Design changes to Mainline and Bachmann pannier bodies

[Captain Kernow]

I was wondering whether the current 57XX pannier body offered by Bachmann differs in any significant way from the original Mainline 57XX pannier, dating from 1981? I am aware of one or two minor improvements, but is the current body still using the original masters or did Bachmann re-master it at some stage during it's development history?

 

It occurred to me that the original 57XX masters may have been permanently changed, when Bachmann started offering the larger cab 8750 version, so does that mean that the current 57XX is a completely new body?

 

And if the original Mainline 57XX formed the basis of the later Bachmann 8750, is the current 8750 offering still using those same masters?

 

This query is mainly about changes to the body mouldings, by the way, I am aware of the development of the original split chassis into the more conventional chassis now offered.

 

Many thanks.

 

Edited November 18, 2021 by Captain Kernow
Forgot to put something in.

[Steamport Southport]

According to Ramsay's Guide 

 

"The former Mainline model was replaced in 2005 by a retooled Class 57xx with new bunker and a new cab with good interior detail. It was given circular water fillers and lamp brackets and made use of the chassis produced for the subclass 8750."

 

 

 

 

Jason

[57xx]

They were retooled, there are quite a few differences between the original and later ones, not least fitting the different chassis. There is also the nipple that was removed from the dome.

[PMP]

The two bodies have a good number of variations, the biggest change being the chassis mounting.

The 57/8750 bodies use the same core components but change the cabs and tank fillers for the relevant types. The mould is far sharper and crisper in its definition.
The Mainline/Bachmann Mk1 version is quite a bit coarser, rivets are heavier and bunker handrails moulded on. They (mk1’s) always had round tank fillers (correctly) the oval type coming into play with the 8750 variant release. The cab on the early version is moulded as part of the footplate together with the injectors. The roof of the early model includes the front and rear cab plate which drops in between the cab sides. The Mk2 has separate cabs 57/8750, the revised tooling allowing both high and low cab to be fitted to the revised body. With this revision and the new chassis a separate backhead moulding is fitted to the chassis, which wasn’t included in the original. This new cab design meant two bunker toolings to reflect the different design of the join at the rear cab plate, and the bunker weight has different fittings between early/late versions.  Top tank straps were  enhanced on the later bodies as well as the previously mentioned dome shape correction. The revised bodies included sprung buffers, which the originals didn’t have.

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by PMP

[The Johnster]

IIRC the original Mainline 57xx did not have the 4 hooks on the rear of the bunker for fire irons, shunting poles, firemen's bikes and the like.  It had moulded bunker lamp irons and no lamp irons at all at the front, and no backhead detail, though the cast insert that filled the bunker and had a representation of coal at the top did have detail representing the handbrake, lockers, and bunker coal doors at the rear of the cab.