The first of Bachmann's newly tooled OO Gauge Class 69 diesel locomotives have now arrived at Rails - there are three editions available now with more to come in 2026!

Produced under an exclusive agreement with GBRf, the Branchline model has been painstakingly developed hand-in-hand with the introduction of the GBRf fleet. With the Class 69s being built from donor locomotives that were first built by three different works and have themselves seen almost fifty years of use and modification, Bachmann has worked closely with GBRf to accommodate any detail differences that were present on the donors and have remained apparent on the rebuilt machines, along with any changes made to the final design of the Class 69 during the ongoing build programme.

This diligent approach has resulted in a truly magnificent model which befits the Branchline name, capturing the Class 56 shape to a tee alongside the modern adornments and many changes made to the locomotives to create the 69s.

Three variations are available in this first batch - including 'Mayflower' in GBRf blue & orange, 'Bob Tiller' in Heritage BR large logo blue and 'Eastleigh' in Heritage BR green! Current stocks are limited so order now - plus there's more liveries due next year!

The Class 69 locomotive debuted in its striking black livery at the end of April 2025, complete with Andy’s Man Club branding and contact details along with the hashtag #itsokaytotalk and today, Bachmann confirmed that a model of No. 69013 will be produced as part of the Bachmann Branchline OO Scale range with delivery expected in late-2026. Bachmann will be donating proceeds from every sale and being the 13th member of the Class 69 fleet, the company aims to raise £13,000 to help Andy’s Man Club get men talking all over the UK.

The Class 69 Diesel Locomotive was conceived by rail freight operator GB Railfreight (GBRf) to meet their growing locomotive needs. With a requirement for locomotives similar in performance to their fleet of Class 66s, but being unable to purchase new Class 66s, GBRf turned to redundant Class 56s which could be converted into new locos with similar capabilities. As part of the conversion new equipment and systems were installed, including EMD 710 diesel engines, the same as those used in Class 66s. The pool of Class 56s to be converted included examples built at BREL Crewe, BREL Doncaster and Electroputere in Romania, with the conversion work undertaken in Stoke-On-Trent by the American company Progress Rail. 

GBRf formally announced the project in Spring 2019 and the first locomotive, No. 69001, commenced running trials at the Severn Valley Railway in February 2021. The type received approval by the Office of Rail and Road in May 2021, allowing the new locomotives to be pressed into service.

The initial order was for ten locomotives with an option for a further six, and by the start of 2024, the first ten locos – Nos. 69001-69010 – had entered service. Each locomotive has been painted by Arlington Fleet Services in Eastleigh and the liveries applied to the Class 69s range from GBRf’s ‘standard’ orange and blue scheme, and variations on it, to retro-BR liveries including BR Blue, BR Large Logo Blue, BR Green and RTC Red & Blue. Several of the Class are named including the first locomotive, No. 69001, which entered traffic in GBRf orange and blue adorned with UK and US flags and named ‘Mayflower’, symbolising the American input into the rebuilding of this British-designed locomotive. 

By mid-2025 the full fleet of 16 locomotives had entered traffic, including No. 69013 which emerged from Arlington Fleet Service in April 2025 in a bold black livery in support of Andy’s Man Club.