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)
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