Bachmann announce Class 69 in OO and N.

[AY Mod]

BACHMANN TO PRODUCE NEW GBRf CLASS 69 LOCOMOTIVES IN MINIATURE

 

 

To coincide with the first two locomotives entering traffic, Bachmann Europe Plc today announced that it has reached an exclusive agreement with GB Railfreight to produce models of the exciting new Class 69 diesel locomotives in both OO and N scale.

 

The New Class 69 locomotives are being converted from Class 56s by the American company Progress Rail at their Stoke-on-Trent facility to meet GBRf’s growing motive power requirements. Providing improved emissions and fuel economy plus standardisation among the fleet, the new locomotives incorporate various new parts including new EMD engines, the same as fitted to the Class 66 locomotives that have proved so successful for GBRf, along with a new cab interior which too is similar to that of a 66. The Class 56 bogies, wheelsets and traction motor have been retained having all been overhauled to a high standard.

 

Ten locomotives have been ordered with the option for six more and the first two, Nos. 69001 and 69002 have now entered traffic. No. 69002 carries GBRf’s take on the classic BR Blue Large Logo livery whilst No. 69001 has been decorated in a special livery with American and British flags signifying the American input into the rebuilding of this British-designed locomotive – the name ‘Mayflower’ has also been applied.

 

David Haarhaus, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe Plc said: “We are delighted that GB Railfreight have given us the responsibility of reproducing their new Class 69 locomotive in model form. The real locomotives have already grabbed the attention of enthusiasts and we are sure that these models will be just as popular. We have always enjoyed a strong relationship with GBRf and so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them once again to produce models of these distinctive locomotives. It is perfect timing for us as we will be able to incorporate the high level of detail and features that are associated with Bachmann products, including all of the latest technologies that are being employed on our new generation of locomotives.”

 

David continued: “we recently worked with GBRf to produce the Pride of Britain Train Packs, the sales of which will benefit NHS Charities Together, and I am proud that the agreement to produce these Class 69 models will present another opportunity for us both to give to a deserving charity. In addition to Nos. 69001 and 69002, we will be producing a model of another member of the Class, the profits from the sales of which will be donated to a charity of GBRf’s choice.”

 

 

Bob Tiller, Engineering Strategy Director for GB Railfreight said: GBRf are delighted to work with Bachmann on this prestigious project, we are very excited for our new fleet of 69s and even more excited to see highly detailed Bachmann Class 69 models of these locomotives available to everyone. GBRf work with a number of highly respected UK charities including those affiliated to the NHS and the sums collected will help everyone in these times. We are producing a number of special liveries to ensure a colourful and interesting collection and look forward to seeing them enjoyed on our layouts.”

 

Models of the Class 69 will appear in both the Bachmann Branchline and Graham Farish ranges in due course and further updates will be provided as the models develop. 

[Markwj]

Oooooh can I be the first to comment Wow!!!

[bmthtrains - David]

Interesting - that must give Farish pretty much a class 56 to release as well - I wonder if Dapol know something we don’t as they are re-releasing theirs. Will a Farish 56 be announced in the autumn?

 

David 

[Pete the Elaner]

Interesting considering a 56 is in the current Hornby range.

[Roddy Angus]

Can we expect this within 3 months or have Bachmann abandoned their policy of only announcing products when they are ready to be delivered?

 

Regards

 

Roddy

[Class 158 productions]

Very interesting! Wonder if a Grid will follow?

[Pete the Elaner]

Just now, Roddy Angus said:

Can we expect this within 3 months or have Bachmann abandoned their policy of only announcing products when they are ready to be delivered?

 

Regards

 

Roddy

 

Nice one.

The 3 monthly announcements are specific; running numbers liveries etc.

 

Making a good model takes a few years to design, prototype & correct.

[LaGrange]

9 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said:

 

Nice one.

The 3 monthly announcements are specific; running numbers liveries etc.

 

Making a good model takes a few years to design, prototype & correct.

 

They have been working on this for a while, they didnt just decide on the spur of the moment to do it today. Takes time to produce models, covid would have had no bearing on it

[Markwj]

4 minutes ago, LaGrange said:

 

They have been working on this for a while, they didnt just decide on the spur of the moment to do it today. Takes time to produce models, covid would have had no bearing on it

They can only be right at the start of the process as the real thing has only recently been completed- got to be 18months- 2 years away (I know optimistic)!

[MRDBLUE17]

An interesting announcement and didn’t see that coming from Bachmann. I quite like the look of 69001 having seen a photo earlier today so will probably end up with one. Will also be interesting to see what other liveries appear on the class. 
 

cheers

Mark

[Shoey]

I hope Bachmann have the same vision as Accurascale when it comes to detail. Great announcement though and look forward to seeing the end result.

