Description
Bachmann 35-776 Class 69 69001 'Mayflower' GBRf (UK & US Flags) - OO Gauge
The real Class 69 Diesel Locomotives have been created for GBRf through the conversion
of redundant Class 56s and we are delighted to present this Bachmann Branchline OO scale
model of Britain’s newest mainline diesel.
Produced under an exclusive agreement with GBRf, the Branchline model has been
painstakingly developed hand-in-hand with the introduction of the GBRf fleet. With the Class
69s being built from donor locomotives that were first built by three different works and have
themselves seen almost fifty years of use and modification, Bachmann has worked closely
with GBRf to accommodate any detail differences that were present on the donors and have
remained apparent on the rebuilt machines, along with any changes made to the final design
of the Class 69 during the ongoing build programme.
This diligent approach has resulted in a truly magnificent model which befits the Branchline
name, capturing the Class 56 shape to a tee alongside the modern adornments and many
changes made to the locomotives to create the 69s.
The bodyshell features crisp, accurate mouldings to depict the main features along with
separately fitted parts, including etched bodyside and roof fan grilles, metal windscreen
wipers and separately fitted driver’s door handrails. Inside the cab there is interior detailing
which will be decorated appropriately whilst machine room detailing is visible through the
bodyside grilles. The underframe equipment is all present and correct, composed of many
separate parts along with sandboxes and sandpipes and sprung metal buffers, but it is the
bogies that really bring this model to life. It’s hard to describe these as anything but a work of
art, using countless separate components to model every aspect of the bogie in full relief,
from the brakes to the suspension, even down to the separately fitted bogie-body securing
chains.
All of this detail, both inside and out, will be brought to life with an exquisite livery application
using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos and with the help of GBRf official livery
diagrams.
Under the body, the Branchline Class 69 features our proven drive system using a 5 pole
motor with twin flywheels driving all axles on each bogie. Electrical pick-up comes from all
wheels whilst DCC provision comes in the form of a Plux22 interface. Directional lighting is
of course provided, along with cab and machine room lighting when used on DCC. The Dual
Fitted speaker system is fitted to every model and this is fully utilised in our SOUND FITTED
and SOUND FITTED DELUXE variants. Talking of SOUND FITTED DELUXE, opt for our top
of the range model and you can enjoy the additional features of motorised radiator fans and
DCC-uncoupling – thanks to the Bachmann Auto-release Coupling System!
Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
Era 9
Pristine GBRf (UK & US Flags) livery
Running No. 69001
Named ‘Mayflower’
Etched Nameplates included
Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item
No. 36-570B
Length 254mm
BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 69 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
16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile
and detailing
Close coupling mechanism fitted at each end, each of which is fitted with coupling
pockets to NEM362 standards
Auto-Release Couplings fitted at both ends – DCC operated, hands-free uncoupling
with the press of a function button (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)
Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater
DETAILING:
Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail
Rotating radiator fans, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated as
part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE
models only)
Separately applied metal detail parts, including lifting eyes, windscreen wipers and
etched bodyside and fan grilles
Sprung metal buffers
Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework
and accessory parts
LIGHTING:
Directional lighting, 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 Machine Room lighting* (*when used on DCC)
Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and
application
DCC:
Plux22 DCC decoder interface
SOUND:
Dual Fitted - Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, fitted
to every model as standard
ESU Loksound V5DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED and SOUND
FITTED DELUXE versions
Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 69 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 & GBRf specification
colours
Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing
using authentic typefaces, logos and colours
CLASS 69 HISTORY
The Class 69 Diesel Locomotive was conceived by rail freight operator GB Railfreight
(GBRf) to meet their growing locomotive needs. With a requirement for locomotives similar in
performance to their fleet of Class 66s, but being unable to purchase new Class 66s, GBRf
turned to redundant Class 56s which could be converted into new locos with similar
capabilities. As part of the conversion new equipment and systems were installed, including
EMD 710 diesel engines, the same as those used in Class 66s. The pool of Class 56s to be
converted included examples built at BREL Crewe, BREL Doncaster and Electroputere in
Romania, with the conversion work undertaken in Stoke-On-Trent by the American company
Progress Rail.
GBRf formally announced the project in Spring 2019 and the first locomotive, No. 69001,
commenced running trials at the Severn Valley Railway in February 2021. The type received
approval by the Office of Rail and Road in May 2021, allowing the new locomotives to be
pressed into service.
The initial order was for ten locomotives with an option for a further six, and by the start of
2024, the first ten locos – Nos. 69001-69010 – had entered service. Each locomotive has
been painted by Arlington Fleet Services in Eastleigh and the liveries applied to the Class
69s range from GBRf’s ‘standard’ orange and blue scheme, and variations on it, to retro-BR
liveries including BR Blue, BR Large Logo Blue, BR Green and RTC Red & Blue. Several of
the Class are named including the first locomotive, No. 69001, which entered traffic in GBRf
orange and blue adorned with UK and US flags and named ‘Mayflower’, symbolising the
American input into the rebuilding of this British-designed locomotive.
