Just picked up this exact model (new version) Railfrieght grey DCC sound for £194 from Kernow models. Ridiculous Black Friday bargin. Was going to wait until after Christmas but very excited for it to arrive 😃
I really like the Class 20 locos as they remind me of early model US switchers. Also, these days some US railroads that still use end-cab switchers will run them in pairs with the cabs on the ends for better crew visibility, just as the Class 20s were, even though officially the non-cab end is the front. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Very good and well balanced review … they are excellent models! Murphy’s law struck as I bought a pair of Class 20’s last year with the older tooling! I’m very happy with the look and performance of them so won’t be replacing them or adding new 20’s to the layout just yet … I may add lighting to them instead. 👍
Great Video Dave. Will have to treat myself to one of these locos never had one before but from your video it's very impressive. Look forward to seeing more of this working on your layout in future :-)
A very minor point - I'm not sure 20227 had a tungsten headlamp when allocated to Haymarket, you will need to check photos. It was only based there for a short time after being painted in Railfreight livery. Once a full batch of Sprinters arrived, the main line locos moved to Eastfield. It has been repainted a few times in preservation. I remember a single class 20 hauling a freight off the Cambus branch in 1988.
Good review 👍👏 I have bought 2, BR blue, because Bachmann put directional lighting into this model. Had to pay them off. I agree with you that it's fantastic model 😀
what miffed me was when dealers hiked the price of old stock when bachmann raised there prices before the new ones came out so it was a double price rise when the new model arrived, I`d still be happy with the old sound model if i could find one for sensible money.
Great review for a great model, bought the Harry Needle and a DRS ones, both with sound, no complaints. As you quite rightly pointed out, the level of detail on the model is excellent..Think I paid £247 each with sound, thought that was a fair price..
The new bachmann class 20 has moved the game on from the previous model, which was good but lacked lighting. I think it’s been one of the best retools from Bachmann in recent years. Maybe they’ll do a retool 37 and that will be up there too!! Who knows. Cheers. Dave
Great video - I've sort of fallen in love with the current Bachmann Class 20. I'm planning to add a sound chip something I have never done before - any recommendations on choice of chip ?
In my opinion I’m not really bothered what the differences are between the old and new models, all that matters to me is that they have very good performance, when I get a class 20 or a pair of them as they normally run them back to back they will be bachmann ones purely because from what I have seen they run really well.
Yep, I agree. Im all for detail but eventually at 1:76 scale the finer the detail the more easily bits break or fall off. The Class 20 is probably my most disliked loco and notone I'll be buying any time soon. Still, a very good review and summation by DPMR. BTW, any chance of seeing a track plan for this layout, it looks very interesting?
@@1701_FyldeFlyer Dave has done a layout tour video this year just type in dean park layout tour 2021 and it should come up, I agree with what you are saying as well I do like detailed locomotives myself but I’m more for running my trains instead of looking at them, in my opinion the old Bachman class 20 could still be used on a layout today and it wouldn’t look out of place but unfortunately a lot of people have fallen into the thought of new is better which yes it probably is but are they willing to pay for it and a lot of people I see comment are not willing to pay the price for a completely new model.
In the list of functions it showed " window wipers F23" does this means it turns on the wiper blades and if so could you do a quick video of them in action???? Thanks Dave love your videos and layout out, so jealous of BOTH !!!!
Well presented Dave 👍I bought mine a few weeks ago as I was impressed by looks alone when I saw it in the catalogue No regrets at all and highly recommended. Thanks and looking towards a Harry Needle one, maybe more ;-) haha. All the best. Iain
I'm very pleased with my Harry Needle version. I fitted sound from coastal DCC. I also have an original BR blue factory sound version. They were rare sightings indeed on the section of the WCML I model but did occasionally deliver stock to the Railway works at Wolverton so I decided to buy the new version lol
Great review Dave, ill be certainly getting a few br blue ones to run together, that sound file sounds spot on but nyself be changing speaker to a iphone speaker 👍👍😀
This was one of my few purchases of the year, like you say at prices these days we need to be a lot more selective. However when I saw the Railfreight livery and the rave reviews of the HNRC models I went right ahead and spoiled myself with absolutely zero regrets. Bachmann are really impressing with the quality of their new tooled models over the last couple of years. Sure it's a premium price, but I'd rather have quality than a number of lesser quality models
Absolutely loving these models. They look stunning. I thought about pre-ordering one of them in BR green, but in the end I went with a Sulzer type 2, also in BR green. Still though, Im quite tempted to get one in the future, since I do really like the model.
