Bachmann Class 37s

Ahead of the Autumn 2022 British Railway Announcements, Bachmann Europe Plc surprised visitors to the Diesel and Electric Modellers United (DEMU) Showcase event held in the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield with the news that it has developed all-new models of the iconic English Electric Type 3, Class 37 Diesel Locomotives for its Bachmann Branchline OO scale range. 

Whilst Class 37 models have featured in the Bachmann Branchline range for the last two decades, these brand-new models owe nothing to their predecessors and have been designed from the rails up using original drawings, diagrams, site visits and surveys of real locomotives. For those unable to inspect the models at DEMU Showcase themselves, a video presentation by Bachmann Europe’s Production Development Manager, Dave Parsons and Richard Proudman, the company’s Rail Brand Manager, premiered on YouTube, unveiling these new models to Bachmann customers and consumers around the world. Highlighting the history of the project, the technical specification of the models and the extensive tooling suite that Bachmann has developed to accurately model much of the 309-strong fleet throughout their working lives – starting with the Class 37/0s and Class 37/4s – the video also looks at the first models which are on sale now.

Building on the impressive specification of the award-winning Bachmann Branchline Class 47, the new Class 37 shares many common features such as the five pole motor with twin flyhwheels, all-axle drive and electrical pickup from all wheels. Each axle runs in a pair of separate metal bearings, located in the diecast metal bogie towers which are fitted to the diecast metal chassis block. The Dual Fitted speaker system returns, offering authentic sound reproduction and this is pre-fitted to every model, whilst the Class 37 features a new ‘Yard Light’ mode, allowing red tail lights and/or marker lights to be displayed at both ends of the locomotive when operating on DCC. Using the model on DCC also provides cab lighting and engine room lights at the push of a button, whilst analogue operation sees marker lights, tail lights and headlights – where applicable – all illuminate as desired.

Each Class 37 offered will be produced in three formats, with standard versions ready for use on analogue control out of the box and with a Plux22 DCC decoder socket for those consumers wishing to fit their own DCC decoder (Bachmann’s recommend Plux22 Loco-Decoder carries the item No. 36-570A). SOUND FITTED models will also be offered and these versions are pre-fitted with the latest DCC sound decoder technology from Zimo – the MS450P22 sound decoder. SOUND FITTED DELUXE models share all the features of the SOUND FITTED models but with two additional innovations – both pioneered by Bachmann and for which the company received the Innovation of the Year prize in the 2021 British Railway Modelling Awards – namely the motorised radiator fan, this is driven by an independent motor that is operated as part of the sound project, and cab windscreen glazing which has undergone a specialist treatment to replicate the tinting seen on the prototype.

Furthermore, Bachmann has produced for the first-time multiple sound projects to be used in its SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models so that not only are the aesthetics of each model true to the individual locomotive being depicted, but so are the sounds. No fewer than four sound projects can be specified for any particular locomotive and these encompass the original Class 37/0s, original locos with thermostatically controlled fans, Class 37/4s and DRS-modified machines.

Like all Bachmann products, SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models will operate on both DCC and analogue control straight out of the box. When used on analogue control, a range of authentic sound effects can be enjoyed when power is applied, including a convincing engine start up procedure before the model moves – whilst the motorised fans on SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions will also operate according to the sound project fitted to that particular model.

The Complete Package

The all-new Bachmann Branchline OO Scale Class 37 Diesel Locomotive features an unprecedented level of detail and technical features, details of which are as follows:

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
• 16.5mm (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, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated as part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
• Tinted windscreen glazing (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
• Separately applied metal detail parts, including grab handles, windscreen wipers 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
• Cab lighting*, assigned to two DCC functions for separate switching of each
• Separately switched Engine Room lighting*
• ‘Yard Light’ mode*, red tail lights and/or marker lights displayed at both ends (*when used on DCC)
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface

Sound:

• Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, fitted to every model as standard
• Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions
• Four sound projects to accurately capture the sounds of Class 37/0s as originally built, those with thermostatically controlled fans, Class 37/4s and DRS-modified locos.
• Sound files for each project produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 37 using recordings from real locomotives
• SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE 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