Bachmann OO 32-215A GWR 57XX Pannier Tank 7752 GWR Green (GWR)
The ‘Pannier Tank’ is undoubtedly one of the most iconic tank locomotives to have operated in Great Britain, with the real locomotives being built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) over a period of more than fifty years and to evolving designs. The Class 57XX family was the most numerous of any Pannier built by the GWR, and now you too can enjoy OO Scale models of this Western stalwart thanks to the Bachmann Branchline range. This model of No. 7752 forms part of our new Railway Celebrations range and depicts the locomotive that took part in the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. In 1975, to mark this milestone, an exhibition of locomotives, rolling stock and other relics took place at Shildon, County Durham. The event culminated with the 1975 Cavalcade, a procession of steam locomotives that travelled between Shildon and Heighington to showcase some of the finest engineering derived by Britain’s enterprising railway companies of yesteryear.
Preserved Great Western Railway (GWR) 57XX Class No. 7752 formed part of the Cavalcade, representing one of the most successful 0-6-0 tank engine types ever seen in Great Britain – the GWR Pannier Tank. The locomotive, built for the GWR in 1930, would go on to work for British Railways before being sold to London Transport in 1952. Operating until 1971, No. 7752 was then sold to 7029 Clun Castle Ltd. and was preserved for future generations to enjoy. Humble yet unmistakable, the Branchline model carries all the hallmarks of the 57XX Pannier Tank and offers high performance to match. Employing a high fidelity bodyshell which is injection moulded complete with rivet and panel detailing, numerous components are then added separately to capture many aspects of the prototype in full relief, from the tank fillers to the safety valves, whistles and whistle guard. Metal handrails are then added, fitting into individual metal handrail knobs where appropriate, and the model also sports sprung metal buffers at each end along with fine metal took rests mounted to the rear of the bunker. The chassis, powered by a substantial 3 pole motor, carries an 8 pin DCC decoder socket and is adorned with details like the springs, brake blocks, brake rigging and sand boxes – accompanied by separate wire sandpipes. NEM couplings pockets can be found at the front and rear, allowing the tension lock couplings supplied with the model to be easily removed and exchanged for an alternative system. The livery is applied to the usual high standard you would expect from a Bachmann model, with rich paintwork adorned with finely printed lining, lettering and numbering to produce a model that is fit for those modelling the GWR or the preservation scene.