[AY Mod]

26 minutes ago, Roddy Angus said:

Can we expect this within 3 months or have Bachmann abandoned their policy of only announcing products when they are ready to be delivered?

 

Regards

 

Roddy

 

From Bachmann.

 

Quote

Due to the unique nature of this project and the agreements required to bring these models to market, this project is being announced outside of our usual three-month British Railway Announcements programme. Other products, both new tooling projects and new numbers, liveries etc. on existing tooling, will continue to be announced in the quarterly British Railway Announcements once they are within three months of release as has been the case with our product announcements since the start of 2020

 

[Roddy Angus]

5 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

Due to the unique nature of this project and the agreements required to bring these models to market, this project is being announced outside of our usual three-month British Railway

Thanks Andy, I thought 3 months would be a bit optomistic.

 

Regards

 

Roddy

[woodenhead]

Now a chicken and egg scenario comes to mind.

 

Is there a class 56 in development in both 00 & N that this is a natural development from or a one off?

 

Might we see a Bachmann & Farish 56 by the end of 2021with a 69 to follow in 2022.

 

All supposition of course, so it is going to be interesting to see what happens in the next few months but things are looking interesting.

Edited June 14, 2021 by woodenhead

[Walkes07]

That’s good news. Take ten years to come out though lol

[griffgriff]

A Frankenstein of an egg.... ok you have a reasonably common chassis but there are hell of a number of differences in the body. Not so much body snatcher more body gobbler.  Having said that.... it would be lovely to have a proper Romanian Grid on the shelves again.

Griff

 

[AY Mod]

10 minutes ago, Walkes07 said:

Take ten years to come out though lol

 

Oh haha. Not in the mood for worn-out tropes taking up screen space.

[Revolution Ben]

 

Hi all,

 

Excellent news - will definitely be looking forward to the N gauge versions of these, especially as the most recent Farish models (31, 40) have really well thought out chassis, lighting and sound functions.  More than happy to wait as long as it takes for these.

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

[woodenhead]

5 minutes ago, griffgriff said:

A Frankenstein of an egg.... ok you have a reasonably common chassis but there are hell of a number of differences in the body. Not so much body snatcher more body gobbler.  Having said that.... it would be lovely to have a proper Romanian Grid on the shelves again.

Griff

 

Or another thought - a Next18 sound class 66 - seeing as they both sound the same!!

[phil-b259]

15 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Now a chicken and egg scenario comes to mind.

 

Is there a class 56 in development in both 00 & N that this is a natural development from or a one off?

 

Might we see a Bachmann & Farish 56 by the end of 2021with a 69 to follow in 2022.

 

All supposition of course, so it is going to be interesting to see what happens in the next few months but things are looking interesting.

 

I would think that the 69 will come out first!

 

Moreover because of the exclusive nature of the deal there can no competition so no worries about making a decent return on it.

 

The 56 is far more of a Gamble - we know from past experience that Hornby tend to react aggressivity to competitors and producing a 56 in 00 is going to be pretty risky as its entirely possible Hornby can rush out a batch of spoilers before a Bachmann model hits the shelves.

 

 

[Walkes07]

8 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Oh haha. Not in the mood for worn-out tropes.

Obviously u don’t know how to have laugh Andy lol

Edited June 14, 2021 by Walkes07

[woodenhead]

11 minutes ago, phil-b259 said:

 

I would think that the 69 will come out first!

 

Moreover because of the exclusive nature of the deal there can no competition so no worries about making a decent return on it.

 

The 56 is far more of a Gamble - we know from past experience that Hornby tend to react aggressivity to competitors and producing a 56 in 00 is going to be pretty risky as its entirely possible Hornby can rush out a batch of spoilers before a Bachmann model hits the shelves.

 

 

Not if they were already in development and come out as part of the three month announcements.  But I'm not saying there is one and it more likely to be just the class 69 that no-one else can now touch.

[The Ghost of IKB]

Cant understand why people expect a 56 to follow.  Despite the real world link, in model form these are very diffrrent beasts, cabs, roof, underframe tanks and body sides all very different. Only the bogie sides are common and the internals.

 

[Wolf27]

13 minutes ago, Walkes07 said:

Obviously u don’t know how to have laugh Andy lol

I’m sure he does, it’s just the predictable comments like this he doesn’t find funny. 

[TravisM]

Though I take my hat off to Bachmann to work with GBRf and Progress Rail to produce this loco in both OO and N gauges, but I think a Class 56 is a very long way off.  As pointed out, Hornby have a habit of new runs, or “new tooling” of loco’s that are already in their catalogue, suddenly appearing after another manufacturer decides to make their own version.

 

I’m not sure if I’d order one but I’m certainly tempted.