The Class 117 3-Car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) is Bachmann Branchline’s flagship First Generation multiple unit, equalled only by its single-car Class 121 stablemate. Employing cutting edge technology, these high fidelity models boast a wealth of detail and era-specific options to depict specific units at various points during their working careers which, for some, extended to almost 40 years in service. Returning to the Branchline range in a selection of new liveries, these iconic suburban DMUs will make a fine addition to any model railway set in the steam-diesel transition period onwards.

Comprising a Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS), Trailer Composite with Lavatory (TCL) and a Driving Motor Second (DMS), each of the three vehicles is modelled true to prototype, adorned with separate detail components whilst underneath the engine, drive gear and auxiliary equipment is all depicted faithfully. It may be hard to believe, but within these components and integrated into the underframe is hidden the drive mechanism, on the DMBS at least, which is totally invisible with no intrusion into the interior of the model. Talking of the interior and the fine detail extends inside the model too, complete with prototypical decoration. The livery application is executed to a high standard both inside and out, using accurate colours and authentic fonts, typefaces and logos to stunning effect.

Driven by the low profile mechanism, the model features electrical connectors between the three vehicles providing lighting throughout the model and, for DCC users, the convenience of fitting a single DCC decoder to control the full 3-car set. The lighting suite includes directional lights, interior cab and passenger saloon lights, and Illuminated headcode boxes and destination blinds, all of which can be enjoyed by analogue users – controlled with the under-chassis switches – or via dedicated functions on DCC. Adding a DCC sound decoder, or opting for a SOUND FITTED model with pre-fitted sound decoder, will put the pre-fitted speakers to good use – two of which are fitted, one in the DMS and one in the DMBS.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 6
• Pristine BR Blue Livery
• Set No. L412
• 3-Car Unit comprising DMBS No. W51353, TCL No. W59505 and DMS No. W51395
• Destination Blinds for Paddington and Reading
• Equipped with a PLUX 22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B
• Length 816mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Original Cab Fronts without Marker or Tail Lights
• Glazed Headcode Boxes displaying Headcodes 2A29 & 2A31
• Shortened Cab Handrails
• Corridor Connectors Fitted
• Round Buffers
• Modified Bogies with Heaver Bolsters and Side Control Buffers
• Twin Exhausts with Silencers at the Corridor End on the DMBS and DMS Vehicles

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 117 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Two motorised vehicles (DMBS and DMS) each fitted with three pole motors and a flywheel providing drive to the inner bogie
• Four axle drive (two driven axles in each of the DMBS and DMS vehicles)
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each driven axle
• Trailing axles run in metal pinpoint bearings
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Diecast metal, multi-stage gearbox, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each outer bogie on the DMBS and DMS vehicles
• Conductive couplings with integral close coupling mechanisms fitted between vehicles
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Separately applied metal detail parts, including lamp irons, cab end handrails and roof filler pipes
• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring brake and suspension detail and steps where prototypically appropriate
• Speedometer with flexible connection between bogie and solebar on the leading bogies of the DMBS and DMS vehicles
• A wealth of separately fitted underframe components including engines, exhaust systems, electrical gear and auxiliary equipment
• Interior detailing including seating, partitions and driver’s chair and control desk in each cab
• Sprung metal buffers
• Each model is supplied with a full set of decorated bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts including a coupling tool

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, including illuminated headcode panels* and high intensity headlights*, switchable on/off independently at either end via the chassis-mounted switches or via dedicated DCC functions (*where applicable to the prototype being modelled)
• Separately illuminated destination panels, switchable on/off independently at either end via the chassis-mounted switches or via dedicated DCC functions
• Passenger saloon lighting – switchable on/off via the chassis-mounted switches or via a dedicated DCC function
• Cab interior lighting – switchable on/off via the chassis-mounted switches or via a dedicated DCC function
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each lighting application

DCC:

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface – one decoder required per unit

SOUND:

• Two speakers fitted, one in each of the DMBS and DMS vehicles, for optimum sound reproduction – fitted to every model as standard
• Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 117 DMU using recordings from real units
• SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all vehicles including interior decoration
• Multiple paint applications employed using BR and corporate specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours

CLASS 117 HISTORY

The Class 117 DMUs were built by the Pressed Steel Company between 1959 and 1961 as 3-Car units, comprising of a Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS), a Trailer Composite with lavatory (TCL) and a Driving Motor Second (DMS). In total, 39 3-car sets were built along with three pairs of spare driving vehicles, and all were deployed initially to BR’s Western Region, working the suburban routes out of London Paddington with the units largely based at Reading and Southall depots.

Though not originally fitted, between 1965 and 1972 gangways were added to all vehicles in the class. As other first generations units were withdrawn, the 117s became more widespread with some moving from the Western Region to Birmingham and Scotland, prior to the delivery of new units to replace them. Selected for life-extending refurbishment during the 1970s, the entire fleet was refurbished with new interiors and returned to traffic. The following decade saw units repainted into Regional Railways livery as Sectorisation began, and later Network SouthEast livery was applied to those working around London and in the south east.

Withdrawals began as new, second generation units were introduced on their routes and the final bastions for the 117s were Haymarket depot in Scotland and Bletchley in England. The last units bowed out in 1999.