The E4 Class 0-6-2 Radial Tank was one of the most successful and versatile tank locomotives that the Southern Railway inherited upon Grouping in 1923, with all 75 locomotives that the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway had constructed around the turn of the century passing to the SR, and all but one would make it to BR ownership as well. The Bachmann Branchline model of the E4 is just as versatile, featuring diecast metal construction supplemented with high-fidelity injection moulded parts to create a model as strong and capable as its prototype. What’s more, the Branchline E4 has been upgraded for 2025 and now features a Next18 DCC decoder socket and provision for a speaker, allowing SOUND FITTED models to be offered for the first time.
- Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
- Era 4
- Locomotive is now Preserved
- Pristine BR Lined Black (Early Emblem) Livery
- Running No. 32473
- Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
- Length 149mm (over couplings)
DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL
- Dished Smokebox Door with Numberplate
- Westinghouse Brakes and Vacuum Brakes
- Lever Reverser
- Firebox Mounted Whistle
- Enclosed Coal Rails
- Countersunk Bufferbeam Rivets
- Smokebox Saddle Mounted Oil Pots
- Steam Injector and Pipes
- Boiler Clack Valves
BACHMANN BRANCHLINE LB&SCR E4 CLASS SPECIFICATION
MECHANISM:
- 3-Pole motor
- Electrical pickup from all driving wheels
- Separate metal bearings fitted to each driving axle
- Diecast metal chassis block
- Diecast metal 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
- Sprung rear radial truck
- Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted at each end
- Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater
DETAILING:
- Diecast metal boiler and side tanks, and running plate
- Precision moulded plastic cab and bunker, and smokebox
- Separately applied details including Westinghouse pump and pipework, front splashers, tank filler hatches, safety valves, dome and chimney, smokebox handles, clack valves* and vacuum pipes* (*where applicable)
- Individual metal detail components including handrails, handrail knobs, guard irons, lamp irons and turned metal whistle
- Highly detailed and decorated cab interior including controls, dials, gauges and tool cabinets with separately fitted regulator, reverser and valve wheels
- Running gear detailing includes springs, brakes, sandboxes and sandpipes which are made from metal wire
- Glazed cab front spectacles
- Metal buffers
- Each model supplied with an accessory pack including brake rigging, additional bufferbeam pipework, headcode discs and screwlink couplings
DCC:
- Next18 DCC decoder interface
SOUND:
- Space is provided for a speaker to be fitted along with connection points on the PCB
-
SOUND FITTED models include a pre-fitted speaker
- Zimo MS590N18 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
- Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline E4 using recordings from real locomotives
-
SOUND FITTED models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied
LIVERY APPLICATION:
- Authentic liveries applied to all models
- Multiple paint applications employed on each model
- Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing incorporating authentic typefaces, logos and colours
LB&SCR E4 CLASS HISTORY
The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway’s (LB&SCR) locomotive fleet included a family of similar 0-6-2 ‘Radial’ Tanks, the first of which was designed by William Stroudley. His successor, Robert Billinton, grew the family which eventually included the E3, E4, E5 and E6 Classes to suit a wide variety of traffic. The E3s had small wheels and were intended for Goods work, whereas the E5 and E6 had larger wheels to suit passenger work. The E4 was somewhere in between, making it ideal for mixed traffic purposes and resulting in the E4 being the most numerous member of the family.
The first E4 was built in 1897 and over a period of 6 years, 75 were outshopped from the LB&SCR’s Brighton Works. Known as ‘Radial’ Tanks because of the radial axle below the cab which was used instead of a more conventional pony truck, these tanks were go anywhere locomotives and found work on local passenger and freight services. In later life BR employed some as station pilots including at London Waterloo where they would marshal empty carriages between the station and the carriage sidings at Clapham Junction.
Several of the Class were named after towns, villages and geographical features in the LB&SCR area, and all passed into Southern Railway ownership upon Grouping in 1923. One was lost to enemy action during World War Two, but the remaining 74 were inherited by British Railways in 1948 although one was withdrawn the same year. Thereafter no further withdrawals were seen until 1955, and it was not until 1963 that the final four bowed out of service. Thankfully, one example No. 473 (later 32473 under BR ownership) was preserved and now forms part of the Bluebell Railway collection.
