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Bachmann Brassworks has released three versions of the famous LNER A3 Class 4-6-2 locomotives of which 'Flying Scotsman' is the best known and only remaining example.
Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for the Great Northern Railway, the first two locomotives were delivered in 1922 and became LNER A1 Class locomotives after 1923. The London & North Eastern Railway built a further 50 locomotives between 1923 and 1925. An additional 27 locomotives were built to a modified design (designated A3 Class) between 1927 and 1935. All remaining A1 Class locomotives were rebuilt to A3 Class between 1927 and 1948.
Operating on express trains to and from London Kings Cross, the class were modified by British Railways with all receiving double chimneys by 1960. All but five of the class were fitted with smoke deflectors similar to those found on German locomotives.
Initially the Class had Great Northern eight wheel tenders but for working the non-stop 'Flying Scotsman' named train from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh some of the A3's received corridor tenders from new, allowing the crews to change over half-way. Other locomotives received non corridor tenders from A4 Class locomotives for which new corridor tenders had been built.
No. 4472 'Flying Scotsman' was the first steam locomotive to reach 100mph in the presence of official timekeepers whilst working a special train between Leeds and Kings Cross on 30th November 1934 (GWR 'City of Truro' had been recorded unofficially at a speed of 102.3 mph on 9 May 1904).
The first A3 Class locomotive was withdrawn in 1959 and the last in January 1966. Flying Scotsman was preserved in 1963 and has run a large number of steam specials on British metals. It has also operated trains in the United States of America and Australia. It was purchased by the National Railway Museum in 2004 following a public appeal, after spending 41 years in private ownership.
The Bachmann Brassworks O gauge ready to run model is available in three versions. These are;
- BW035 A3 as preserved at the National Railway Museum with double chimney and smoke deflectors.
- BW045 A3 with single chimney, banjo dome and non corridor tender.
- BW048 (illustrated) A3 with single chimney, banjo dome and Great Northern tender.
- BW036 as BW035 but painted in LNER unlined Doncaster Green.
- BW046 as BW045 but painted in unlined BR Green.
- BW049 as BW048 but painted in unlined BR Green.
