35-338 – Class 37/4 37414 Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993

Description

The British Rail Class 37 is a favourite among enthusiasts and modellers alike and, having been a firm fixture in the Bachmann Branchline OO scale range for many years, in 2022 an all-new model of this iconic locomotive was launched. Built to unprecedented levels of accuracy and fidelity, the new Branchline model incorporates the latest technology and shares many common features and specifications with the award winning Bachmann Branchline Class 47. This model depicts a Refurbished Class 37/4, namely No. 37414 ‘Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993’ in BR Regional Railways colours.

Following in the footsteps of the Class 47, our all-new OO scale Class 37 has been designed from the rails up to ensure this classic locomotive is modelled in all its glory. With high fidelity mouldings, numerous separately fitted parts and countless tooling variations to capture the minutiae of the real locomotives throughout their lives, our new 37 is brought to life with an exquisite livery application using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos. Along with an exceptional array of lighting features, our Dual Fitted speaker system is fitted to all models – bringing to life our SOUND FITTED models. For the ultimate experience, choose one of our award-winning SOUND FITTED DELUXE models with their motorised radiator fan and authentic tinted windscreen glazing!

Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
Era 8
Pristine BR Regional Railways livery
Running No. 37414
Named ‘Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993’
Etched Nameplates included
Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570A
Length 245mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

Central Headcode Panels – Plated and fitted with Sealed Beam Marker Lights
NRN Aerial
Nose-Mounted ETH
High Intensity Headlight
Bufferbeam Valance Removed
Coupling Bash Plate
Oval Buffers
Original Windscreen
English Electric Cantrail Grilles
Welded Boiler Roof
Plated Boiler Port and Safety Valves
Sealed Water Filler Door and Plated Access Steps
Cast Bogies
Original Speedo Drive
Slow Speed Control
Twin Fuel Tanks with one Gauge per Tank (left hand tank each side)

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 37 SPECIFICATION

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
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

CLASS 37 HISTORY

The British Rail 1955 Modernisation Plan paved the way for the large-scale replacement of steam traction with diesel locomotives, and one of the most successful diesel locomotive designs to result from this was the English Electric Type 3. These 1,700hp Types 3 diesel-electric locomotives were built at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry and by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns between 1960 and 1965, with 309 examples produced in total. When TOPS was implemented the type was designated Class 37.

The class proved popular with railwaymen and so in 1985, a major refurbishment programme for the Class 37 locomotives was sanctioned to extend the working lives of 135 locomotives. Features of the refurbishment involved plating over the four-character head codes and sealing off the nose end communication doors. Dedicated freight locomotives received lower gearing to increase the tractive effort, and some were fitted with extra ballast or even more powerful engines. A new subclass was created for locomotives refurbished with Electric Train Heating (ETH) equipment, allowing their use on passenger trains the whole year-round.

With the sectorisation of British Rail taking hold in the early-1980s, the locomotives returned to traffic following refurbishment in a wide and diverse range of liveries. Passenger machines appeared in BR Blue Large Logo, InterCity and Regional Railways schemes to name just three, whilst freight engines received numerous varieties of Railfreight livery, Transrail, Mainline and Loadhaul. The Class continued to be widely used into the Privatisation-era, with examples operating for the likes of EWS, DRS, West Coast Railways and Colas, whilst others have received ‘retro’ heritage repaints.