Forthcoming Bachmann Cravens DMU

[Colossus]

If you follow the Railcar link above, you'll see that the archetypal KX area sets were Batch 3, which is what the model is.

 

It's also worth pointing out that the trailers are not affected by the van area variances, so could be used by modellers with other makes of MBS (notably 101) in other areas

 

Belated thanks for the comments Ian (and Robert Carroll). I'd noticed that the blue version in the Bachmann pictures was non-headcode which, without pretending to be an expert in the Cravens genre, sets the unit as rather later than my chosen c.1970. I imagine I could get away with running the rather tasty looking green/small panel unit. That said, adding the headcode panel shouldn't be too taxing-a mod - even for me to undertake. But is it likely, knowing what we know of Bachmann, that a headcoded blue version might emerge at some point later?

[coachmann]

With a bit of squinting I've worked out the 'Whiskers' version destination box has 'Kings Cross' at one end, and the SYP has what looks like 'Norwich'.

Nah, it's probably 'Royton'...

[robertcwp]

Belated thanks for the comments Ian (and Robert Carroll). I'd noticed that the blue version in the Bachmann pictures was non-headcode which, without pretending to be an expert in the Cravens genre, sets the unit as rather later than my chosen c.1970. I imagine I could get away with running the rather tasty looking green/small panel unit. That said, adding the headcode panel shouldn't be too taxing-a mod - even for me to undertake. But is it likely, knowing what we know of Bachmann, that a headcoded blue version might emerge at some point later?

There is more to it than the headcodes. In 1970 the units still had the old, internal, exhaust arrangement. However, there were probably still green ones running in 1970. I have seen colour footage of at least one vehicle in green with full yellow ends around that time.

 

I would like an old-style blue Cravens too, like these:

 

105s at Letchworth

[mark54]

However, there were probably still green ones running in 1970. I have seen colour footage of at least one vehicle in green with full yellow ends around that time.

 

I would like an old-style blue Cravens too, like these:

 

105s at Letchworth

I don't recall many green ones in the Kings Cross area in 1970, maybe an odd green vehicle in a set. I don't recall any after 1971.

 

I too would like a old-style blue one. The Bachmann model looks good. The distictive shallow solebar has been captured well.

[Colossus]

There is more to it than the headcodes. In 1970 the units still had the old, internal, exhaust arrangement. However, there were probably still green ones running in 1970. I have seen colour footage of at least one vehicle in green with full yellow ends around that time.

 

I would like an old-style blue Cravens too, like these:

 

105s at Letchworth

 

Thanks for that Robert including the link to your picture. I've long anticipated the arrival of the Cravens as a 'provider of atmosphere' for my Widened Lines project and as such, have never really studied the units in detail nor require 'rivet accuracy'. Frustrating as it is that this first batch won't provide exact matches of the 1970s ER blue units, the new models look good and if it is only the exhaust and headcode that need removing and adding respectively, turning them into KX/Moorgate lookalikes shouldn't be impossible.

 

I'm away to study some of your flickr site pics now and bone up on them a bit more!

[Littlethorpe]

I emailed Bachmann regarding unit numbers some weeks ago and received this reply in early January...

 

Many thanks for your email.

 

The information you require has been obtained from our Design Department and is as follows;

 

31-326 will be DTC E56412 & DMBS E51254 - blinds King’s Cross York Road / Welwyn Garden City

 

31-327 will be DTC E56451 & DMBS E51296 - blinds Manningtree / Harwich

 

I trust that this information will be of interest.

 

Dennis Lovett

Public Relations Manager

Bachmann Europe Plc

[robertcwp]

Thanks for that Robert including the link to your picture. I've long anticipated the arrival of the Cravens as a 'provider of atmosphere' for my Widened Lines project and as such, have never really studied the units in detail nor require 'rivet accuracy'. Frustrating as it is that this first batch won't provide exact matches of the 1970s ER blue units, the new models look good and if it is only the exhaust and headcode that need removing and adding respectively, turning them into KX/Moorgate lookalikes shouldn't be impossible.

 

I'm away to study some of your flickr site pics now and bone up on them a bit more!

 

One more thing - the KX sets were second class only.

[GD]

How I wish I had taken photo's of these old units during the mid 80's when they used to be on "my line" Doncaster to Cleethorpes, I remember not being too impressed when one turned up on my way home as they were slow, smelly, noisy and the windows almost vibrated out when the driver thrashed up to max revs before changing gear. I didn't take much interest in units then but I think they must have been based at Lincoln. Compared to todays railways the 1980's were heaven, I just didn't know it at the time, now where's that Tardis??

 

PS I will have to purchase a blue one just for the hell of it!

[mark54]

One more thing - the KX sets were second class only.

The down-grading consisted only of removing the 1st class markings. In the 1970s blue sets appeared occasionally with first class markings, I presume Cambridge sending out a non-Finsbury Park allocated set on a KX working.

[GD]

I emailed Bachmann regarding unit numbers some weeks ago and received this reply in early January...

 

Many thanks for your email.

 

The information you require has been obtained from our Design Department and is as follows;

 

31-326 will be DTC E56412 & DMBS E51254 - blinds King’s Cross York Road / Welwyn Garden City

 

31-327 will be DTC E56451 & DMBS E51296 - blinds Manningtree / Harwich

 

I trust that this information will be of interest.

 

Dennis Lovett

Public Relations Manager

Bachmann Europe Plc

I have found this useful website with Scottish destination blinds to print off, is it easy to change the blinds on not just the 105's but the class 108's for example?

