Product Highlight: OO Scale Midland Railway 1532 (1P) Class
The Bachmann Branchline range of OO scale models is set to welcome back the Midland Railway’s 1532 Class locomotive (later classified as the 1P Class) to the range. These models were first released in 2020 and proved to be an instant success and with new versions arriving next month, now’s the time to order yours! Before that though, let’s find out why these beautiful locomotives are so popular.
The bodyshell features the usual high levels of detail that you’d expect from a Bachmann Branchline model, having different variations and separately fitted parts that accurately portray the locomotives throughout their lifetimes. Major differences like the change from round-top boilers to Belpaire can be modelled authentically, along with no fewer than four different types of coal bunker, three chimneys and various options when it comes to details like the smokebox door, dome levers and sandboxes. Some locomotives were built with condensing equipment to work through the tunnels of the Metropolitan Railway around London and these can be faithfully modelled, as well as those engines fitted with push-pull equipment that saw use on branch lines and local services.
The inside of the cab is similarly detailed, with a decorated cab interior that features a separately fitted regulator, reverser, handbrake and valve wheels. These details are enhanced by the firebox lighting which adds a further element of realism whether the model is operated using Analogue or DCC. Sprung metal buffers are mounted to each bufferbeam, whilst below the running place the model includes detailed representations of the locomotive’s springs, brakes and separately fitted brake gear, sandboxes and sandpipes. The models also all share the following features:
- Coreless motor with electrical pickup from all wheels
- Separate metal bearings fitted to each driving axle
- Diecast metal chassis block and running plate with integral side tank weights
- Diecast metal gearbox, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
- Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
- Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
- Each model supplied with an accessory pack including cab doors, additional bufferbeam pipework, cab steps and screwlink couplings
- Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
There are also SOUND FITTED versions of each model, each of which is fitted with an ESU Loksound Micro V5 DCC Sound Decoder that has been pre-programmed with an exclusive sound project containing over 20 functions.
The SOUND FITTED locomotives may also be used on most Analogue (DC) layouts, where they will play normal load running sounds, acceleration steam chuff sounds and many other automatic and randomised sounds.
The Midland Railway constructed the 1532 Class locomotives in five batches during the early half of the 1880s. Two of these batches were fitted with condensing gear which allowed them to be used on the underground sections of the Metropolitan Railway in London, whilst others were fitted with push-pull gear. The locomotives were later reclassified as 1Ps and when the Midland Railway was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923, sixty-two were still in use. Of the remaining three locomotives, two had been scrapped. The third had been purchased by the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, and this locomotive would eventually join the other locomotives in LMS ownership eight years later. Further withdrawals continued under the LMS and BR until 1959, when the final 1P was scrapped with none surviving into preservation.
MR 1532 Tank Midland Railway Crimson Lake
The first pair of these new Midland Railway 1532 Class locomotives are Nos. 1725 and 1718 in the Midland Railway’s Crimson Lake livery. These models depict the pair with their original round-top boilers and enlarged side tanks that have ventilation gaps and condensing equipment runs along the boilers. Their fronts feature Johnson 3 foot 1 inch chimneys and dished smokebox doors, whilst their cabs feature low front windows. Behind the cabs, their flared bunkers are topped with coal rails made of four bars.
MR 1532 (1P) Tank LMS Black
Our next pair of 1532 Class models are Nos. 1370 and 1295 in the black livery of the the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. These locomotives have Belpaire boilers and standard sized tanks. They have Deeley 3 foot chimneys and smokebox doors with MR/LMS style numberplates. Their cab front windows are in the higher position and their bunkers have straight sides with coal rails made of 3 bars.
MR 1532 (1P) Tank BR Lined Black (Early Emblem)
Our next pair of 1532 Class locomotives are Nos. 58051 and 58056, decorated in BR’s Lined Black livery with the early British Railways emblem. As with the previous pair, these have Belpaire boilers, standard side tanks, and 3 foot chimneys, but they have smokeboxes with BR style numberplates and bunkers with coal rails made of 3 bars. Also unlike the previous locomotives, this duo have been fitted with push-pull equipment.
MR 1532 (1P) Tank BR Lined Black (British Railways)
Our final new pair of 1532 Class locomotives are Nos. 58066 and 58040 in BR’s lined black with British Railways written along the side of their tanks. These locomotives have a similar configuration to the previous pair, with Belpaire boilers, standard side tanks, 3 foot chimneys, BR style smokebox numberplates, 3-rail coal bunkers and push-pull equipment.
The Midland Railway 1532 Class locomotives are due to arrive in a few short weeks, 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 pre-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.
