The Class 66 Diesel Locomotive revolutionised the British rail freight landscape when the first examples arrived in 1998, and more than a quarter of a century later, the type remains at the forefront of freight operations the length and breadth of the country. Now, we are delighted to present the all-new Bachmann Branchline OO Scale Class 66 which has been designed from the rails up, capturing this modern icon like never before.
The new Class 66 combines a high-fidelity, injection-moulded bodyshell with a heavy, diecast chassis to which separate main frames are fitted. A multitude of individual parts are then added, manufactured in both metal and plastic, to capture every element of the prototype. The HTCR radial bogies are reproduced in miniature using multiple components, with many separately added details, resulting in these true to life replicas which interface neatly with the locomotive’s frames for an authentic appearance and accurate ride height. The separate axle heads that each rotate smoothly and reliably when the model is moving, mimicking this characteristic feature of the prototype, is the finishing touch.
The colourful liveries of modern operators present some challenges when it comes to decorating our models, but with extensive research, close collaboration with the operators themselves and decades of experience producing beautifully finished models, we are able to replicate every detail. Paintwork is applied with a rich, uniform finish using original specification colours, which is then adorned with logos, typefaces and graphics, all reproduced authentically using multi-stage printing techniques to produce a model with the finest of looks.
Meanwhile, ‘under the bonnet’ the new Class 66 boasts a high specification that utilises the latest advancements in model railway technology. A full lighting suite includes directional lights, with day and night mode and stabling mode, along with cab lights and machine room lights, all of which can be controlled to full effect when the model is used on DCC. To fit a DCC decoder, it’s simply a case of removing the magnetic roof panel and swapping out the blanking plate for a Plux22 decoder. DCC users also benefit from the integrated Bach-Up Stay Alive System which provides uninterrupted power to prevent stalling, light flicker and, for those fitting sound to their model, sound cut-outs. Already using DCC? Then why not opt for one of our SOUND FITTED models instead and start enjoying authentic sounds, a full complement of lights and the Bach-Up Stay Alive System straight out of the box!