Branchline [OO] 31-519 Class 158 2-Car DMU 158766 - GWR Green (FirstGroup)

Bachmann Branchline (OO Scale)
Product Code: 31-519
Class 158 2-Car DMU 158766 - GWR Green (FirstGroup)
Era: 9 (1995 onwards)
Length: 610mm

Highlights:

• PLUX22 DCC Sound Ready
• Accessory-pack
• Directional and interior lighting
• Exceptional standard of exterior and underframe decoration
• Exceptional standard of interior finish, detail and colouring

 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 blue. 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 182 158 units were built as 2-car units, with 17 3-car units constructed specifically for use on Trans-Pennine services.  Similar 3-car units were built for use by Network SouthEast but these were converted to Class 159 specification before introduction to service, with toilet retention tanks and other modifications to operate over the third-rail network.

All the Class 158s remain in service today, 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 159001-022, upon which our model of 159013 is based.