We are delighted to welcome the Class 03 Diesel Shunter back to the Bachmann Branchline OO scale range as No. 03056 in BR Blue livery with the distinct wasp stripes at either end. Taking advantage of the technical upgrades undertaken to the popular Branchline model a few years ago, this Class 03 features a coreless motor and being SOUND FITTED, is supplied with a Speaker and DCC Sound Decoder pre-fitted.
The Bachmann Branchline model combines a detailed chassis, depicting the jackshaft drive arrangement of the prototype and complete with sandboxes, sandpipes and underframe equipment, with a high fidelity bodyshell adorned with numerous separately-fitted detail parts. The distinctive bonnet doors are fitted with separate handrails, with further separate handrails to be found around the cab, at the front of the locomotive and on the running plate. Lamps irons and windscreen wipers are each fitted individually, as is the flowerpot chimney and the turned metal air horn. With NEM coupling pockets, the standard tension lock couplings can be removed and replaced with the supplied filling piece to complete the look of the deep bufferbeams that are a feature of the prototype. Finished with an exquisite livery application using authentic colours, logos and fonts, this is an attractive addition to any OO scale collection.
 
MODEL FEATURES:
Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
Era 7
Pristine BR Blue (Wasp Stripes) livery
Running No. 03056
Flowerpot Chimney
Single Air Horn
NEM Coupling Pockets
Sprung Buffers
Powerful Coreless Motor
Detailed Cab Interior with pre-fitted Driver in one cab
Cab Lighting (when used on DCC only)
Locomotive Ready to Accept a Speaker
Accessory Pack
SOUND FITTED - Fitted with a Zimo MS590N18 DCC Sound Decoder - See below for the function list
Length 105mm
 
SOUNDS:
F1 - Sound On/Off
F2 - Brake
F3 - Horn (Playable)
F4 - Two-Tone Horn
F5 - Light Engine Mode
F6 - Engine Idle
F7 - Shunting Mode
F8 - Cold Start
F9 - Flange Squeal (Speed Related)
F10 - Cab Light
F11 - Buffering Up
F12 - Coupling Sounds
F13 - Low Toot
F14 - High Toot
F15 - Windscreen Wipers
F16 - Dispatch Whistle
F17 - On - Driver's Door Opening / Off - Driver's Door Closing
F18 - Fade All Sounds
F19 - On - “Draw up” / Off - “6ft, 4ft, 2ft, Whoa!”
F20 - “Squeeze Up”
F21 - On - "Going Under” / Off - "Clear to go under”
F27 - Volume Down
F28 - Volume Up
Analogue Users: Please note that normal load running sounds and any other automatic or randomised sounds will also operate when this model is used on analogue control (DC) straight from the box!
 
CLASS 03 HISTORY
The Class 03 diesel shunters were introduced between 1957 and 1962 and with 230 built, the type was one of BR's most successful small 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters and was adopted as BR’s standard small shunter. A development of the Class 04 ‘Drewry’ shunter, construction was shared between British Railways' Swindon Works and Doncaster Works and initial allocations for the class covered all regions except Scotland. Shunting was the main employment, with their short wheelbase and light weight making them particularly useful in areas where weight restrictions or tight trackwork existed. Examples were also assigned to station pilot duties and due to the short wheelbase, it was common for them to be coupled to a ‘shunter’s truck’ or ‘runner wagon’ to ensure sufficient length for reliable operation of track circuits.
Weighing in at 30 Tons, some 18 Tons less than the Class 08 diesel shunter, the Class 03’s were fitted with Gardner engines and their distinctive jackshaft drive arrangement gave the locomotives a top speed of 28½ mph. Despite their usefulness, a downturn in shunting requirements meant that withdrawals began in 1968, although the last remained in service on mainland Britain until 1987. Two examples operated on the Isle of Wight, with lowered cab roofs to account for the restricted loading gauge, and these remained in traffic on the island until 1993. One of these Isle of Wight locos, No. 03179, was resurrected by West Anglia Great Northern in 1998 to shunt their Hornsey Depot. Subsequently operated by First Capital Connect, the loco was finally withdrawn in 2008 after which the locomotive was preserved bringing the total number of surviving examples to 56.