Bachmann Class 158 2-Car DMU 158856 Central Trains

Class 158 2-Car DMU 158856 Central Trains

The Class 158 is one of British Rail’s most successful second generation Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs); first introduced in 1989, the entire fleet remains in traffic to this day. Over the years many colourful liveries have adorned the units, none more so that the vivid green scheme of Central Trains and one such unit is depicted by this Bachmann Branchline model.

The pinnacle of OO scale second generation DMUs, the Branchline Class 158 combines high fidelity bodyshells with an underframe that’s adorned with separate components depicting the engines, electrical equipment, and auxiliary gear. It’s the livery application which really brings these models to life and every element has been replicated in miniature. Whilst the main colours are spray painted, the myriad smaller logos, symbols and lettering are applied using a specialist printing process, using BR and corporate specification fonts, logos and colours.

Driven by the low-level drive mechanism, which is fitted to each vehicle, the conductive couplings ensure that the two vehicles work together in harmony and enable the use of a single decoder for DCC operation. Fitting that decoder couldn’t be easier thanks to the clip-off underframe panel behind which the decoder socket is fitted and combined with the pre-fitted speaker in each car, it’s easy to fit sound to your model, or why not let us do the work for you by choosing a SOUND FITTED model for a fully immersive operating experience straight out of the box.

FEATURES:

• Pristine Central Trains livery
• Running No. 158856
• Two-Car Unit comprising car Nos. 52856 & 57856
• Destination blinds for Leicester
• Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B
• Length 610mm

- Era 9

- OO Scale

CLASS 158 DMU HISTORY:

The British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), built specifically for British Rail's Provincial Services sector between 1989 and 1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at Derby Litchurch Lane Works and outshopped in Regional Railways Provincial livery. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, thereby reducing cost of operation, and to allow cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs. The majority of the 182-strong fleet of Class 158 units were built as two-car sets, with 17 three-car units constructed specifically for use on Trans-Pennine services. Similar three-car units were built for use by Network SouthEast but these were converted to Class 159 specification before introduced into service, with toilet retention tanks and other modifications to operate over the third-rail network.

All but one of the Class 158s remain in service today (2023), with operators including ScotRail, Northern, Great Western (GWR), East Midlands Trains (now EMR), and Transport for Wales (formerly Arriva). Former operators include Central Trains. The Class has worked extensively across the UK network, even into East Anglia as far as Stansted Airport and Norwich. Some 158s have been converted to additional Class 159s and now operate for South Western alongside their original classmates.

UK Delivery:

In stock items are usually despatched within 1-2 working days of ordering.