Class: Austerity 8F 2-8-0

Use: Heavy Goods

Region: Various BR regions – War Department and LNER post-nationalisation & Europe and Hong Kong

Era: 1943-1967

Preserved examples:

90733 Remembrance  (ex-Swedish locomotive)

Manufacturer: Bachmann

Motor: 3 pole Loco-drive

Power: Heavyweight

DCC options: none on previous versions, 21 pin dcc ready versions announced 2012

Reviewed Model – Bachmann 32-250 400 Sir Guy Williams (click here to read it’s fascinating history).

Note, my version is a limited edition version, in Longmoor Military Railway colours.  Planned future releases will be in unlined BR black.  Many heavily weathered versions have been produced – a condition that many prototypes lived much of their days!

Locoyard Review

Detailing:

4/5

No cab details and cab roof permanently open, otherwise excellent – air brake equipment, lamp irons, handrails and motion or nicely captured.

Outline/Looks: 4.5/5

The austere shape has been captured very well by Bachmann.

Finish/Decoration:

4/5

*3.5/5

Overall very nice indeed and pleasing to look at.

*My example’s red lining is great, though it loses a few marks for some “plasticky” areas and printed nameplates.  Other versions a little better though I’m still very happy to have it in this livery!

Running Qualities:

3.5/5

Excellent smooth and low-geared.  It is noisier then more modern models though and the front bogey (very rarely) derails on sharp corners

Relative Power:

5/5

It has the strong power you would expect from an 8F loco.

Click here for a demonstration video

Specification:

3/5 (Non-DCC Ready)

*4/5 (DCC Ready)

Cab detailing not as good as more modern models.  If you’re not confident at using a soldering iron, DCC users must wait for the *DCC ready versions.

Value:

3.5/5

Expensive for an older spec model and the prototypes popularity tends to drive second-hand prices up.

Overall Locoyardometer Score: 3.9/*4.1

Despite being older tooling, the Bachmann Austerity compares well with more recent models.  It looks good and handles most tasks asked of it well; it comes highly recommended.

*DCC ready version

Detailometer 4, Outlineometer 4.5, Finishometer 4, Motorometer 3.5, Powerometer 5, Specometer 3 (non DCC Ready)/4, Valueometer 3.5,Locoyardometer 3.9 (non-DCC Ready)/4.1 (DCC Ready)