The first of the totally new Bachmann Mk 1 Pullman coaches arrived today in classic umber & cream livery and pretty impressive it looks too. Car No 347 is a Parlour Second of early 1960s vintage, and appropriate for both steam and diesel haulage.
A quick reference to a drawing suggests that all principal dimensions are pretty much spot on, and considering that the coach is fitted for lighting (sic) it extremely free-rolling on rather nice (newly tooled?) Commonwealth bogies.
Ah the lighting - well I'm sorry to say that it is a total and absolute waste of effort. The lights are barely visible in a blackened room and all but impossible to see in daylight. If we must have gimmicks of this nature then surely they have to be effective.
Overall however the model impresses, more so in many respects that the much more expensive Hornby Pullmans. For comparison purposes the RRP on the new Bachmann coaches is a modest £25.95 compared with £31.50 for the Hornby offerings, both of course being significantly cheaper when the discount chappies have chopped their margins.
John.