Bachmann announce brand new OO Scale models of the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171 ‘Turbostar’ DMUs

Contributed by: Graham Muspratt

24 Apr 2026 00:00am

Bachmann announce brand new OO Scale models of the Class168, Class 170 and Class 171 ‘Turbostar’ DMUs.

The ‘Turbostar’ Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) were built at the historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works to a modular design, much of which was derived from the earlier ‘Networker’ Class 165s and 166s. Construction of the first ‘Turbostars’ began in 1997 when Chiltern Railways placed an opening order for new units that would go on to be known as the Class 168 ‘Clubmans’. The first units to be outshopped were designated Class 168/0 as they featured ‘Networker’ style cabs, but as more units were built and a ‘Turbostar’ cab was introduced, the sub-classes 168/1 and 168/2 were used. The Class 168s were fitted with BSI couplings at the outer ends, with electrical connections that were compatible with the Class 165s and 166s that Chiltern had inherited from Network SouthEast.
The first Class 170 units were ordered by Midland Mainline and these began entering traffic in May 1999. Like the 168s, the Class 170s were fitted with BSI couplings but with standard electrical connections, allowing them to work in multiple with a wider range of existing units like the Class 150s and 158s. Construction took place over a seven year period, at the end of which more than 120 units had been delivered in either 2-car or 3-car formations and to multiple operators around the UK.
During the Class 170 build programme, Southern placed an order for Class 171s that were delivered as 4-car Class 171/8s in 2004. These differed from the 170s by having Dellner couplings instead of the BSI type at the outer ends, along with electronic destination panels on the bodysides. Southern also had a fleet of 2-car Class 171/7s, some were built as such from new but most were built as Class 70s before being converted to 171s soon after.
After more than two decades of continual use, the ‘Turbostars’ look set to be part of the British rail scene for the foreseeable future and these popular units remain in daily frontline service across the UK, working on both regional and long-distance services for which they are well suited thanks to their 100mph top speed. Class 168s and 171s are still operated by Chiltern and Southern respectively, whilst current operators of the Class 170 fleet include Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Northern and ScotRail

The Branchline tooling suite encompasses three major classes, the Class 168s (/1 and /2 subclasses), the Class 170s and the 171s, and models can be produced in 2-, 3- or 4- car formations to accurately portray the variety seen amongst the real fleet.
Every Driving Vehicle is motorised, using the low-level drive train that has proven so successful in the Class 158 to provide invisible drive to the inner bogie of each car via a diecast metal gearbox which drives both axles on the bogie. These axles run in separate metal bearings, while the trailing axles run in metal pinpoint bearings and all wheels are equipped with electrical pickups. The primary Driving vehicle houses the Plux22 DCC Decoder socket and again like the Branchline 158 this is accessed through a removable panel in the underframe negating any need to remove the bodyshell.
The Bach-Up Stay Alive System is also found in the primary car and this provides uninterrupted power to prevent stalling, light flicker and sound cut-outs on DCC, meanwhile every driving vehicle is pre-fitted with a speaker giving the Branchline Turbostars a twin-speaker setup.SOUND FITTED models will be available which come pre-fitted with a ESU Loksound V5DCC
sound decoder.
A full and comprehensive suite of lighting includes directional lights which can be switched between day and night mode, and the lights can be turned off at either end for when the units are working in multiple. Passenger saloon lighting is included along with illuminated destination panels at either end – the Class 171s have these centrally on the bodysides of each car just like the prototype, and these also illuminate. DCC users can go further and operate the cab lights – each cab light is controlled by a separate function – and the door interlock lights for prototypical operations during station stops.

Initially five livery versions are announced in both DCXC ready and DCC Sound Fitted formats
35-580 Class 171/7 2-Car DMU 171727 Southern (GTR)
35-601 Class 170/1 2-Car DMU 170114 Midland Mainline
35-602 Class 170/1 2-Car DMU 170111 Cross Country
35-625 Class 170/4 3-Car DMU 170412 ScotRail
35-626 Class 170/4 3-Car DMU 170420 East Midland Railways (EMR Regional)
The first models are currently scheduled to arrive by the end of 2026, to pre-order click here>>>

You can view the update tooling announcement video here>>>

Subject to alteration.

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