Graham Farish New Tooling Announcement Tomorrow (20 March 2026) ahead of Alexandra Palace show.
This weekend sees the return of the London Festival of Railway Modelling at the iconic Alexandra Palace, and Bachmann is proud to sponsor this event which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Ahead of the show we have some exciting news for the Graham Farish N Scale range and we will be revealing all tomorrow, Friday 20th March, in a video which premieres on our YouTube channel at 1200. Be sure to tune in to find out what we have in store, then come and see the new models for yourself on the Bachmann stand this weekend.
Bachmann retailers will be ready to take your orders tomorrow as soon as the news breaks; if you need help finding your nearest retailer simply head to our website and use our retailer map.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BmPsI7Wp9A
Let the frothing commence.
Bob
Doesn't "retooling" simply mean an update of something?
Quote from: GrahamB on March 20, 2026, 07:50:34 AMDoesn't "retooling" simply mean an update of something?
The wording of the announcement explicitly says "New Tooling" so I would expect something new from the ground up, be it a loco, coach, wagon (or toilet block!). That is not to say though that it can't or won't potentially be a completely new model of something from their existing range or a model made in the past at some point.
Quote from: GrahamB on March 20, 2026, 07:50:34 AMDoesn't "retooling" simply mean an update of something?
My understanding is that 'retooling' means new tooling of a model that currently exists (or previously existed) in their range. In other words a new mark 2 (or 3 or whatever) variant of an existing model probably with new features, standards and improved fidelity.
I am getting a bit confused here, it could be me and I have missed something but I can see no reference to "retooling" the release says NEW tooling so why are people discussing retooling in the context of this announcement?
Quote from: Roy L S on March 20, 2026, 08:50:37 AMI am getting a bit confused here, it could be me and I have missed something but I can see no reference to "retooling" the release says NEW tooling so why are people discussing retooling in the context of this announcement?
Because Roy it appears that no-one can simply wait a few days like an adult to find out what the actual announcement is and then discuss it: instead we all have to gibber around in social media like hyperactive 5 year olds frothing at the mouth and getting the wrong end of the stick. Frankly, it's pathetic.
Quote from: Roy L S on March 20, 2026, 08:50:37 AMI am getting a bit confused here, it could be me and I have missed something but I can see no reference to "retooling" the release says NEW tooling so why are people discussing retooling in the context of this announcement?
It's a good question Roy, I suppose retooling could also be described as new tooling if an update to an existing item in the range.
I'd expected to see EPs in the video and on their stand with liveries confirmed in the May announcements, that would be their normal approach. However Bob G's post above talks about retailers being able to take orders immediately. It suggests we learn of liveries today, maybe see livery samples and a little shorter announcement to availability time than has been seen recently
All will become clear in a couple of hours.
Well I ain't losing sleep over it! Actually I am - the bloody hospital fire alarm just went off! :worried:
Has anybody commented on Duck & Daisy in the trailer? Hmmmmmmm......
Duck is loco number 8. In my trainspotting days a Duck8 was a G2 class loco.
Daisy the DMU?
Probably totally incorrect.
Another farish announcement, but i dont have much hope.
Lonely misery and depression,
Piles....
Yes I wondered what the relevance of the Thomas stuff was, but maybe you are right!!
Quote from: Richard Taylor on March 20, 2026, 09:25:49 AMBecause Roy it appears that no-one can simply wait a few days like an adult to find out what the actual announcement is and then discuss it: instead we all have to gibber around in social media like hyperactive 5 year olds frothing at the mouth and getting the wrong end of the stick. Frankly, it's pathetic.
Just wait until the actual announcement is made.
Then the frothing will be "Why one of those? I don't want that.", or "Why not one of these which I really want?", or "Oh no, not another of these, does anyone really want more of them?".
:smiley-laughing:
All I can think of now is Daisy Duke, and with Duck there as well, it could be a Dukedog? So of course it won't be.
A new tooling (aka retooled) 94xx would be welcome news. Yay! More GWR! (sarcasm in case you couldn't tell)
Would love a rebuilt WC/BB or a southern 4-6-0. Can't remember what they make in OO though that could go through the shrink ray.
There was a brand new 94xx in OO not too many years back so they would have the R&D for that.
They have never done a WC/BoB/MN in OO air smoothed or rebuilt, those have always been Hornby "turf" but of course they have done an air smoothed Merchant Navy in N already.
There has been a "Nelson" in OO but not produced for many years.
I am intrigued by the Daisy and Duck thinking and a "Duck 8" has been done by Bachmann in OO....
Roy
Quote from: chrism on March 20, 2026, 10:40:50 AMJust wait until the actual announcement is made.
Then the frothing will be "Why one of those? I don't want that.", or "Why not one of these which I really want?", or "Oh no, not another of these, does anyone really want more of them?".
:smiley-laughing:
@chrism Thanks for supplying the necessary phrases I'm likely to be using. Most useful, Sir ;)
Quote from: Newportnobby on March 20, 2026, 11:42:43 AMQuote from: chrism on March 20, 2026, 10:40:50 AMJust wait until the actual announcement is made.
Then the frothing will be "Why one of those? I don't want that.", or "Why not one of these which I really want?", or "Oh no, not another of these, does anyone really want more of them?".