 

http://homepages.enterprise.net/iainlogan/modelrail/free.html

[Flying Pig]

I remember not being too impressed when one turned up on my way home as they were slow, smelly, noisy and the windows almost vibrated out when the driver thrashed up to max revs before changing gear. I didn't take much interest in units then but I think they must have been based at Lincoln. Compared to todays railways the 1980's were heaven, I just didn't know it at the time, now where's that Tardis??

Your train could well have been one of the Lincoln sets.

[GD]

Your train could well have been one of the Lincoln sets.

It could well have been as most trains were Lincoln based 114's plus I recall a through Leeds-Cleethorpes unit at about 1700 hrs ex Leeds which was always a Hammerton Street 110 unit.

[thunderer08]

Hi all,

Sorry if this query has already covered but I would like to ask which type of exhaust, internal or external, would have been in use on the cravens units in use out of Kings Cross on sububran duties in 1976/77?

Thanks, Mick

[Oldfield_Park]

I emailed Bachmann regarding unit numbers some weeks ago and received this reply in early January...

 

Many thanks for your email.

 

The information you require has been obtained from our Design Department and is as follows;

 

31-326 will be DTC E56412 & DMBS E51254 - blinds King’s Cross York Road / Welwyn Garden City

 

31-327 will be DTC E56451 & DMBS E51296 - blinds Manningtree / Harwich

 

I suppose I was fairly close thinking 'Harwich' was 'Norwich'.

 

I will need to change my destinations on my 'Whiskers' example to something appropriate for Norfolk, but assuming that Bachmann retain the 1st Class window stickers despite it being a Kings Cross area set (when was it downgraded, out of interest?), I shuldn't need to maky any alterations.

[coachmann]

King’s Cross York Road / Welwyn Garden City and Manningtree / Harwich

Right, a double dose for Eastern Region fans. I must send them a map of the London Midland....

[robertcwp]

Hi all,

Sorry if this query has already covered but I would like to ask which type of exhaust, internal or external, would have been in use on the cravens units in use out of Kings Cross on sububran duties in 1976/77?

Thanks, Mick

Still internal judging by the photos I have seen.

[robertcwp]

Willoughby and Mablethorpe would also be suitable destinations for a green ER set.

 

Mablethorpe 105

[AberdeenBill]

Willoughby and Mablethorpe would also be suitable destinations for a green ER set.

 

Mablethorpe 105

 

 

 

Nice DMU, and even nicer signal... B)

 

<edit> I assume the 2 and 4 painted on the platform are DMU stopping points? I've never seen platform numbers rather than stop boards...

 

Bill

[swhite01]

I viewed the prototypes at Alexandra Palace, very nice models but have a few doubts re the buffer mounting and also the framing on the lower body side.

 

I have preordered a green whisker version.. also have a number of DC kits awaiting underframes.. for a GN layout... I have based my model on details from the Llangollen preserved example which I think is true to the original units... I noticed on the trailer car, on the Bachmann model shows the lower underbody framing where I believe a continous panel should be.

 

Llangollen unit here http://gallery17789.fotopic.net/p38671051.html

 

The buffers also do not show the correct mounting... the body being mounted straight into the underframe and not having the complex mounting plate...(have taken a pic of the buffer area of the model but unable to upload at the moment) http://gallery17789.fotopic.net/p38671063.html

 

Spent many happy hours traveling in the units from 66-70 to school ... lots of noise... but happy memories

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few snaps of the Cravens taken at York

 

Firstly a power car with external exhaust pipes

 

Secondly a power car with internal exhausts

 

Thirdly a trailer car

 

There were also front end differences, some with two character headcodes, some without.

[swhite01]

Not sure what happened above .. but included a scrap section of the underframe drawing for the trailer,

showing buffer mounting

 

hope of interest,

 

Steve W

[mark54]

I viewed the prototypes at Alexandra Palace, very nice models but have a few doubts re the buffer mounting and also the framing on the lower body side.

 

I have preordered a green whisker version.. also have a number of DC kits awaiting underframes.. for a GN layout... I have based my model on details from the Llangollen preserved example which I think is true to the original units... I noticed on the trailer car, on the Bachmann model shows the lower underbody framing where I believe a continous panel should be.

 

Llangollen unit here http://gallery17789.fotopic.net/p38671051.html

 

The buffers also do not show the correct mounting... the body being mounted straight into the underframe and not having the complex mounting plate...(have taken a pic of the buffer area of the model but unable to upload at the moment) http://gallery17789.fotopic.net/p38671063.html

Having checked photos, I would have said the Bachmann solebar is correct as originally built. The DTCL on the Llangollen Railway looking to have a later modification and has been plated over.

 

The buffer mounting is probably a model manufacturing limitation.

[robertcwp]

I have not tried uploading a file before, but if this works a pdf of a spreadsheet on Cravens DMUs that I put together a few years ago should be attached.

 

Here goes...

 

PS - it worked! The odd format is so that the Excel cell comments can be read and related back to the cells to which they refer. Green highlight indicates comment.

Cravens DMUs 5-4-10.pdf

[birdseyecircus]

There is a painted example at http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/ Not noticed it before but in the description it says it is fitted with a 8 pin DCC socket. I thought Bachmann were switching everything to 21 pin?

 

Paul

[Guest Max Stafford]

Does that mean it's 'ere then...? ;-)

[Andy Y]

No, it means he's been a feeving beggar at the weekend whilst I was photoing stuff on the Bachy stand.