The Bachmann Branchline Class 450 '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 South Western Railway.

The four vehicles that make up the Class 450 are each modelled to a high level of fidelity and the set includes a Driving Motor Open Composite (DMOC) 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 Lon. W'loo (London Waterloo) as the destination for our train. Between the DMOCs we find the Trailer Open Second Lavatory (TOSL) and the Trailer Open Second Lavatory Wheelchair (TOSLW). The real units collect their power from electrified third rails via collector shoes mounted to the bogies, and this detail is included on both bogies of each DMOC. Meanwhile, with the Class 450s being near-identical to the Class 350s, the 450 includes a pantograph well on the roof of the TOSLW on a Class 350 a pantograph would be found here to collect power from overhead lines but on the 450, the well is unoccupied and this too is depicted faithfully on the Branchline model.

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. Separate components adorn the roof of each vehicle, including the air conditioning units roof pods, 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 TOSLW vehicle. Beneath the TOSLW 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 clean and modern look of South Western Railway trains has been replicated in miniature, with the blue and grey contrasting perfectly. 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 South Western Railway livery
• Set No. 450036
• 4-Car Unit comprising DMOC No. 63236, TOSL No. 64236, TOSLW No. 68136 & DMOC No. 63636
• Destination Blinds for London Waterloo
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket - Recommend Decoder item No. 36-557A
• Length 1080mm (over couplings)

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 450 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• One motorised vehicle (TOSLW) 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 DMOC 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
• 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 450 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 450 HISTORY

The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens 'Desiro UK' modular train family. Used for outer suburban services and with a maximum speed of 100mph, the Class 450s were built with standard and first class accommodation.

In April 2001, 785 vehicles were ordered by South West Trains in order to complete the replacement of its slam-door rolling stock, in accordance with its franchise commitment to do so by 2005, as the slam-door trains were coming to the end of their useful lives and did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Introduction to service was delayed by the required power supply upgrades capable of powering the new trains, which feature air conditioning, something that was not present in the slam-door trains they replaced. In the December 2004 timetable change, the Class 450 Desiros began serving most intended routes, although introduction was delayed until June 2005 in some areas. The units are owned by and leased from Angel Trains.

The entire Class 450 series consists of four-car multiple units, semi permanently formed as DMOC (A), TOSL, TOSLW and DMOC (B). Now operated by South Western Railway (SWR), the Class 450s operate on certain London commuter routes, as well as outer suburban and regional services from London Waterloo, and local services outside of the London area. They are used on all SWR lines.

The Siemens 'Desiro UK' family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 360, 380 and 444. The Class 450s are the most numerous trains in South Western Railway's fleet, and also the most numerous units in the Desiro UK family.