The Bachmann Branchline Class 350 ‘Desiro’ Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) was developed in conjunction with the builders of the real trains, Siemens, and now for the first time this impressive four-car unit is available in the striking livery of current operator London Northwestern Railway.

The four vehicles that make up the Class 350 are each modelled to a high level of fidelity and the set includes a Driving Motor Open Second (DMOS) at either end. Here we find the driver’s cab, inside which is a seat and moulded control desk complete with controls and dials; separate windscreen wipers are fitted to the cab windows and an illuminated destination panel is also present which shows (London) Euston as the destination for our train. Between the DMOSs we find the Trailer Open Composite Lavatory (TOCL) and the Pantograph Trailer Open Second Lavatory Wheelchair (PTOSLW). The real units collect their power from electrified overhead lines via a roof mounted pantograph, and the miniature version fitted to the Branchline model is constructed from metal and is sprung, allowing it to be posed in the raised or lowered position. The roof well is completed by the addition of further individual components, representing the cabling, insulators and other details.

Common throughout the four vehicles we find tables and chairs within the passenger saloon areas, and these are lit by the internal lighting, which extends to the driving cabs too. Tinted glazing is employed to replicate that found on the prototype, whilst the underside of each vehicle sports an appropriate complement of electrical boxes, brake equipment and auxiliary gear along with sandboxes where relevant – complete with separate metal sandpipes.  In addition to the pantograph, further roof components adorn each vehicle, including the air conditioning units which are fitted separately along with the corridor gangways between each vehicle and at the cab ends, on the real trains these allow multiple units to work together with through access between trains. NEM coupling pockets are fitted to the cab-end bogies so you too can run two or more trains together, or the standard couplings can be unplugged and replaced with the cosmetic air dams and replica Dellners instead.

The drive mechanism uses a powerful 5 pole motor with flywheel connected to two axles, each running in separate metal bearings, and incorporates a significant weight to create a smooth and responsive drivetrain that easily powers this one-metre long unit – all of which is fitted as discreetly as possible into the PTOSLW vehicle. Beneath the PTOSLW a removable panel gives easy access to the 21 pin DCC decoder socket and here the speaker space can also be found. Power is collected from every wheelset, with every axle running in metal bearings, and conductive couplings with integral close-coupling mechanisms are employed between the four cars to allow a single DCC decoder to be used to control the whole unit. As well as the interior lighting, which is supported by built-in capacitors to prevent light flicker, directional lighting is also present, with white lights displayed at the leading end and reds when trailing.

Turning our attention to the decoration and the livery artwork for this model has been prepared using original livery diagrams – to stunning effect! The metallic colours of London Northwestern Railway have been replicated in miniature, with the blocks of green contrasting beautifully against the silver base paint. In our safety-conscious world it is no surprise that there are myriad warning stickers and other detailed graphics adorning the prototypes, and these too are recreated on the Branchline model, and most are legible too, bar the very smallest. The result is a metre-long masterpiece in miniature that will fit seamlessly into any modern scene.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 9
• Pristine London Northwestern Railway livery
• Set No. 350372
• 4-Car Unit comprising DMOS No. 60145, PTOSLW No. 60655, TOCL No.  60515 & DMOS No. 60155
• Destination Blinds for London Euston
• SOUND FITTED – Fitted with a ESU Loksound V5DCC Sound Decoder
• Length 1080mm (over couplings)

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 350 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• One motorised vehicle (PTSO/PTOSLW) per four-car unit
• Five pole motor and flywheel providing drive to one bogie
• Twin axle drive
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each driven axle
• Trailing axles on all vehicles run in metal pinpoint bearings
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Driven bogie features an integral gearbox, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie at the cab end of each DMCO/DMOS vehicle
• Plug-in conductive couplings with integral close coupling mechanisms fitted between vehicles
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Highly detailed injection-moulded bodyshells for each vehicle type
• Metal Pantograph, sprung for posing in the up or down position
• Separately applied detail parts, including roof pods, air conditioning units, windscreen wipers, gangways, underfloor equipment and sandboxes with metal sandpipes
• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring brake and suspension detail and steps where prototypically appropriate
• Interior detailing including tables and seats, partitions and driver’s chair with control desk including controls and dials
• Each model is supplied with an accessory pack including front air dams, cosmetic Dellner couplings and inter-vehicle cable mouldings

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, including illuminated destination panels integrated into the cab windows
• Passenger saloon lighting
• Cab interior lighting – switchable on/off via the roof-mounted switches which are accessed using clip-on roof panels
• Integral capacitors to prevent light flicker during brief interruptions to the power supply
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each lighting application

DCC:

• 21 Pin DCC decoder interface – one decoder required per unit
• Easy-access DCC decoder socket located underneath removable underframe panel

SOUND:

• Space is provided for a speaker to be fitted along with connection points on the PCB
• SOUND FITTED models include a pre-fitted speaker
• ESU Loksound V5DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 350 EMU using recordings from real units
• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all vehicles including interior decoration
• Multiple paint applications employed using corporate specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours

CLASS 350 HISTORY

The British Rail Class 350 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) are part of the ‘Desiro UK’ family of passenger trains and were built by Siemens in 2004–05, 2008–09 and 2013–14. Thirty of these trains, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line.

A further 37 Class 350/2 units were ordered by then-operator London Midland in late-2007. All 37 units were delivered and in service by July 2009. A further 20 units have since been built, split equally between London Midland (subsequently London Northwestern Railway – LNWR) and First TransPennine Express (TPE). The LNWR units are designated as Class 350/3s, and the TPE units designated 350/4.

The Class 350 series consists of 4-car units, with earlier variations in DMCO(A)+TCO+PTSO+DMCO(B) formation and later variations in DMOS(A)-TOCL-PTOSLW-DMOS(B) formation. All examples, including the 350/4s that were used by TPE, are currently working on routes operated by London Northwestern Railway or its sister brand, West Midlands Railway.

The Siemens ‘Desiro UK’ family also includes units of Classes 185, 450, 360, 380 and 444. With over 80 units, the Class 350 has the second largest number of units in the family.