AT ITS TRADE open day today, July 25th, Bachmann Europe announced that it is to produce an all new six-car Midland Region ‘Blue Pullman’ diesel-electric multiple unit as part of its highly regarded Branchline ‘OO’ scale range. Metropolitan Cammell built two of these iconic luxury trains in 1959 for use on the Midland Main line between London St. Pancras and Manchester Central during peak business travel times, which entered service exactly 50 years ago.

Following completion of the West Coast Main Line electrification scheme the two ‘Midland Pullman’ units moved to the Western Region to complement the similar three WR sets which were eight-car units. There were differences between the two types. After carrying the Pullman grey/blue (the reversed corporate blue/grey colour scheme) for a period they were withdrawn from service in May 1973.

The ‘Blue Pullman’ has been a much-requested model and Bachmann was due to announce this project in March 2011. Graham Hubbard, Bachmann’s Managing Director said today “we are aware of others announcing the possibility of producing this unit. We have been working on it for several months and in order to bring clarity to the situation we have made our plans public ”.

Graham continued “we first looked at this famous train some years ago and at the time we did not consider it viable. However the market has changed considerably over the past two years and we felt the time was right to dust off our plans. We had decided to do so long before the recent announcement from a retailer”.

Each six-car unit will comprise 2x Power cars, 2x Kitchen Cars (Type 4) and 2x Parlour Cars (Type 6) and will be sold as a six-car unit.

The new model will incorporate today’s leading edge technologies and will include the following features:

• Drive system in power car
• New style close coupling concept
• Central coach ceiling and table lamp lighting
• Directional lighting
• Cab lights
• Sound prepared
• Etched fan grilles
• DCC socket

The full six-car set (Catalogue No 31-255) is expected to retail at around £300. All four livery variations will be produced at some stage (Midland Nanking blue, Midland Nanking blue w/ half yellow ends, Western Nanking blue w/ full yellow ends and reversed BR grey/blue), while Bachmann also intends to look at DCC Sound options at a future stage.

38-325 13-Ton High-Sided Steel Open (chain pockets) BR Early Bauxite
38-326 13-Ton High-Sided Steel Open (chain pockets) BR Late Bauxite

38-327 13-Ton High-Sided Steel Open (smooth sides) BR Early Bauxite
38-328 13-Ton High-Sided Steel Open (smooth sides) BR Late Bauxite

38-329 13-Ton High-Sided Steel Open (smooth sides/wood door) LNER Grey

38-375 12-Ton Ventilated Van (planked ends) LNER Oxide
38-376 12-Ton Ventilated Van (planked ends) BR Early Bauxite

38-380 12-Ton Ventilated Van (corrugated ends) BR Early Bauxite
38-381 12-Ton Ventilated Van (corrugated ends) BR Late Bauxite

38-385 12-Ton Ventilated Fruit Van BR Early Bauxite
38-386 12-Ton Ventilated Fruit Van BR Late Bauxite

BACHMANN HAS TODAY announced changes to its Graham Farish ‘N’ scale range. This follows consultation with the company’s trade customers regarding production of the 9F 2-10-0 locomotive and the Class 222 ‘Meridian’ and ‘Pioneer’ high speed diesel electric multiple units.

David Haarhaus, Sales & Marketing Manager said “It has become apparent that the present market cannot support a second ‘N’ 9F 2-10-0 or Class 222, which is in many people’s eyes too similar to the Class 220 ‘Voyager’ units now operated by Virgin Trains and Arriva Cross Country and are included in the current Farish range. We appreciate that there are many detail differences between the Bombardier-designed units from the original Class 220 but, unfortunately, that is not enough to justify moving from design to production at this time .

David continued “We have after much soul searching decided to withdraw these items from the 2011 catalogue and put them on a back burner. If and when the market develops and it is time to look at them again, we will do so. In a Worldwide recession, we are better to put our efforts and considerable resources into bringing new models into the range. We want to reassure ‘N’ modellers that we are working on suitable replacements, details of which will be released once these exciting new models have progressed through the tooling process”.

David explained “the Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 is now, therefore, the only previously announced locomotive yet to appear. This model is not affected by today’s announcement and work is well underway to deliver this into the range”.

David concluded “we appreciate that some ‘N’ modellers will be disappointed by today’s news but I am sure they will appreciate our honesty in this situation. There is absolutely no point in producing these models in the challenging financial climate we are all facing. We have a fantastic selection of new models already under development which will more than make up for any short term disappointment.”

