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All Change – some observations on the new Bachman Sleeping Cars

Silver Sidelines

Entry posted by Silver Sidelines

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Back in the early 1970s I was a not infrequent user of the overnight sleeper service from Edinburgh to Kings Cross. I would say not my favourite mode of transport. However I would also say that no 1960s model railway can be complete without some sleeping cars.

 

This week I took delivery of two of the latest Bachmann Sleeping Car Firsts. I was not disappointed.

The date on the solebar shows 1960, which should be ideal for my sixties layout.

 

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Bachmann Mk1 Sleeping Cars

 

Up until very recently the choice of ready to run model seemed to be limited to the Hornby version.

 

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Hornby Mk1 Sleeping Cars with detailed underframes and fitted with Bachmann bogies.

 

My Hornby sleeping cars dated from the ‘Topshed’ era’ and appeared to be based on the original CKD (Completely Knocked Down) Mk 1 models first made by Triang in the 1960s. The corridor ends and underframes are formed from a single moulding which appears to have been used unaltered for the complete range of Hornby Mk1 coaches. Different coach types having individual side pieces slotted into the solebar and clamped in place by two brass bolts through the solebar and fastening into the roof moulding.

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Hornby solebar with added lettering

 

Whilst I thought that the Hornby models captured the image I did make a few modifications. I added some footboards and some lettering to the solebars. To match with my existing Bachmann Mk1 coaches I also needed to lower the underframes on to the bogies – something that I achieved by swapping the Hornby bogies for the Bachmann type complete with metal wheels.

 

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Roof Detail

 

There is a lot of nice detail on the new Bachmann models. I particularly like the roofs, with lifting eyes for the water tanks and the trunking for the ventilation. I was never very sure what the Hornby roof was supposed to represent.

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Bachmann windows and solebar detail

The Bachmann lining is not as heavy as the Hornby model. Also the Bachmann windows look neater. Were the Hornby windows supposed to represent double glazed units and if so was that correct for the 1960s?

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Bachmann end step

Bachmann have also added a step to the coach end and the rigid corridor connector moulding now carries a lamp bracket.

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Bachmann left and Hornby right (with painted door)

How much of the Hornby end detail is correct and how much is simply due to using a common moulding for all Mk1 stock? I am intrigued that Bachmann model does not have steps all the way up to roof level. This would be to reduce the chances of electrocution when used on the West Coast mainline – but were the coaches assembled like this when first introduced in 1960?

To close couple Bachmann Mk1 coaches I swap the couplings for Hornby R8220 Roco type coupling. I don’t keep up with press releases so I was surprised to find that then new Bachmann Sleeping Cars are supplied with straight type couplings, as opposed to the type with a dropped shank.

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Old bottom and new top coupling compensators

 

Removing the bogies from the sleeping cars shows that Bachmann have re-engineered the arrangements for providing coupling compensation whilst negotiating curved track. The mechanism is now contained within the coach body and more significantly – the position of the coupling pocket has been lowered to enable the use of standard straight couplings.

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Old left and new right Bachmann coupling pockets

I have fitted Hornby R8220 couplings in the new lowered pockets and coupled the coaches up with older rolling stock. My first impressions are that there is so much flexibility in both the old and new compensating units that the slight change in height between the old and new design is not going to be a problem. Time will tell.

Well must go and find the boxes for the old Hornby coaches and get them ready for the Christmas sales.

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Silver Sidelines

Hello Bernard

 

Excellent information - I knew the Hornby window surrounds were out of place on the maroon coaches.  As you say not bad going for 52 years (the Hornby ones).  That's ten years older than my new Triumph.

 

Regards

 

Ray

.. Great Pasmpisford...

PS May be Pampisford?

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BernardTPM

Sorry Ray, yes, Pampisford; my typing isn't always too good. Not a place normally associated with sleeping cars and long since closed.

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Bob Reid

Good comparison review Ray - shows you how much RTR  coaching stock has moved on in the intervening years....

 

The framed bodylights were I'm afraid, a bit of 70's Hornby imagineering - they were never fitted to the real sleeping cars - even in later life.....

 

Regards,

 

Bob

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PaternosterRow
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Another nicely laid out and very informative blog, Ray.

 

The build quality is fabulous on stock nowadays.  I'm always amazed at how crisp the paint and lettering is compared with yesteryear and I wonder how they manage to do it?

 

Mike

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Silver Sidelines

Thanks Bob and Mike

 

I like the word ...imagineering!

 

 

.. imagineering -

.. shows you how much RTR  coaching stock has moved on in the intervening years....

 

Bob

As you both say - how detailing has improved - not just the quality of the moulding but the care and precision in assembly.

 

The build quality is fabulous on stock nowadays.  I'm always amazed at how crisp the paint and lettering is compared with yesteryear and I wonder how they manage to do it?

 

Mike

Thanks

 

Ray

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Mikkel
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Yes a nice word that, "imagineering" - sounds like fun :-)

 

An interesting comparison Ray, the roof detail on the Bachmann stock looks fantastic - amazing what can be achieved these days.

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Silver Sidelines

Thanks again Bob and Mikkel

 

..a nice word that, "imagineering" - sounds like fun :-)

I am not sure where 'imagineering' takes over from historic fact - playing and driving my new old car has been quite revealing - I obviously have a very selective memory. Now we are getting some darker evening I must revisit my Father's cache of 35mm slides and check out a some more 'memories'.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Alan Higgi

Great post! I hate the post April '63 yellow stripe on first class coaches. So as the first, second and composite sleepers are the same bodyshell. I  know my way out of that one.

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Silver Sidelines

Hello Alan

 

I hate the post April '63 yellow stripe on first class coaches. ........ I  know my way out of that one.

I tend to agree - I wasn't sure about the date.

 

Ray

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davidw

I think else where 1960 and 1962 has been quoted on the strip also IPA on cotton wool buds , with care can remove it..  Not tried it on mine as they've been confiscated til christmas

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