Words & photography by Andy York
This is probably Bachmann’s largest locomotive project to date, as a million-pound project to cater for all of the tooling variations that are necessary to be able to represent virtually any individual Class 47 throughout their long working lives. Everything is new, from the research to the internals of the model as well as the body details and variations, which is where it excels. It sends a clear message from Bachmann that it is pushing advancements in products as much as any of the newer manufacturers competing with modern traction.
Starting from the inside, the chassis block is new with space created for circuitry for the lighting and sound provision. Our review model is of the DCC-ready version, which is sound-ready with two speakers pre-fitted and a PluX22 decoder socket. Within the chassis block is a five-pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies and all axles.
There are recesses in the chassis block, with representations of internal equipment that are visible through the bodyside windows, each of which is lit by a small LED on the underside of the circuit board. The central portion of the underframe accommodates the battery boxes, fuel and water tanks of which there are five different variations plus details, with our review sample featuring the 1,200-gallon water tanks of this 47/0 variant. The bogie frames are far more detailed than its predecessor with remarkable depth and conduit detail backed up with new characteristic four-holed disc wheels. The body is removed from the chassis by means of six screws, which are a little fiddly to access – ensure you use the correct-sized driver.
Moving onto the body, this model features the original cab style of a Brush-built locomotive with the single bracket cover at the top of the bufferbeam, and a four-character headcode panel with domino blinds suiting later 1970s styles when it was allocated to Bescot depot. The etched windscreen wipers are of the later single-arm style. Inside the cabs, excellent detail can be seen, including rear-panel details that are visible with the cab lights on.
The No. 1 end of the roof features Serck radiator grilles – some aficionados may want to see the louvres open under power, but this would spoil the scale finesse. Above those louvres are the etched brass twin radiator fans, which are remarkably fine. Under close scrutiny, these are a two-stage etch to give the interwoven mesh effect. Moving along the roof, this model has ribbed exhaust panels and an original Mk. 3 Spanner boiler port with fine m
