Product Highlight: OO Scale Class 25s

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Product Highlight: OO Scale Class 25s

The BR Class 25 locomotives were a common sight on the UK railway network for over 20 years, so it only makes sense that OO scale models would be available in the Bachmann Branchline range. New models of these ubiquitous locomotives that have been produced with all new tooling are due to arrive soon, so it’s a great time to have a look.

These models contain a multitude of detail, with a choice of different body types available that feature accurate combinations of cab ends and body side details, all decorated in authentic liveries using BR and corporate specification colours. These are complemented with several separately applied metal detail parts, including grab handles, windscreen wipers and etched radiator grilles. The cab interiors feature era-specific decoration applied to the control desk, seats and ancillary equipment. 

Under the solebar, there are a combination of fuel tanks, sand boxes, and battery boxes along with water tanks and electronic speedos where appropriate. These are surrounded by bogies with full relief detail that are constructed from multiple components.

32-343 - Class 25/1 D5225 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels) Side View
32-342 - Class 25/2 D7525 BR Two-Tone Green (Full Yellow Ends) [W] Side View
32-333 - Class 25-3 D7660 BR Blue (Small Yellow Panels) Side View
32-346 - Class 25-2 25106 BR Blue [W] Side View
32-340SFX - Class 25/1 25057 BR Blue [W] Cab View

The models also all share the following features:

  • Powerful 5 Pole Motor with Twin Flywheels
  • Detailed and Decorated Cab Interior
  • Directional Lighting
  • Interior Cab Lighting (when used on DCC)
  • Engine Room Lighting (when used on DCC, Class 25/2 & 25/3 only)
  • Pre-fitted speaker for ease of Digital Sound installation
  • Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B
  • NEM Coupling Pockets
  • Sprung Buffers
  • Accessory Pack containing a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts along with three-piece, body-mounted snow ploughs and etched nameplates where appropriate

All models are also available as SOUND FITTED versions, which have a Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder that has been programmed using an exclusive sound project that contains over 25 sound and lighting functions using recordings from real locomotives. The SOUND FITTED DELUXE models also feature tinted windscreen glazing and a rotating radiator fan driven by an independent motor and gearbox.

32-343ASFX - Class 25/1 D5179 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels) Roof with Rotating Fan
32-340A - Class 25/1 25057 BR Blue

The SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models may also be used on most Analogue (DC) layouts, where they will play normal load running sounds and many other automatic or randomised sounds. The fan will also operate on SOUND FITTED DELUXE models when power is applied.

The Class 25 locomotives were first built by British Railways in the early 1960s to act as a more powerful alternative to the otherwise similar Class 24 locomotives. They were designed to be able to operate both passenger and freight services, which led to BR allocating them to almost every region of the country except the Southern Region. However, Class 25s could still be seen in the Southern Region when working incoming trains from other regions, and this prevalence throughout the country led to them developing the nickname of ‘Rats’. They were withdrawn in the 1980s, although 20 locomotives have survived into preservation.

32-333(SF/SFX) – Class 25/3 D7660 BR Blue (Small Yellow Panels)

Our first model is Class 25/3 No. D7660 in BR’s Blue livery with Small Yellow Panels. This locomotive has the headcodes 5M82 and 7D52 and features the later style of body with cantrail grilles and bodyside boiler vent grille and steps, although the water filler door has been plated over. Under the solebar, the locomotive has the original battery boxes, late pattern sand boxes, a 510 gallon fuel tank and an electronic speedo.

32-333 - Class 25/3 D7660 BR Blue (Small Yellow Panels)
StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-33332-333SF32-333SFX

32-334(SF/SFX) – Class 25/3 D7672 ‘Tamworth Castle’ BR Two-Tone Green (Full Yellow Ends)

32-334 - Class 253 D7672 'Tamworth Castle' BR Two-Tone Green (Full Yell. Ends)

The second model is Class 25/3 No. D7672, which has been named ‘Tamworth Castle‘ and has headcodes 1E11 and 1Z45. The locomotive features the later style of body decorated in BR’s Two-Tone Green livery with full yellow ends, cantrail grilles, and short exhaust. The battery box features additional safety clips, whilst the locomotive also features a 510 gallon tank, late pattern sand boxes, and an electronic speedo.

StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-33432-334SF32-334SFX

32-340(SF/SFX/A/ASF/ASFX) – Class 25/1 25057 BR Blue

Our next pair of models depict Class 25/1 No. 25057, which are decorated in BR’s Blue livery and are available in either pristine or weathered finish. The locomotive has headcode 0000 at both ends, along with the earlier style of body earlier style of body with bodyside grilles (which on one side are hinged). The cab door has been plated over, as have the boiler vent grille and bodyside steps. Underneath the solebar, the locomotive features a 510 gallon fuel tank along with a 580 gallon water tank and battery boxes with additional safety clips.

32-340 - Class 25/1 25057 BR Blue [W]
FinishStandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
Weathered32-34032-340SF32-340SFX
Pristine32-340A32-340ASF32-340ASFX

32-341(SF/SFX) – Class 25/2 D5282 BR Two-Tone Green (Small Yellow Panels)

32-341 - Class 25/2 D5282 BR Two-Tone Green (Small Yellow Panels)

Our fifth model is Class 25/2 No. D5282 in BR Two-Tone Green with Small Yellow Panels. This locomotive has headcodes 1T38 and 9T61, along with the later body style, original exhaust ports, bodyside vent grilles, and plated bodyside steps and water filler door. The original battery boxes are accompanied by a 510 gallon fuel tank and late pattern sand boxes.

StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34132-341SF32-341SFX

32-342(SF/SFX) – Class 25/2 D7525 BR Two-Tone Green (Full Yellow Ends) [W]

The next model is Class 25/2 No. D7525 in BR Two-Tone Green with full yellow ends and a weathered finish. This locomotive features headcodes 0F88 and 6M89, along with the later style of body and original engine exhaust, along with bodyside steps and boiler vent grille. Under the solebar, the 510 gallon fuel tank is accompanied by early pattern sand boxes.

32-342 - Class 25/2 D7525 BR Two-Tone Green (Full Yellow Ends) [W]
StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34232-342SF32-342SFX

32-343(SF/SFX) – Class 25/1 D5225 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels)

32-343 - Class 25/1 D5225 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels)

The seventh model depicts Class 25/1 No. D5225 in BR Green with Small Yellow Panels and headcodes 3C90 and 2H53. This locomotive features the early style of body with the original gangway doors, engine exhaust and water filler door. Below the solebar, there is a 580 gallon water tank alongside the 510 gallon fuel tank, original battery boxes and late pattern sand boxes.

StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34332-343SF32-343SFX

32-343A(SF/SFX) – Class 25/1 D5179 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels)

The next model is Class 25/1 No. D5179 in BR Green with Small Yellow Panels and headcodes 8M00 and 8K05. Featuring the earlier body type, this locomotive has the original gangway doors, engine exhaust and bodyside water filler door, although the boiler vent grille has been plated over. The original battery boxes accompany the late pattern sand boxes and 510 gallon fuel tank, although there is no water tank as this model depicts one of only four Class 25/1s that were not fitted with a boiler.

32-343a - Class 25/1 D5179 BR Green (Small Yellow Panels)
StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-343A32-343ASF32-343ASFX

32-344(SF/SFX) – Class 25/2 25085 BR Blue

32-344 - Class 25/2 25085 BR Blue

Our ninth model is Class 25/2 No. 25085 in BR Blue. This locomotive has a headcode of 0000 at each end and features the later body type, with a long engine exhaust, plated boiler vent grille and steps, and original bodyside water filler door. The 510 gallon fuel tank, early pattern sand boxes and original battery boxes are joined by a 580 gallon water tank, as this model depicts one of only five Class 25/2s that were fitted with a boiler.

StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34432-344SF32-344SFX

32-345(SF/SFX) – Class 25/2 25155 BR Blue

The penultimate model is Class 25/2 No. 25155 in BR Blue, with headcodes of 3V09 and 2B36. This locomotive features the later body and long exhaust along with plated boiler vent grilles, water filler doors and step. Under the solebar, there is the original battery boxes along with the 510 gallon fuel tank and late pattern sand boxes.

32-345 - Class 25/2 25155 BR Blue
StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34532-345SF32-345SFX

32-346(SF/SFX) – Class 25/2 25106 BR Blue [W]

32-346 - Class 25/2 25106 BR Blue [W]

The final model is of Class 25/2 No. 25155 in weathered BR Blue, with domino headcodes. This locomotive has the later body style with a short engine exhaust and plated boiler vent grille, water filler door and steps. The battery box has additional safety clips, whilst the locomotive is also equipped with a 510 gallon fuel tank and and late pattern sand boxes under the solebar.

StandardSOUND FITTEDSOUND FITTED DELUXE
32-34632-346SF32-346SFX

The first of these locomotives are expected to arrive with Bachmann stockists in August, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information about the full range. 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.

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