The B1 model started life on an Airfix GMR wish list and was scheduled for release in 1982. However, Airfix slipped into liquidation before the model could be produced and the baton passed to Palitoy, makers of the Mainline Railways range. Palitoy started to produce the B1 but before they could complete the model the company had the rug pulled out from under them by their American owners and model railway production was closed down. As we know, Palitoy had an arrangement by which their Chinese manufacturer, Kader, funded the manufacture of the tools and so effectively owned them. With the demise of the Mainline range, Kader was approached by the owner of Replica Railways who offered to pay for the B1 tooling to be completed and Replica went on to produce several versions of it. With the formation of Bachmann Europe by Kader, the existing tooling of British models held by Kader was used to produce the first Bachmann range for the UK market. The first Bachmann B1 arrived in 1994.
Bachmann have now produced 15 versions of the model. The latest of these is 61000 'Springbok' which is in BR lined black with early BR decals on the tender. Supplied separately are the brake rods for both the loco and tender, a tank and bufferbeam vacuum pipes.
Model Railway Express
Run by model railway enthusiasts, Modelfair is an online shop specialising in new, pre-owned and collectable model railways. http://www.modelfair.com for friendly and reliable service.
For Hornby and spares for Hornby, Electrotren, Lima (HO), Jouef and Rivarossi visit www.hornbyspares.co.uk
You too could advertise here. E-mail us
at Pat@mremag.com for details.