Narrow Gauge [OO9] 391-136 Mainline Hunslet 2-4-0STT 'Blanche' Ffestiniog Railway in Green

The new Bachmann Narrow Gauge model of ‘Blanche’ brings the story of this Mainline Hunslet locomotive right up to date, complementing the model of ‘Blanche’ in her original Penrhyn Quarry Railway condition that is already produced by Bachmann in OO9 scale. Our latest release depicts ‘Blanche’ in her current condition as a 2-4-0 Saddle Tank with Tender (2-4-0STT) and carrying the vibrant Ffestiniog Railway Green livery. 

This model was first announced during the Ffestiniog Railway’s Bygones Weekend. ‘Blanche’ (and sister locomotive ‘Linda’) have called the Ffestiniog Railway home since 1963, and we would like thank the railway for the support and advice they have given so generously during the development of these Bachmann Narrow Gauge models.

Originally built as a 0-4-0ST for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, ‘Blanche’ was purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1963 and underwent conversion to left-hand drive, was fitted with a tender and had her cab profile modified. In 1971 she was converted to oil firing, and was rebuilt as a 2-4-0STT and fitted with new piston valve cylinders the following year. Converted back to coal firing in 2014, this Bachmann Narrow Gauge model depicts ‘Blanche’ in this condition, in which she continues to run today.

These small but mighty models feature a diecast metal saddle tank, cylinder block, frames and footplate; coupled with a precision moulded cab, smokebox and other separate detail components to produce a model that is strong and robust yet intricately detailed. The cab interior is a work of art and through the firebox hole firebox lighting is fitted which operates on both analogue and DCC. Talking of DCC, with a Next18 DCC decoder socket and a pre-fitted speaker it’s easy to convert your model for DCC running – or why not make it even easier and opt for a SOUND FITTED model to really bring your layout to life!

• Bachmann Narrow Gauge OO9 Scale
• Era 9
• Ffestiniog Railway Lined Green livery
• Named ‘Blanche’
• Etched Name Plates and Works Plates included
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommended Decoder item No. 36-567B
• Length 118mm

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• 2-4-0 Wheel Formation
• Welded Saddle Tank
• Open Cab with Tender Cab
• Reprofiled Cab Roof
• Vacuum Brakes Fitted
• Modified Injector Pipework
• Square Sand Pots mounted on the front of the Saddle Tank
• Single Piece Smokebox Handrail
• Left-hand Drive
• Piston Valve Cylinders
• Original Chimney
• Sliding Firebox Door

BACHMANN NARROW GAUGE MAINLINE HUNSLET SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Coreless motor with flywheel
• Electrical pickup from all driving and tender wheels
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle (excluding front pony wheels)
• Diecast metal chassis block
• 9mm (OO9 narrow gauge) wheels to NEM310 standards with authentic profile and detailing
• Coupling pockets to NEM355 standards, into which a standard OO9 coupling hook assembly is fitted (hook and loop coupling also supplied for optional fitting)
• Designed to operate on curves of first radius (228.6mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Diecast metal cylinder block, frames, footplate and saddle tank
• Precision moulded plastic smokebox and cab
• Highly detailed and decorated cab interior including separately fitted regulator, reverser leaver, handbrake, and gauge frames and hinged firebox door which can be posed open/closed
• Hinged fall-plate between locomotive and tender
• Separately applied details including reverser, injectors, handrails, smokebox dart, whistle and tool brackets (where applicable)
• Each model supplied with a set of authentically decorated etched name plates and works plates

Lighting:

• Firebox Glow (on analogue) / Firebox Glow & Flicker (on DCC or when SOUND FITTED models are used on analogue)

DCC:

• Next18 DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
• Zimo MX659N18 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED versions
• Sound files produced specifically for the Bachmann Narrow Gauge Mainline Hunslet 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

MAINLINE HUNSLET HISTORY 

Most famous for their operation on the North Wales narrow gauge railways, the first Mainline Hunslet was built in 1882 by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. Named ‘Charles’, the locomotive’s somewhat unconventional appearance, with steeply inclined cylinders and connecting rods located on the inside of the coupling rods, would be repeated eleven years later when ‘Linda’ and ‘Blanche’ were constructed. Known affectionately by many enthusiasts as ‘the Ladies’, they were ostensibly built to the same 0-4-0 saddle tank design as ‘Charles’, although the ‘Ladies’ did incorporate some differences when compared to their elder. They had larger fire grates for one, round spectacle glasses in the front cab sheet rather than the square ones fitted to ‘Charles’ for another, and were also fractionally longer.

Penrhyn Quarry was the largest slate quarry in the world at the end of the nineteenth century and the trio of Hunslets spent their days hauling slate trains over the Penrhyn main line from the vast quarry complex at Coed-y-Parc, near Bethesda, to Port Penrhyn, just a stone’s throw from Bangor on the North Wales coast. Here, slate products were transferred to standard gauge railway wagons or ships for onward transport around the UK and further afield. Whilst smaller locomotive such as the Quarry Hunslets were used to work the quarry’s internal railways, the larger, more powerful Mainline Hunslets worked the full trains from the quarry down to Port Penrhyn and brought the empty wagons back again – similar duties to those for which the Ffestiniog Railway employed the famous Double Fairlies.

During their working lives the three locomotives underwent several changes, all gained full-height rear cab sheets, replacing the original half-height sheets, welded tanks were fitted in place of the original rivetted versions and various sandbox arrangements were seen, amongst other improvements during their time on the Penrhyn line. By the mid-twentieth century traffic on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway was in decline and in 1962 the last trains ran. ‘Charles’ had already been retired in in the mid-1950s, but the Ladies worked on until the very end.

Offered for sale upon closure of the railway, ‘Linda’ was quickly loaned to the Ffestiniog Railway, arriving there only three days after hauling her last train on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. In 1963 ‘Linda’ was purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway and ‘Blanche’ too was acquired in the same year, arriving at the railway in December 1963. Both Ladies have been modified by the Ffestiniog Railway since their acquisition, most notably with the fitting of front pony wheels and tenders, becoming 2-4-0STTs (saddle tank tender engines), and their conversion to left hand drive.

‘Blanche’ was paired with a temporary tender at first, one formerly belonging to an ‘England’ locomotive and which ‘Linda’ ran with until her new tender was built. Around 1965 a new tender was built for ‘Blanche’, complete with tender cab which utilised part of the cab back sheet originally fitted to ‘Blanche’ and upon completion, both locomotive and tender were painted into Ffestiniog Railway lined green livery.

With a high risk of lineside fires and taking advantage of low oil prices the Ffestiniog fleet was converted to oil burning and ‘Blanche’ was so treated in 1971. She became a 2-4-0STT the following year and was fitted with new piston valve cylinders. The next major change came in 2014 when the locomotive reverted back to coal firing and since her latest overhaul in 2016/17 ‘Blanche’ has been a stalwart of the locomotive fleet. To this day ‘Blanche’ still carries lined green livery.

With 2023 marking 60 years since the pair were brought by the Ffestiniog Railway, they are unquestionably two of the most useful engines in the railway’s fleet and are as popular as ever with visitors, staff and volunteers alike.

‘Charles’ was also offered for sale, but with the boiler condemned, the Ffestiniog Railway declined. Instead, ‘Charles’ was loaned to the National Trust and is now displayed at Penrhyn Castle – once the family home of the owners of Penrhyn Quarry.