Bachmann Branchline will be launching an OO scale model of a North Eastern Railway (NER) E Class 0-6-0 tank engine at this weekend’s Greatest Gathering at Derby.

2025 marks the bicentenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, and a North Eastern Railway E Class locomotive was one of the exhibits at the railway’s centenary celebrations 100 years ago. The London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) later reclassified the E Class as Class J71.

Although many models of the J72 are already available, this E Class model will be the first to be produced in a ready-to-run format in OO Scale, with new tooling capturing the characteristics that set the J71 apart from its J72 counterpart.

New cab/tank/bunker mouldings portray the smaller coal bunker of the E Class, and are fitted with individual tank filler hatches, metal lamp brackets on the rear of the bunker, and metal handrails at the front of the tank and one on the cab rear sheet.

The cab has accurate depictions of the locomotive controls, levers, dials, and gauges, and the toolboxes and cabinets that back onto the bunker. The boiler has separate clack valves where appropriate, with either Ramsbottom or Ross Pop safety valves with an optional cover, and a turned metal bell or tubular whistle. Handrails running along the length of the boiler are made from metal wires with turned metal handrail knobs.

A diecast metal running plate features distinctive metal bufferbeams and two pairs of steps to the cab and running plate to access the tank filler hatches, and the sandboxes are formed from separate moulding. Lamp irons are in etched brass, and the buffers are of metal construction and sprung, with three types available to suit individual locomotives. Options are available for the model to be fitted with vacuum brakes as well steam brakes.

The model features a coreless motor with electrical pickup from every wheel, separate metal bearings on each axle, with the gear train housed in a diecast gearbox and driving the middle wheelset.

A Next18 DCC Decoder socket makes provision for DCC, and all models have a built-in speaker and firebox lighting system that operates on analogue and DCC.

SOUND FITTED models have a pre-fitted ESU Loksound Micro V5DCC Sound Decoder pre-fitted that can be used on both analogue and DCC. Front and rear NEM coupling pockets are fitted, and each model is supplied with optional accessories such as locomotive lamps, 3-link couplings and bufferbeam pipework.

Three versions of the model will be available: LNER No. 317, which took part in the 1925 centenary celebrations; No. 495 in its original T. W. Worsdell livery of lined green and maroon, and No. 68260 during its BR service. Prices start from £159.95 and release is expected in early 2026.

Previous releases this summer in the Bachmann Branchline range include an updated Class 66 diesel locomotive and a special edition Class 69 locomotive.