PRESS RELEASE

Graham Farish announces

changes to programme

Bachmann Europe has today announced changes to its Graham Farish N scale range. This follows consultation with our trade customers regarding production of the 9F 2-10-0 locomotive and the Class 222 Meridian / Pioneer high speed diesel multiple unit.

David Haarhaus, Sales & Marketing Manager said “It has become apparent that the present market cannot support a second N scale 9F 2-10-0 or Class 222, which is in many people’s eyes too similar to the Class 220 Voyager units now operated by Virgin Trains and Arriva Cross Country and are included in the current Graham Farish range. We appreciate that there are many detail differences between the Bombardier designed 222 units from the original Class 220 but unfortunately that is not enough to justify moving from design to production at this time .

David continued “We have after much soul searching decided to withdraw these items from the 2011 catalogue and put them on a back burner. If and when the market develops and it is time to look at them again, we will do so. In a Worldwide recession, we are better to put our efforts and considerable resources into bringing new models into the range. We want to reassure N scale modellers that we are working on suitable replacements, details of which will be released once these exciting new models have progressed through the tooling process”.

David explained “the Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 is now, therefore, the only previously announced locomotive yet to appear. This model is not affected by today’s announcement and work is well underway to deliver this into the range”.

David concluded “we appreciate that some N scale modellers will be disappointed by today’s news but I am sure they will appreciate our honesty in this situation. There is absolutely no point in producing these models in the challenging financial climate we are all facing. We have a fantastic selection of new models already under development which will more than make up for any short term disappointment. Graham Farish is the leading manufacturer of British outline N scale trains and it is our intention to continue to build on the foundations that have been laid over the past 40 years (see note 1)”

The models affected are

371-676 Class 222 4 car Meridian DMU No. 222011 in Midland Mainline livery

371-677 Class 222 4 car Pioneer DMU No. 222101 in Hull Trains livery

371-679 Class 222 4 car Meridian DMU No. 222017 in East Midlands Trains livery

372-425 BR Standard Class 9F No. 92220 ‘Evening Star’ in BR lined green livery

372-426 BR Standard Class 9F No. 92002 in BR black with early emblem

372-427 BR Standard Class 9F No. 92205 in BR black with late crest

-ends-

Note 1

The first Graham Farish N scale models were announced in the November 1970 issue of Model Railway News. The company was acquired by Bachmann in 2000.