Description
As part of our Winter 2022 British Railway Announcements we are excited to unveil the all new Mainline Hunslets in OO9 scale from Bachmann Narrow Gauge. From our trio of launch models, we present ‘Blanche’ in Early Penrhyn Quarry Lined Black livery complete with SOUND FITTED.
Following the success of the multi-award winning Double Fairlie locomotives, we’ve chosen another prototype famous for its operation on the narrow gauge railways of North Wales to join the Bachmann Narrow Gauge range next. A Class of just three locomotives, each of the Mainline Hunslets can now be modelled faithfully at various points during their working lives thanks to our versatile tooling suite. Incorporating the highest levels of detail to produce a model of supreme fidelity, this Mainline Hunslet is brought to life by its exquisite livery application using the latest paint application techniques for the most authentic of finishes.
These small but mighty models feature a diecast metal saddle tank, cylinder block, frames and footplate; coupled with a precision moulded cab, smokebox and other separate detail components to produce a model that is strong and robust yet intricately detailed. The cab interior is a work of art and behind the hinged, posable firebox door, firebox lighting is fitted. Suitable for use on DCC or analogue control straight out of the box, this SOUND FITTED model will take your enjoyment to the next level with its authentic sound effects which only enhance the model’s good looks!
MODEL FEATURES:
Bachmann Narrow Gauge OO9 Scale
Era 3
Pristine Penrhyn Quarry Lined Black (Early) livery
Named ‘Blanche’
Etched Name Plates and Works Plates included
SOUND FITTED – Fitted with a Zimo MX659N18 DCC Sound Decoder – See below for the function list
Length 67mm
DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL
Rivetted Saddle Tank
Round Cab Front Windows
Tool Brackets on Right Hand Side of Saddle Tank
No Sanding Pots
Single Piece Smokebox Handrail
MECHANISM:
Coreless motor with flywheel
Electrical pickup from all wheels
Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle
Diecast metal chassis block
9mm (OO9 narrow gauge) wheels to NEM310 standards with authentic profile and detailing
Coupling pockets to NEM355 standards, into which a standard OO9 coupling hook assembly is fitted (hook and loop coupling also supplied for optional fitting)
Designed to operate on curves of first radius (228.6mm) or greater
DETAILING:
Diecast metal cylinder block, frames, footplate and saddle tank
Precision moulded plastic smokebox and cab
Highly detailed and decorated cab interior including separately fitted regulator, reverser leaver, handbrake, and gauge frames and hinged firebox door which can be posed open/closed
Separately applied details including reverser, injectors, handrails, smokebox dart, whistle and tool brackets (where applicable)
Each model supplied with a set of authentically decorated etched name plates and works plates
Lighting:
Firebox Glow (on analogue) / Firebox Glow & Flicker (on DCC or when SOUND FITTED models are used on analogue)
DCC:
Next18 DCC decoder interface
SOUND:
Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
Zimo MX659N18 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Narrow Gauge Mainline Hunslet using recordings from real locomotives
SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied
LIVERY APPLICATION:
Authentic liveries applied to all models
Multiple paint applications employed on each model
Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing incorporating authentic typefaces, logos and colours
SOUNDS
F1 – Sound – On/Off
F2 – Brake
F3 – Cylinder Drain Cocks
F4 – Bell Whistle (Speed Related)
F5 – Reverser
F6 – On – Firebox Door Open / Off – Firebox Door Closed
F7 – Coal Shovelling (only with F6 On)
F8 – Blower
F9 – Flange Squeal (Speed Related)
F10 – Speed Lock
F11 – Hand Brake (Functional)
F12 – Water Tank Filling
F13 – Coupling Clank
F14 – Light Engine Mode
F15 – Fade All Sounds
F16 – Guard’s Whistle
F17 – Enable Auto Wagon Buffering
F18 – Injector
F19 – Alternative Whistle (Speed Related)
F20 – Shunting Mode
F21 – Safety Valves Lifted
F22 – ‘Clear my side’
F23 – ‘Red light ahead’
F24 – ‘Coal on the fire’
F25 – Volume Down
F26 – Volume Up
Analogue Users: Please note that normal load running sounds, acceleration steam chuff sounds and any other automatic and randomised sounds will also operate when this model is used on analogue control (DC) straight from the box!
MAINLINE HUNSLET HISTORY
Most famous for their operation on the North Wales narrow gauge railways, the first main line Hunslet was built in 1882 by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Named ‘Charles’, the locomotive’s somewhat unconventional appearance, with steeply inclined cylinders and connecting rods located on the inside of the coupling rods, would be repeated eleven years later when ‘Linda’ and ‘Blanche’ were constructed. Known affectionately by many enthusiasts as ‘the Ladies’, they were ostensibly built to the same 0-4-0 saddle tank design as ‘Charles’, although the ‘Ladies’ did incorporate some differences when compared to their elder. They had larger fire grates for one, round spectacle glasses in the front cab sheet rather than the square ones fitted to ‘Charles’ for another, and were also fractionally longer.
Penrhyn Quarry was the largest slate quarry in the world at the end of the nineteenth century and the trio of Hunslets spent their days hauling slate trains over the Penrhyn main line from the vast quarry complex at Coed-y-Parc, near Bethesda, to Port Penrhyn, just a stone’s throw from Bangor on the North Wales coast. Here, slate products were transferred to standard gauge railway wagons or ships for onward transport around the UK and further afield. Whilst smaller locomotive such as the Quarry Hunslets were used to work the quarry’s internal railways, the larger, more powerful Mainline Hunslets worked the full trains from the quarry down to Port Penrhyn and brought the empty wagons back again – similar duties to those for which the Ffestiniog Railway employed the famous Double Fairlies.
During their working lives the three locomotives underwent several changes, all gained full-height rear cab sheets, replacing the original half-height sheets, welded tanks were fitted in place of the original rivetted versions and various sandbox arrangements were seen, amongst other improvements during their time on the Penrhyn line. By the mid-twentieth century traffic on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway was in decline and in 1962 the last trains ran. ‘Charles’ had already been retired in in the mid-1950s, but the Ladies worked on until the very end.
Offered for sale upon closure of the railway, ‘Linda’ was quickly loaned to the Ffestiniog Railway, arriving there only three days after hauling her last train on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. In 1963 ‘Linda’ was purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway and ‘Blanche’ too was acquired in the same year, arriving at the railway in December 1963. Both Ladies have been modified by the Ffestiniog Railway since their acquisition, most notably with the fitting of front pony wheels and tenders, becoming 2-4-0ST+Ts (saddle tank tender engines). With 2023 marking 60 years since the pair were brought by the Ffestiniog Railway, they are unquestionably two of the most useful engines in the railway’s fleet and are as popular as ever with visitors, staff and volunteers alike.
‘Charles’ was also offered for sale, but with the boiler condemned, the Ffestiniog Railway declined. Instead, ‘Charles’ was loaned to the National Trust and is now displayed at Penrhyn Castle – once the family home of the owners of Penrhyn Quarry.
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