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Bachmann 35-355

Class 20/0 Disc Headcode 20057 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

Announced as part of our Spring 2021 British Railway Announcements, we are pleased to present our all-new Branchline model of Class 20/0 No. 20057 in BR Blue livery.

Designed from the rails up, this all-new model brings our classic Class 20/0 right up to date, capturing the subtle lines of these distinctive locomotives. Our BR Blue model includes era-specific details such as the Oleo buffers and fluted equalising beams on the bogies. With disc headcodes at each end, the accessory pack includes a selection of discs allowing modellers to fit the combination best suited to their requirements.

Technical features include fully functioning directional and cab lighting, whilst the model also has a pre-fitted speaker and a Plux22 DCC Decoder socket for those wishing to equip their model for use on DCC.

Also available with SOUND FITTED (Item No. 35-355SF)

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 7
• Locomotive is now Preserved
• Pristine BR Blue Livery
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Powerful 5 pole motor with twin flywheels
• Interior Cab Lighting
• Directional Lighting
• Lighting can be controlled by easy-access switches or via DCC
• Speaker Fitted
• Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570
• Length 190mm

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 Branchline OO‑scale model of British Rail Class 20/0 locomotive No 20057, painted in pristine BR Blue livery. The model represents the period 1957‑1968 (British Rail Blue/TOPS) and measures 190 mm in length. It is supplied as a preserved‑type unit with a high‑power five‑pole motor, twin flywheels, sprung buffers and NEM coupling pockets.

The locomotive is DCC ready, featuring a Plux22 decoder socket (recommended decoder item 36‑570) and an optional pre‑fitted speaker (item 35‑355SF). It includes fully functional directional and cab interior lighting, controllable via easy‑access switches or DCC, and disc headcodes at each end with an accessory pack of interchangeable discs.

Technical specifications: diesel motive power, wheel arrangement Bo‑Bo, maximum speed 60 mph (75 mph in later service), era 7, and manufacturer part number 35‑355. The model was announced in the Spring 2021 British Railway announcements.