Hi Dave, 'selective' sums up my 2021 modelling year, it's been a cheap year, buying only genuine bargains or something I really want. I've got a Bachmann BR Blue 20 038 which still has the £41 price tag on it from when I bought it new. No lights, but a smooth quiet runner and enough detail for me. £140 retail for the current model is OK-ish, but I'll stick with the 20 I've got.
Although I'm not a 20 fan, this is a very interesting video you've made. One thing, I notice on the new tooling, that it appears, at the nose end, the yellow doesn't go back as far on the top, as on the old one. It could just be my perception, but if I'm right, it's only milimetres.
Thank you for another interesting video, a class 20 is on my buying list as I've been waiting for a new version to come out with lighting. The BR green version has been delayed due to a shortage of the correct colour LEDs. Expensive time with new class 20 & 47 this year.
This is just the video I needed. I’m buying one at the weekend. Would I be right in buying the newer version? I know it’s dearer, but it looks better (to me at least…I’m no expert). Cheers mate.
@@DeanPark definitely want lights. Cheers mate. Sorry to keep asking questions (and I have googled this without much luck), but do you know of any decent shunters with lights?
I really love this class 20 everything about it is gorgeous, everything that is but the price. As someone who is looking to start a new hobby, can you suggest second hand shops around the North west, other than eBay? By the way, loving your channel... Mac#
These look better value than the new class 47 which has barely any difference seen working on a layout. Rather than buy one of those I will buy two of these in the blue livery, although I may just get one to start with and get a Scottish one later. If Bachmann were not hiking up their prices so much I would of bought the 47 as well but like many I now take a closer look at what I really need to buy, and 20's will get more use being suitable for both my main line and Highlands line
@@DeanPark. Not yet Dave but on your review where you compared them there was very little difference. A bit more detail in the cab that under normal running will not be noticed and the more detailed bogies which again I do not think a big improvement to justify paying so much more for. The class 20 does have lights more detailed buffer beams a better looking body and bogies so several improvements over the old tooling.
Excellent review, thanks. 2 x 20’s are on my bucket list, but a fair way down! There seems to be a difference between the depths of the cab windows - is that prototypical?
The original Bachmann disc version represents a Scottish batch which had a tablet catcher when built. As a result they had a deeper cab side window. The English disc version and all headcode versions had a smaller cab side window. The original Bachmann headcode version should have the same sized window as the new 20227.
Excellent model and the forth coming Class 47 will be excellent, although agree with you price is going high and expensive, only purchase of detailed loco of each class £180+ is really feasible now.
It looks nice. Glad it has lights, but a shame the 20/3s don't have the full WIPAC lighting. I may be tempted by a pair in BR blue (one with headcode discs, one with headcode boxes) if I sell the 2 lima and 1 hornby one I have, because I rarely run them. But all 3 of those locos combined will only balance the cost of 1 new bachmann one.
I have an older sound fitted redstripe 20 but if I got a newer one and ran them as a pair the speed steps would probably be different as well as reversing direction on one of them. So much easier as straight DC.
Hi Dave anther great video mate I really injoy it I think the new Bachmann class20s locos are great But I will be waiting for the rail Blue class 20s locos to come out before replacing my old Bachmann class 20s locos I only have two class20s locos for my mgr trains stay safe and well Dave goodbye for how clive in N Ireland
Unfortunately, for me this model doesn't represent enough of an improvement over the previous class 20. The big thing in the models favour is the sound file Bachmann have used, but that alone isn't enough for me to replace my two pairs of the older model fitted with Biff sound decoders. For me, this models lighting is its Achilles heel. Along with the class 24, it is a model which the lighting functions actually spoil the model a bit as it is done so far over the top as to detract from an otherwise decent model. Lighting, while bringing it up to 'modern standards' is something which the class 20 didn't really need. I'm old enough to remember these things rattling around for BR in the 80s, and even at dusk when things were getting dark you could barely see the lights on the real things. I have night photos taken by my dad where the lights on a class 56 hundreds of feet away in the distance shine far brighter than the class 20 not 15 feet away. To see a model class 20 with the ends lit up like a Christmas tree just looks plain wrong, the same goes for other early diesels, especially with the iridescent tail lights which have become the vogue. The more modern class 20s is a different matter with the WIPAC lighting and LED replacements, but for these models based on the '60s, '70s, '80s and into the '90s it needs toning down significantly. I'm fairly sure that the tail lights for these older 20/0 locomotives should show just one light too, left/off/right. They got this right for the class 85, so why get it wrong on this one?
looks a peach, a big step up from the previous no lights 20, the older one is still a good model and can probably get one at a cheap price, i may have to save the pennies for this new one, i still have railfreight 090, still runs as good as the day i got it.
