Bachmann Class 20/3 20308 DRS Compass (Original)

Class 20/3 20308 DRS Compass (Original)

Details Specific to this model:

- GPS Aerial

- Bonnet Roof Aerial

- Two-piece Radiator Shutters

- Drilled Bogie Equalising Beams

- Blanked Speedo Drive

Includes:

- Separately applied metal detail parts, including handrails, grab handles, sand pipes and etched fan grilles

- Sprung metal buffers

- Body-mounted snow ploughs supplied with each model

- Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts

- Plux22 DCC decoder interface

- Directional lighting, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control

- Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction

- Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions

- All axle drive

- Electrical pickup from all wheels

- Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie

- Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

- OO Scale

CLASS 20/3 HISTORY:

The British Railways Board's (BRB) 1955 modernisation plan called for a change to alternative forms of traction and manufacturers were asked to produce trial or initial designs for evaluation. English Electric adapted an existing design based on an export model for a 1,000bhp diesel and 20 were built as a pilot scheme for assessment.  

The first batch was built in 1957 and the diesels were assigned to work from Devon's Road depot, East London. The design was a success from the start and by 1962 a total of 127 had been built. Following assessment of all the Type 1 diesels, BRB placed a further order increasing the total to 228 by 1968 and the design became the BR standard for 1,000bhp diesel locomotives. With the introduction of TOPS the locomotives were designated Class 20 and renumbered 20001 to 20228. The locomotives were principally designed for freight work but also saw service on summer passenger trains where train heating was not required. The Class 20s worked over the Eastern, London Midland and Scottish regions as well as into Wales and were commonly associated with coal traffic. The only drawback the Class had was its single end cab, unlike modern designs that have a cab at each end. BR resolved this problem by regularly operating the Class 20s as pairs, nose to nose, and with the combined power of 2,000bhp they were able to haul the heavier block freight trains. 

BR's decision to switch to Type 5 and in particular Class 60 diesels in the late 1980s started a gradual withdrawal of the fleet, with just 28 left by 1994. A tribute to the design is that after 45 years the Class is still in service with DRS on mainline duties following refurbishment, the resulting locomotives being designated Class 20/3s. At least 28 of the class are now preserved.

UK Delivery:

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