Bachmann Class 66s

Ahead of Model World Live at the NEC Birmingham on 26-27 April 2025, Bachmann Europe Plc today revealed that it has developed all-new models of the iconic British Rail Class 66 Diesel Locomotives for its Bachmann Branchline OO Scale range.

Having built the Class 59s over the previous decade, General Motors was in prime position to provide locomotives that could meet the required costs, performance and speed of delivery stipulated by EWS. In the Class 59 they had a design that was fully certified in the UK, and so to create the Class 66, the 59’s underframe and cab end design was re-used, with new equipment in between, incorporating new power units and the latest, state-of-the-art technology.

A significant development in the Class 66 story came in the early-2000s when new emissions standards dictated a radical re-design, and locomotives completed from 2004 onwards were of the ‘low-emission’ variety. A revised power unit was fitted along with a larger radiator/cooler assembly, all of which required much more space than the original design afforded. The solution saw the new equipment intrude into the cab-to-cab walkway, necessitating an additional bodyside door to provide alternative access to the engine compartment, resulting in the two main Class 66 body types we know today – four-door and five-door locomotives. The additional weight that came with this new equipment meant that savings had to be made elsewhere, notably by reducing the size of the fuel tank, so that the locomotives remained within the required weight limits for route availability 7.

The implementation of evermore stringent emissions regulations heralded the end of Class 66 production and the last locomotive, No. 66779, arrived in the UK in February 2016 and was named ‘Evening Star’, the same name given to the last steam locomotive built by British Railways. By this time, 480 Class 66s had been built for UK operators and the type had also attracted orders from mainland Europe. Some of the European locomotives were ordered directly from EMD, others were purchase from UK operators after traffic reductions left them with surpluses. On the contrary, since 2016 GB Railfreight has expanded its fleet further by purchasing additional Class 66s ‘second-hand’, both from operators in the UK and on the continent, to meet its growing traction requirements.

Commonly referred to as ‘Sheds’ due to their appearance, today the Class 66 is the mainstay of British rail freight, so much so that by 2020 the type was providing the traction for 87% of daily freight services. There is no doubt that the Class 66 will continue to be a major part of the UK rail landscape for many, many years to come.

Such is its ubiquity across the UK that the Class 66 is a vital component for anyone modelling the late-1990s to the present day, and Bachmann has produced OO scale Sheds to high acclaim since 2005. Two decades later however, and Bachmann has gone back to the drawing board to design brand new models of the Class 66, starting again from the rails up and incorporating the latest technology and award-winning features that are now becoming standard across new models developed for the company’s flagship Branchline range.

Following on the tracks of a new generation of models, like the Branchline Class 47, this new 66 takes things even further, incorporating a Bach-Up Stay Alive System to provide uninterrupted power when used on DCC, eliminating stalling, light flicker and sound cut-outs.

Bachmann’s seminal Auto-Release Coupling System that debuted on the Branchline Class 30/31 diesels is fitted to SOUND FITTED DELUXE models as standard, whilst these top of the range variants also boast tinted windscreen glazing, replicating the effect seen on the windscreens of the real locomotives.

Like the upcoming Branchline Class 69s, SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions of the new Class 66 come complete with the Dual Fitted XL Speaker System, which combines two speakers for optimum sound reproduction – including the new enhanced bass reproduction speaker, a patented component which incorporates a passive radiator design for sound effects like you’ve never experienced before. The sound decoder used in these models is ESU’s premium Loksound V5DCC, loaded with sound projects produced exclusively for the Bachmann models. For those fitting their own decoder, the Plux22 DCC decoder socket is easily accessed thanks to a removeable magnetic roof panel, whilst this panel also gives analogue users access to the switches that control the light functions.

Turning to the aesthetics of the model and the shed-like appearance of the prototype has been replicated to expert effect, including the ribbed bodysides and industrious looking solebars, complete with a multitude of pipework and cabling which is all added separately. The bogies are constructed from numerous components to produce replicas that exhibit full relief detail, whilst each axle end is fitted with an axle head that rotates smoothly and reliably when the model is moving, mimicking this characteristic feature of the prototype.

The extensive tooling suite caters for both the original, 4-door locomotives and the ‘low-emission’ 5-door machines that were built from 2004 onwards, alongside a plethora of detail differences to accurately depict individual Class 66s at various points in their ongoing careers. These include the original three-piece cab-side windows with separate quarter light or later two-piece double-glazed, aluminium-framed versions and with the option for wing mirrors.

Four variations of headlight cluster can be modelled along with another four options for the top light depicting different depths of light box and different light fittings. Naturally the new models sport a full complement of working lights, with analogue users able to enjoy directional lights, independently controlled at either end, and a choice of day or night mode lights. On DCC, individual cab lighting and machine room lights complete the lighting options on the new Branchline Shed.

The distinctive front handrail can have five or seven mounting points, locomotives can be modelled with NRN roof pods, with these removed, or with Wi-Fi fitted, and multiple versions of sand box and sand pipe brackets are available.

Internal detailing comes in two forms on the Class 66, firstly the cabs which can be fitted with a pedestal control desk or wrap around version depending on the prototype – as is now common on Branchline models, the cab is then decorated extensively with control, dials, gauges and warning graphics all replicated authentically. The roof and bodyside grilles, which are most intricately etched, reveal the locomotive’s interior and through the cooler group grilles it is possible to view right through the model, with multi-layer detailing fitted within to represent the internals of the real machines.

Completing the package is the livery application which extends to all corners of the model, using authentic colours, typefaces and logos that have all been perfected over the decades thanks to the meticulous research undertaken by Bachmann’s Research and Development team and with the kind assistance of the companies that operate the full-size Sheds.

A dozen locomotives form the launch range for the new Bachmann Branchline OO Scale Class 66 and the first of these are due to arrive in the UK before the end of 2025.