I’m sorry to see you object to a decent model company like Bachman adjusting their pricing to ensure they keep in business. Model locos are improving all the time and materials and labour are always going to increase. You cannot expect 1970’s pricing in the 21st century!! 50 buck locos!!! Really!! Go on,, as Dave said,,,Treat yourself!!! You deserve a treat now and then!!
@@LiveSteamNick Ha! I'm not paying $500, not even $300 for an engine. Trying to keep in business is also not have yearlong waiting period, and a constant supply. Something that most of these guys DON'T do. The excuses are the same, "labor costs", "material costs", and "we have to raise prices to stay in business". Alright Athearn. Maybe have detailing kits and a constant supply so that the hobby can attract & keep new people (something most manufactures don't do) and make you the owner of said modeler add the brass parts, and super fine detail. And Bachmann aint that decent, look on the US side. $300 beginner models with no DCC & Sound, and basic detail.
Does it look better at layout viewing distances? No. Does it run better? No. Is the livery applied better? No. Not a cat’s chance I’ll be replacing my fleet. (And I’m so glad I bought my old ones brand new for £50 odd.)
It does a lot of little things a little better. Which add up to an improvement. But as you saw with the locos side by side the previous one holds up well. It’s the lights that really step it up!
@@DeanPark I believe the lights on the prototype were really dim anyway. So from viewing distances being able to see the lights wouldn’t be all that realistic. Plus £50 plus £20 for a lighting kit is still less than half the price of the RRP of this thing.
Just picked up this exact model (new version) Railfrieght grey DCC sound for £194 from Kernow models. Ridiculous Black Friday bargin. Was going to wait until after Christmas but very excited for it to arrive 😃
I really like the Class 20 locos as they remind me of early model US switchers. Also, these days some US railroads that still use end-cab switchers will run them in pairs with the cabs on the ends for better crew visibility, just as the Class 20s were, even though officially the non-cab end is the front. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Very good and well balanced review … they are excellent models! Murphy’s law struck as I bought a pair of Class 20’s last year with the older tooling! I’m very happy with the look and performance of them so won’t be replacing them or adding new 20’s to the layout just yet … I may add lighting to them instead. 👍
Super looking model .
Great Video Dave. Will have to treat myself to one of these locos never had one before but from your video it's very impressive. Look forward to seeing more of this working on your layout in future :-)
A great review of a very pleasing model. Very well presented! Cheers, Alan
A very minor point - I'm not sure 20227 had a tungsten headlamp when allocated to Haymarket, you will need to check photos. It was only based there for a short time after being painted in Railfreight livery. Once a full batch of Sprinters arrived, the main line locos moved to Eastfield. It has been repainted a few times in preservation. I remember a single class 20 hauling a freight off the Cambus branch in 1988.
Great video Dave!!! Thanks for sharing. Cheers Onno.
Good review 👍👏 I have bought 2, BR blue, because Bachmann put directional lighting into this model. Had to pay them off. I agree with you that it's fantastic model 😀
Looks and sounds excellent, definitely add to my wish list. Thanks for the great review.
what miffed me was when dealers hiked the price of old stock when bachmann raised there prices before the new ones came out so it was a double price rise when the new model arrived, I`d still be happy with the old sound model if i could find one for sensible money.
Great review for a great model, bought the Harry Needle and a DRS ones, both with sound, no complaints. As you quite rightly pointed out, the level of detail on the model is excellent..Think I paid £247 each with sound, thought that was a fair price..
The new bachmann class 20 has moved the game on from the previous model, which was good but lacked lighting. I think it’s been one of the best retools from Bachmann in recent years. Maybe they’ll do a retool 37 and that will be up there too!! Who knows. Cheers. Dave
@@DeanPark Was thinking the same about Bachmann re tooling the 37 with the Accurascale one not too far away.
Nice review Dave and a very nice model!. The DCC sound is spot on too and it sounds really good.- Nicholas.
Great video - I've sort of fallen in love with the current Bachmann
Class 20. I'm planning to add a sound chip something I have never done before - any recommendations on choice of chip ?
I have the bachmann factory sound. But check out Roads and Rails. Richard has a good selection of chips/sound files available for this model.
In my opinion I’m not really bothered what the differences are between the old and new models, all that matters to me is that they have very good performance, when I get a class 20 or a pair of them as they normally run them back to back they will be bachmann ones purely because from what I have seen they run really well.
