Built between 1959 and 1961 at Pressed Steels' Linwood Works in Scotland the class 117 Deisel Multiple Units trains were initially allocated to British Railways Western Region. The units were formed of Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS), Trailer Composite with Lavatory (TCL) and a Driving Motor Second (DMS) cars, with 42 each of the DMBS and DMS motor cars built along with 39 trailers, allowing a float of motor cars for maintenance. Used predominantly as 3-car units, initial workings were on suburban services out of London Paddington and in Cornwall. When additional capacity was required the units could be coupled together and to other DMU types using the BR standard Blue Square multiple unit control system, with all power units under control of the driver in the leading cab. The Blue Square system was fitted to the class 101 and 108 units also produced by Bachmann.
After many years of service on the Western Region the class 117 units were included in the refurbishment programme which saw most of the fleet upgraded between 1974 and 1984. A number of refurbished unit moved away from the Western region to replace older designs in other parts of the country. Some units travelling as far as Scotland. Following the sectorisation or British Rail operations the remaining London based units were allocated to the Network South East business unit until displaced by the new 'Networker Turbo' class 165 / 166 units. Class 117 cars still in generally good condition were reallocated to the Provincial Services business, later named Regional Railways.
The first units were retired in 1995 and many later withdrawn units were purchased for heritage railways.
The Bachmann Class 117 3-Car DMU models will feature:
3-car model will consist of a DMBS, a TCL & a DMS car
Intricately modelled underframe detail
Interior & directional lighting
Prototypical exhaust pipe variations – Original one piece / two piece / exhaust with silencers
Gangway & non-gangway versions
Original & modified bogie variations
Alternative cab ends – Original / marker lights / marker lights & headlight
A flexible speedo drive between body and bogie
A lowered drive mechanism in driving cars to create an unobstructed view through windows
21-Pin DCC decoder socket
Conductive couplings requiring only one decoder for DCC operation
Factory Fitted speaker
Accessory Pack