:smiley-laughing:
@chrism Thanks for supplying the necessary phrases I'm likely to be using. Most useful, Sir ;)
Nah, "My wallet is safe again" was missed from the selection :D
Upgraded class 20 is a good announcement for me, particularly the Scottish tablet catcher varient
And perhaps enough hints to suggest the DRS examples will follow?
Pleased by the announcement, but no BR Green with warning panels?
Surely this model would be the highest selling volume version and would reward Bachmann the quickest tooling payoff.
Have Bachmann missed the obvious here? Very strange decision.
Sadly I can't dip my hand in my pocket until the release such finish. So fingers crossed they do (soon).
I think there's an element of disbelief.
Really great for the Scottish modeller, and for when those locos came south later.
But I just don't get sound in N. I mean there are even OO models where sound is considered a no-no because of space, so Farish says lets take a narrow bodied loco and put a speaker in it.
Not one for me, but if it had been a new loco...
One for the DCC/Sound fans, methinks. I already have 2 – the older D8134 (371-026 top) and the more recent D8011 (371-033 bottom) with running lights.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/148/264-301224135442-1480521856.jpeg)
I'll not be bothering on the basis of "Why one of those? I don't want that." (words supplied by
@chrism) :D
Rails' email says minimum R2? That seems disappointing for a reasonably short bogie diesel that plenty of folk might want to send round their 9" curves?
Wish we could hear the sound before ordering.
i should think they will announce some non tablet catcher dcc sound versions as well in due course.
maybe 20/3s as well.
I wonder how much of the tooling is actually new??
a central services red/white livery version would be nice!
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on March 20, 2026, 01:27:27 PMWish we could hear the sound before ordering.
You can, Scott
On the video from 3.48 to 4.20 approx.
If that isn't the sound then its a very noisy loco!
I will leave you to decide if you like the sound.
Bob
Quote from: bluedepot on March 20, 2026, 02:17:30 PMI wonder how much of the tooling is actually new??
Apart from the chassis block, space for a speaker, and new PCB, I suspect the only other tooling change is an additional tool for the deep window cab, plus or minus the tablet catcher, and plus or minus the tablet catcher recess. If I remember correctly, the cabs are separate from the body on this model. So the rest of the body tooling should be the same.
Bob
Quote from: Bob G on March 20, 2026, 02:52:49 PMQuote from: scottmitchell74 on March 20, 2026, 01:27:27 PMWish we could hear the sound before ordering.
You can, Scott
On the video from 3.48 to 4.20 approx.
If that isn't the sound then its a very noisy loco!
I will leave you to decide if you like the sound.
Bob
That's on me for not watching! :dunce: :thumbsup:
Having only recently started acquiring a (very) few diesels into my roster under Rule 1, I may well get one as they do look rather nice... Basically I am always happy to see any British N announcement no matter what.
Actually what I would like now is an RTR L&Y loco as I have just completed a short rake of L&Y wagons and don't want to have to build a loco to pull those which.... would only be built on a roundtuit basis anyway....
Won't be interested myself. I already have 2 green, one blue and one Freight Grey to meet the needs of my 2 small layouts. Now if they had come out with a 105 DMU in green and blue I would be placing my order for one of each with Tim at Arcadia.
for the 20/3 they would need different cab and nose ends, light clusters and side fuel tanks (maybe other details I've never noticed before), so a bit more expensive to tool up than just the tablet catchers and side windows...
but they did mention drs 20/3 in the video....
I'm not sure how popular they would be and if it would be commercially viable, but i thought that about class 17/28/23, and this would have an existing chassis to use.
anyway great to see.
but id rather it was a class 25/3!
Quote from: bluedepot on March 20, 2026, 05:00:49 PMfor the 20/3 they would need different cab and nose ends, light clusters and side fuel tanks (maybe other details I've never noticed before), so a bit more expensive to tool up than just the tablet catchers and side windows...
but they did mention drs 20/3 in the video....
Sorry. I was only thinking of current locos offered. All the newfangled stuff is beyond my modelled eras and therefore does not exist in my universe :D
McChoppers! Count me in! 8)
They must sell an awful lot of these considering all the love they get.
The sound is too generic.
One day my final sound loco will be a properly fitted 37 that just growls.
They exist... my $$$ does not. :)
Pleased with this announcement, though I will probably wait until a SYP version is released.
Good news for N Gauge. With various Farish re-liveries, the brand new tooled Halls and now this, its more proof that the manufacturers have not forgotten us.
I will be getting a railfreight one as we have had one in this livery
with disc head codes on the retooled model
Still waiting for that Class25/3 >:(
Quote from: willike1958 on March 21, 2026, 07:21:50 AMStill waiting for that Class25/3 >:(
You're not alone. I'm still waiting for a skinhead 31 as well.
Quote from: Western Exile on March 21, 2026, 11:51:45 AMQuote from: willike1958 on March 21, 2026, 07:21:50 AMStill waiting for that Class25/3 >:(
You're not alone. I'm still waiting for a skinhead 31 as well.
Skinhead 31 is a bit of minor violence with some sharp tools and filler then a repaint. It's not a difficult conversion. The class 30 variant is hairier as you have to change the exhaust area if you rivet count.