Bachmann 2015 Range

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Yesterday Bachmann announced it’s UK 2015 range. Graham Hubbard, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe Plc, had this to say:

“as a company we continue to meet new challenges. Our parent company, Kader Industries, has faced a major reorganisation which involved transferring plant and production from a former factory into the main Kader complex. Faced with continuing price rises across the board, we have taken some difficult decisions but will continue to produce top quality products to meet the increasing demands of railway modellers”

You’ll notice the list bellow is a fairly modest one. Bachmann have admitted and acknowledged that they needed to focus on consolidating all it’s previously proposed releases – Some of which we are still waiting to see working prototypes of – The OO Class 90, proposed last year for example.

Nevertheless there are some nice additions to the range which will no doubt get modelers excited. Under the Graham Farish N Gauge brand, Bachmann have added a Class 20 twin pack in Hunslet Weed Killer livery. They’ve also released the accompanying adapted MK1’s and TTA tankers (sold separately) to complete the full formation.

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Image by Bachmann

Bachmann have also announced a special edition version of it’s ever popular Midland Pullman train. The set will also feature a pack of stewards and train crew figures, reproduction menu card and a first edition copy of the latest Blue Pullman book by Kevin Robertson. All marvelously presented in one of Bachmanns new artwork-print boxes. If it’s anything like the special edition Railway Children pack recently reviewed on IC82’s YouTube channel this will certainly be a sought after and impressive set.

Other highlights of the announcement include Ransomes & Rapier Steam Cranes, DCC J32s, a Freightliner Class 70 and a SouthWest Trains Class 350 Desiro. Damn and blast! Why won’t they do a First TransPennine version?! 

For the definitive list of announcements (including the Scenecraft range) I thoroughly recommend a visit to this RMWeb post. It also features a full list of re-releases of existing items and details of where in the development process Bachmann are with their previous 2014 announcements!

Cover Image from Bachmann.

CAS Weekly 01/03/15

Andy Carter Leave a comment

Oswald Lawrence (BBC)

Modelling

  • Hornby showcase some prototypes at Model Rail Scotland.
  • Adding crews to your locos from Jonathan Malton @ LocoYard.

UK Rail

  • East Coast rail franchise back in private hands as Virgin takes over running of the line this morning.
  • Take a look at this moving piece from the London Short Film festival by Luke Flanagan: ‘Mind The Gap‘ the tale of Oswald Lawrence.
  • The government promises that Northern Pacers will finally be out of service by 2020…
  • …whilst it looks likely Class 150 Sprinters will be refurbished and live on.
  • How does TfL close all it’s ticket offices? Diamond Geezer has the answers.
  • Banbury depot to be brought back into use.
  • The UK’s first third-rail compatible ballast cleaner has been ordered at a price tag of £50 million.
  • RailwayManiac looks at what might have happened had Nottingham Victoria survived closure.
  • Stations that look like other stations by TheBeautyOfTransport.
  • Geoff Marshall now has a mailing list where you can sign up to hear about the latest ‘Tube Tours’ that he runs.
  • Commuters using Brixton tube station: Beware!

World Rail

Coming Soon!

  • My trip to the world’s largest model railway in Hamburg… watch this space.

Cover Image by Virgin Trains East Coast showing proposed new IEP trains.

CAS Weekly 20/02/15

Andy Carter Leave a comment

Image by Phil Sangwell

Modelling

  • IC82 is back this Sunday with a new YouTube series.

UK Rail

  • GBRf are enlisted by Serco to haul the Caledonian sleeper for the next 15 years. They’ll be using a mixture of Class 90’s, 47’s and refurbished 73’s during their stint.
  • The East Anglia franchise, currently operated by Abellio, is out for tender.
  • A recent survey highlights the continuing decline of rail customer satisfaction…
  • …And surprise surprise, the rise of Social Media as a tool for passengers to voice this dissatisfaction.
  • But what we really want to know is, which train operator has the best ticket punches?
  • And which train operator went all gooey for Valentines Day?
  • …in a time where critics are calling for the return of nationalisations, the BBC’s Timeshift will take a look at the golden age of BR next Thursday.
  • Speaking of which, The Beauty of Transport is doing a series on British Rail’s corporate identity.
  • London Underground’s D-Stock trains could find a new life for themselves in Manchester.
  • Whilst back home The Victoria Line will be part closed for a month.
  • Danny Dyer has a go at tube announcements. Warning: It’s dreadful.
  • The London Transport Museum will host Londonist’s Matt Brown, who will be talking about Tube Secrets at the Hidden London Treasures Exhibition in April.
  • This article surfaced on Twitter this week, showcasing this rather quirky Brighton curiosity: The first every Electric Railway in Britain.

World Rail

Lions And Wheels (British Railways’ Lion Emblems, 1949-1964)

Andy Carter 1 Comment

The Beauty of Transport is doing a series on British Rail’s corporate identity.

dwtransportwriting's avatarThe Beauty of Transport

On 1st January 1948, British Railways was born. It would go on to be one of the most infamous of British institutions, loved by some and reviled by many. Its corporate identity and “double arrow” logo would go on to attain international fame. But all that was to come later. The story of the early corporate identities of British Railways is one of occasional (if misplaced) design brilliance, but mostly complete confusion.

Funnily enough, there was never any need for this. British Railways was formed from the private railway companies which had operated the country’s rail network until 1948. It was nationalised alongside various bus companies, ports, canals, and road haulage firms as part of the grandly titled British Transport Commission (BTC). The other major transport undertaking which had been subsumed into the BTC was the already publicly-owned London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) which had overseen London Transport since 1933…

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CAS Weekly 13/02/15

Andy Carter Leave a comment

Image from Northern Rail

UK Rail

  • Spanish firm CAF win bid to build new sleeper cars for the new Caledonian sets.
  • Manchester Airport has a new platform.
  • Whilst Birmingham Snow Hill is mooted for a rebuild.
  • London Reconnections take you through the Crossrail Launch Plan.
  • Commute London revamp their website. Find out how the capital’s rail franchises are fairing on social media.
  • Abandoned tube tunnels could be turned into cycle lanes…
  • …but I tell you why this is dreadful idea.
  • Virgin will replace the East Coast Loyalty Reward system with Nectar when they take over the franchise. Regular customers are upset.
  • A sneak peak of the Class 319’s being kitted out in Northern Rail livery.
  • Diamond Geezer rides a ghost train to West Ruislip.
  • …and Arsenal fans are concerned about their slip down the table after a visit to the Transport Museum.

World Rail

Feature Image by David Chandler.