Product Highlight: OO Scale SR Bulleid Boosters
If you were already signed up for our weekly newsletter before the start of 2024, then you’ll know that the OO Scale models of the SR Bulleid Booster from EFE Rail were the last models to arrive at our warehouse right at the very end of 2023. It’s now been a few weeks since these models were sent out to the retailers, so now is the perfect time to have a look at them in more detail!
There are multiple models available that each showcase one of the two boosters at various stages throughout their lifespan, with each one having a unique combination of cab window, windscreen wipers, route indicators, shoe beam flash guards, steps, vacuum pipes and other details that are appropriate to the era.
All models are equipped with a sprung metal pantograph and separately fitted vents on the roof, whilst the sides and fronts of the models also feature many separately fitted detail parts such as lamp irons and handrails. On the inside, the cab interior has fully decorated seats and controls. The models also all share the following features:
- Five pole, skew wound, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies
- All axle drive with electrical pickup from all wheels and separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
- Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – Recommended Decoder item No. 36-557A
- Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
- Cab lighting, switchable on/off via magnetic wand, or via two separate functions when used on DCC
- Directional lighting (forward direction only)
- Bogie-mounted coupling pockets to NEM362 standards at each end
- Sprung buffers
- Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts
The two Bulleid Boosters were built in 1941 and 1945 by the Southern Railway. They had experienced success using Electrical Multiple Units across their growing electrified network, but had realised that they also needed a locomotive that could be used to work more traditional locomotive-hauled trains. The Boosters were fitted with both third-rail pickups and pantographs, but also had motor generators with flywheels to enable the locomotives to travel short distances over any gaps where power was not available, which is where they picked up their nickname.
Both locomotives survived into British Railways ownership, and a similar third locomotive was built in 1948. However, all three had been withdrawn before the end of the 1960s.
E82001 – SR Bulleid Booster CC1 SR Grey
The first model is E82001, depicting SR Bulleid Booster No. CC1 in the Southern Railway’s photographic grey. This model has small cab windows with a single windscreen wiper and stencil route indicator boxes are fitted at each end. The locomotive has a single whistle on the roof, whilst under the solebar there are T-shaped shoe beam flash guards.
E82002 – SR Bulleid Booster CC1 SR Green
Our second model is E82002, which is SR Bulleid Booster No. CC1 in the Southern Railway’s malachite green livery with Sunshine lettering. This locomotive has route indicator discs along with full-sized cab windows that each have a wiper. Under the solebar are square shoe beam flash guards. However, there is still a single whistle on the roof.
E82003 – SR Bulleid Booster 20002 BR Black
The third model is E82003, which depicts SR Bulleid Booster No. 20002 in British Railways’ black and silver livery. This locomotive has twin whistles on the roof. In common with E82002, there is a vertical handrail next to the left-hand window and standpipe vacuum pipes above the bufferbeam.
E82004 – SR Bulleid Booster 20002 BR Green
Our penultimate model is E82004, which is SR Bulleid Booster No. 20002 in BR’s green livery with red and white stripes and a grey solebar. This model features much the same configuration as E82003, but does not have fuse boxes on the bogies or jumper cables.
E82005 – SR Bulleid Booster 20001 BR Blue
The final model is E82005 depicting SR Bulleid Booster No. 20001 in BR blue with full yellow ends. The ends of this model feature revised windscreen wipers and a roller blind route indicator, whilst there are horns mounted on the roof. Below the solebar, this locomotive features roller bearing axle boxes.
These models are already available from retailers, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information. Once you’ve selected your models, get in touch with your nearest retailer to order yours!
Your nearest retailer can be found by using the Retailers page on our website, which can be accessed either from the menu at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below.
