Graham Farish - 371-851 - Passenger, Diesel, DMU, Class 158 - Scotrail - DMU 158711

Specific Item Information: The British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit (DMU), built specifically for British Rail's Provincial Services sector between 1989 and 1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at Derby Litchurch Lane Works and outshopped in Regional Railways Provincial blue. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, thereby reducing cost of operation, and to allow cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs. The majority of the 182 158 units were built as 2-car units, with 17 3-car units constructed specifically for use on Trans-Pennine services. Similar 3-car units were built for use by Network SouthEast but these were converted to Class 159 specification before introduction to service, with toilet retention tanks and other modifications to operate over the third-rail network.

All the Class 158s remain in service today, with operators including ScotRail, Northern, Great Western (GWR), East Midlands Trains (now EMR), and Transport for Wales (formerly Arriva). Former operators include Central Trains. The Class has worked extensively across the UK network, even into East Anglia as far as Stansted Airport and Norwich. Some 158s have been converted to additional Class 159s and now operate for South Western alongside their original classmates 159001-022, upon which our model of 159013 is based.

Road Name History: We’re delighted that the new ScotRail franchise is now being operated by Abellio. When this was announced by Transport Scotland they told the nation to expect a transformation in rail travel across the country – and that’s exactly what we promise to deliver.We’ve put together a clear plan to make sure your journeys are fast, reliable and easy – not just when travelling on the train, but throughout your entire trip from door to door. In short, we have re-thought the ScotRail service to make sure it reflects the way you want to live. You’ve told us about travelling to work, on business, visiting friends and family and enjoying the great outdoors, so whatever journey you’re taking, we can make it better for you.

Brand/Importer Information: Graham Farish is a British brand of N gauge model trains, that belongs to Bachmann Europe.
The company entered the model train business in the early 1950s, focusing on British OO gauge rolling stock, track and accessories.
In the 1970s, it started to produce N gauge models under the GRAFAR label. After the withdrawal of Lima and Minitrix from the UK market in the late 1980s, Graham Farish was the only major supplier of British outline models in N gauge, soon withdrawing from the OO scale market.
In 2001, Graham Farish was purchased by Kader Industries of Hong Kong, and absorbed by its subsidiary Bachmann Industries. Bachmann immediately closed the British manufacturing facility and moved production to China.
Bachmann have since increased the size of the Farish range, by duplicating models introduced to the Bachmann OO range; often, an OO scale Bachmann Branchline model is followed between 6 months to a year later by an N gauge Graham Farish model.

Manufacturer Information: Bachmann, a US company founded in 1835, was purchased by Kader Industries in 1987. Kader formed Bachmann Industries Europe in 1989 with their main UK headquarters in Moat Way, Barwell, Leicestershire, UK (former Palitoy location) and the following year launched the Bachmann Branchline range for the British market with the moulds that had previously been used for the Palitoy Mainline and Replica Railways model railway products. From this starting point Bachmann has developed the range further and now produce a large range of models.
In 2001 Bachmann Branchline bought Graham Farish, an N gauge manufacturer, and since then many of their models have been made available in both gauges.
Bachmann Europe portfolio also comprises other model trains brands such as Liliput.