existing design based on an export model for a 1,000bhp diesel and 20 were built as a pilot scheme for assessment.

The first batch was built in 1957 and the diesels were assigned to work from Devon's Road depot, East London. The design was a success from the start and by 1962 a total of 127 had been built. Following assessment of all the Type 1 diesels, BRB placed a further order increasing the total to 228 by 1968 and the design became the BR standard for 1,000bhp diesel locomotives. With the introduction of TOPS the locomotives were designated Class 20 and renumbered 20001 to 20228. The locomotives were principally designed for freight work but also saw service on summer passenger trains where train heating was not required. The Class 20s worked over the Eastern, London Midland and Scottish regions as well as into Wales and were commonly associated with coal traffic. The only drawback the Class had was its single end cab, unlike modern designs that have a cab at each end. BR resolved this problem by regularly operating the Class 20s as pairs, nose to nose, and with the combined power of 2,000bhp they were able to haul the heavier block freight trains.

BR's decision to switch to Type 5 and in particular Class 60 diesels in the late 1980s started a gradual withdrawal of the fleet, with just 28 left by 1994. A tribute to the design is that after 45 years the Class is still in service with DRS on mainline duties following refurbishment, the resulting locomotives being designated Class 20/3s. At least 28 of the class are now preserved.

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 has released a new model of the Class 20/0 diesel locomotive, specifically designed to replicate the late BR Green livery of No. D8032. This model features a disc headcode and a tablet catcher apparatus, and is part of the company's Branchline range.

The model is DCC ready, with a Plux 22 socket, and includes a range of features such as interior lighting, rotating radiator fan, and separately applied metal detail parts. The locomotive's high level of detail is achieved through intricate livery application and a powerful drive mechanism.

The model is equipped with a five-pole, twin-shaft motor and all-axle drive, ensuring smooth and reliable operation. The locomotive also features a range of authentic details, including bogies constructed from multiple components, sprung metal buffers, and a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework.

The model is compatible with both DCC and Analogue control, and features a speaker for optimum sound reproduction. The sound files used are specifically produced for the Bachmann Branchline Class 20, using recordings from real locomotives.

The Class 20/0 has a rich history, dating back to the 1950s when it was first introduced as a response to the BRB's modernisation plan. The design was a success, with over 200 locomotives built and operating across the UK's rail network. The Class 20s were primarily used for freight work, but also saw service on summer passenger trains. Although the fleet has gradually been withdrawn over the years, some Class 20s remain in service, including those refurbished and re-designated as Class 20/3s.