The models affected are

Class 222 four-car DEMU
371-676 ‘Meridian’ No. 222011 in Midland Mainline
371-677 ‘Pioneer’ No. 222101 in Hull Trains
371-679 ‘Meridian’ No. 222017 in East Midlands Trains
BR Standard Class 9F
372-425 No. 92220 ‘Evening Star’ in BR lined green
372-426 No. 92002 in BR black with early emblem
372-427 No. 92205 in BR black with late crest

• Comment: The last few weeks have seen a mad dash by retailers to link up with manufacturers to produce any remaining locomotives not already claimed – we report on news of 4mm scale Classes 76 & 77, the ‘Blue Pullman’ and LMS/EE ‘twins’ Nos. 10000 & 10001.
• News: Pre-production samples of our BR blue Class 03s have arrived. There are also full details of the latest announcements, which includes Co-Bos, EM1/EM2s, ‘Blue Pullman’ and LMS ‘twins’.
• Reviews: Hot on the heels of its tasty little Class 86 reviewed last issue, Welsh firm Dapol has produced the Class 58 freight loco in ‘N’. We also investigate the firm’s new small scale ‘Silver Bullet’. Meanwhile, in 4mm scale, Dapol has released the Tiphook Rail ‘Pocket’ container wagon, while Bachmann’s much anticipated MBA ‘Monster’ box has also arrived. Finally, several other new models are reviewed, including Hornby’s latest DVT pack, representing a Wrexham & Shropshire Class 67+DVT combination. Plus new products from ZTC and Graham Farish. All are examined.

• Research: Another interesting commodity guide from freight expert David Ratcliffe. This feature concentrates on the movement of whisky within Scotland and across the rest of the network.
• Modelling: Chris Ibbotson builds a Bratchell Class 455/9 kit to represent a South West Trains inner-suburban example. This colourful EMU is easy to build but not so easy to paint and finish!
• Exhibition diary: DEMU’s annual Showcase Event is previewed – a must visit event for all diesel & electric era modellers. We also take a look at the line up for the Chatham event, which includes Mostyn.
• Serial: Work is progressing well on the new hidden sidings for the Barrowmore MRG’s Mostyn layout. 40 new ‘P4’ copperclad turnouts were built in just six weeks. Check them out here.

On sale via subscription and specialist distribution (May 28th) or from your local newsagent (June 1st).

REM73: The latest news and honest reviews!
Inside RAIL EXPRESS magazine No. 168.
In the bumper May 2010 issue:

• Comment: Modellers have spoken in a survey and overwhelmingly they have turned away from proposing new diesel or electric era prototypes! REM’s editor asks if the D&E ‘bubble’ has burst?
• News: In a surprise move, Kernow Model Centre transfers production of its ‘Thumper’ DEMU from Dapol to Bachmann, plus more RAIL EXPRESS Modeller reveals more upgrades for the Class 37/7 project. Graham Farish shows off its forthcoming ‘N’ prototype DELTIC and Hattons plans a Loadhaul liveried Class 14!
• Reviews: The last 20 years have been a fallow period for fans of 25kV ac electrics, but this has now changed with the release of a Class 86 by Heljan. Arriving at the same time as the Danish ‘Can’, Welsh company Dapol has also released an ‘N’ gauge model of the same class, along with complementary British outline catenary. Check out our in-depth reviews.

• Detailing: Heljan’s 4mm scale model of the Brush prototype Falcon received mixed reviews when it first flew the nest in 2008. However, Peter Johnson
saw its potential for improvement and has recently completed this upgrade to represent the unique twin-Maybach engined locomotive during its last full year of freight service on the Western Region.
• Exhibition diary: Includes a full round-up of exhibitions with diesel & electric era interest.
• Modelling: There are more ‘how to’ articles in the form of a Cambrian kit-bash to produce a ‘Mullet’ engineer’s bogie rail flat from Dave McWilliams, while Tim Shackleton turns his attention to a portable toilet!
• Serial: Not everything went to plan for the Barrowmore boys when they took Mostyn to the MRC’s Alexandra Palace model railway exhibition. The odd goings on are revealed on this page.

On sale via subscription and specialist distribution (April 30th) or from your local newsagent (May 1st).

IN A WELCOME move, Bachmann Europe Plc today revealed that it is to upgrade four versions of the popular ‘N’ scale Mk. 1 coaches.

The range of inherited Mk. 1 coaches have long been popular with N scale modellers since they were first introduced by the former Poole factory in 1981. A new set of tooling has now been produced which will allow for the first time the vehicles to include raised details, the previous models relying on intricate printing techniques on flat sided clear plastic shells to represent the detail.

Tooling has now been completed for the Second Open (SO), Second Corridor (SK), Brake Second Corridor (BSK) and Composite Corridor (CK) types. They will appear in British Railways crimson/cream, British Railways chocolate/cream, British Railways green, British Railways maroon and BR blue/grey. The new coach range will be available later this year.