First announced in the Winter 2019 Bachmann Times (Vol. 20 No. 2) magazine, we are delighted to offer this OO scale Class 90 No. 90128 ‘Vrachtverbinding’ in SNCB Blue and Yellow livery, and for a fully authentic experience this model is also SOUND FITTED!
Our model features directional lighting (with day and night mode options) and cab lighting along with sprung buffers and an accessory pack which includes full buffer-beam pipework.
The Pantograph is sprung and poseable for analogue users and there are micro-switches on the roof to control the directional lights - these are located below one of the roof-mounted air boxes which simply unclips to provide access.
When used on DCC the Pantograph can be raised and lowered, with realistic sound effects too, thanks to the built-in servo motor and a full suite of sound effects provides the ultimate operating experience.
MODEL FEATURES:
- Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
- Era 8/9
- Pristine SNCB Blue & Yellow Livery
- Accessory Pack Including ‘Vrachtverbinding’ Etched Nameplates
- NEM Coupling Pockets
- Sprung Buffers
- Interior Cab Lighting
- Directional Lighting with Day/Night Mode
- Highly detailed Servo-Operated Metal Pantograph
- SOUND FITTED - See below for function list
- Length 250mm
- 160 Certificated Pieces
HISTORY
No. 90128 entered service in 1989 as No. 90028, out-shopped in InterCity Mainline livery and allocated to Willesden, from where it operated as a mixed traffic locomotive on the West Coast Main Line. As locomotives were concentrated into individual businesses, the loco became an asset of BR’s Railfreight Distribution (RfD) sector and subsequently acquired two-tone grey livery. As a dedicated freight locomotive, No. 90028 was de-rated from 110 to 75mph and renumbered in the 90/1 sub-class as 90128 – the 90/1s had their Electric Train Supply (ETS) isolated and push-pull equipment removed.
In 1992, during an exhibition promoting European rail freight, No. 90128 was one of four Railfreight Distribution Class 90s named 'FreightConnection'. The locos were painted into European liveries: RfD International (90122), German DB (90129) and French SNCF (90130), with names in the appropriate language. The fourth, No. 90128, was the Belgian representative and was named ‘Vrachtverbinding’, being repainted in the blue and yellow livery of Belgian SNCB.
At privatisation in 1996, No. 90128 was one of twenty-five Class 90s acquired by EWS when the freight operating companies including Railfreight Distribution were sold into new ownership. Despite the change of owner, No. 90128 would retain its SNCB livery until 2003.
The Class 90 fleet has experienced mixed fortunes since privatisation, but No. 90128 (subsequently renumbered back to 90028) has fared better than many, having its ETS and push-pull capability restored to enable its hire to passenger operators. It gained EWS livery by 2004, remaining in service and later repainted DB red, its European connections having come full circle when German operator DB bought EWS in 2007!
It now carries the name Sir William McAlpine and was retired from East Coast passenger operation in 2019, as a hire loco, when new Hitachi InterCity Express Trains were introduced.
