No.72 All Change – some observations on the new Bachman Sleeping Cars
Back in the early 1970s I was a not infrequent user of the
overnight sleeper service from Edinburgh to Kings Cross. I would say not my
favourite mode of transport. However I would also say that no 1960s model
railway can be complete without some sleeping cars.
Bachmann Mk1 Sleeping Cars
Bachmann Mk1 Sleeping Cars
The date on the solebar shows 1960, which should be ideal
for my sixties layout.
Up until very recently the choice of ready to run model
seemed to be limited to the Hornby version. My Hornby sleeping cars dated from
the ‘Topshed’ era’ and appeared to be based on the original CKD (Completely
Knocked Down) Mk 1 models first made by Triang in the 1960s. The corridor ends
and underframes are formed from a single moulding which appears to have been
used unaltered for the complete range of Hornby Mk1 coaches. Different coach
types having individual side pieces slotted into the solebar and clamped in
place by two brass bolts through the solebar and fastening into the roof
moulding.
Whilst I thought that the Hornby models captured the image I
did make a few modifications. I added some footboards and some lettering to the
solebars. To match with my existing Bachmann Mk1 coaches I also needed to lower
the underframes on to the bogies – something that I achieved by swapping the
Hornby bogies for the Bachmann type complete with metal wheels.
There is a lot of nice detail on the new Bachmann models. I
particularly like the roofs, with lifting eyes for the water tanks and the
trunking for the ventilation. I was never very sure what the Hornby roof was
supposed to represent.
The Bachmann lining is not as heavy as the Hornby model.
Also the Bachmann windows look neater. Were the Hornby windows supposed to
represent double glazed units and if so was that correct for the 1960s?
Bachmann have also added a step to the coach end and the
rigid corridor connector moulding now carries a lamp bracket.
How much of the Hornby end detail is correct and how much is
simply due to using a common moulding for all Mk1 stock? I am intrigued that
Bachmann model does not have steps all the way up to roof level. This would be
to reduce the chances of electrocution when used on the West Coast mainline –
but were the coaches assembled like this when first introduced in 1960?
To close couple Bachmann Mk1 coaches I swap the couplings
for Hornby R8220 Roco type coupling. I don’t keep up with press releases so I
was surprised to find that then new Bachmann Sleeping Cars are supplied with
straight type couplings, as opposed to the type with a dropped shank.
Old bottom and new top coupling compensators
Removing the bogies from the sleeping cars shows that
Bachmann have re-engineered the arrangements for providing coupling
compensation whilst negotiating curved track. The mechanism is now contained
within the coach body and more significantly – the position of the coupling
pocket has been lowered to enable the use of standard straight couplings.
Old left and new right Bachmann coupling
pockets
I have fitted Hornby R8220 couplings in the new lowered
pockets and coupled the coaches up with older rolling stock. My first
impressions are that there is so much flexibility in both the old and new
compensating units that the slight change in height between the old and new
design is not going to be a problem. Time will tell.
Well must go and find the boxes for the old Hornby coaches
and get them ready for the Christmas sales.
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