Yep, I agree. Im all for detail but eventually at 1:76 scale the finer the detail the more easily bits break or fall off. The Class 20 is probably my most disliked loco and notone I'll be buying any time soon. Still, a very good review and summation by DPMR.
BTW, any chance of seeing a track plan for this layout, it looks very interesting?
@@1701_FyldeFlyer Dave has done a layout tour video this year just type in dean park layout tour 2021 and it should come up, I agree with what you are saying as well I do like detailed locomotives myself but I’m more for running my trains instead of looking at them, in my opinion the old Bachman class 20 could still be used on a layout today and it wouldn’t look out of place but unfortunately a lot of people have fallen into the thought of new is better which yes it probably is but are they willing to pay for it and a lot of people I see comment are not willing to pay the price for a completely new model.
In the list of functions it showed " window wipers F23" does this means it turns on the wiper blades and if so could you do a quick video of them in action???? Thanks Dave love your videos and layout out, so jealous of BOTH !!!!
Another excellent review. I will consider a br blue with costal sound. Thank you.
Well presented Dave 👍I bought mine a few weeks ago as I was impressed by looks alone when I saw it in the catalogue No regrets at all and highly recommended. Thanks and looking towards a Harry Needle one, maybe more ;-) haha. All the best. Iain
I'm very pleased with my Harry Needle version. I fitted sound from coastal DCC.
I also have an original BR blue factory sound version.
They were rare sightings indeed on the section of the WCML I model but did occasionally deliver stock to the Railway works at Wolverton so I decided to buy the new version lol
Hi Dave, An interesting review & comparison. Thks.
Great review Dave, ill be certainly getting a few br blue ones to run together, that sound file sounds spot on but nyself be changing speaker to a iphone speaker 👍👍😀
Very interesting video brilliant
Thanks Dean. Glad you enjoyed it :-) Dave
This was one of my few purchases of the year, like you say at prices these days we need to be a lot more selective. However when I saw the Railfreight livery and the rave reviews of the HNRC models I went right ahead and spoiled myself with absolutely zero regrets. Bachmann are really impressing with the quality of their new tooled models over the last couple of years. Sure it's a premium price, but I'd rather have quality than a number of lesser quality models
Keep up the great work
Absolutely loving these models. They look stunning. I thought about pre-ordering one of them in BR green, but in the end I went with a Sulzer type 2, also in BR green. Still though, Im quite tempted to get one in the future, since I do really like the model.
Nice loco, but the price is eye watering
Good honest review as always, what a workhorse.
That Looks so Awesome, i like this
Hi Dave, 'selective' sums up my 2021 modelling year, it's been a cheap year, buying only genuine bargains or something I really want. I've got a Bachmann BR Blue 20 038 which still has the £41 price tag on it from when I bought it new. No lights, but a smooth quiet runner and enough detail for me. £140 retail for the current model is OK-ish, but I'll stick with the 20 I've got.
It really is nice and I wouldn't mind a BR blue version. I only have the Eddie Stobart version at the moment. Good review.
Very nice indeed
Great video. Wouldn’t it be great if they provided a driver or two in the accessory pack…
Although I'm not a 20 fan, this is a very interesting video you've made. One thing, I notice on the new tooling, that it appears, at the nose end, the yellow doesn't go back as far on the top, as on the old one. It could just be my perception, but if I'm right, it's only milimetres.
I’d love to see a pair of 20’s hauling an MGR on the layout Dave 🤔😎
Thank you for another interesting video, a class 20 is on my buying list as I've been waiting for a new version to come out with lighting. The BR green version has been delayed due to a shortage of the correct colour LEDs. Expensive time with new class 20 & 47 this year.
Yeah I heard the led issue….madness really isn’t it! Worlds gone crazy. Yes when the 47’s come out I’ll need a second job to pay for it all
This is just the video I needed. I’m buying one at the weekend. Would I be right in buying the newer version? I know it’s dearer, but it looks better (to me at least…I’m no expert). Cheers mate.
Both are very good models. But if you want lights. Interior detailing and interior lighting, etc….the new ones is a step up
@@DeanPark definitely want lights. Cheers mate. Sorry to keep asking questions (and I have googled this without much luck), but do you know of any decent shunters with lights?
My favourite UK diesel. I'm a big fan of early diesels, 20s and 08s.
I really love this class 20 everything about it is gorgeous, everything that is but the price. As someone who is looking to start a new hobby, can you suggest second hand shops around the North west, other than eBay? By the way, loving your channel... Mac#
I will stick with my two Hornby TTS ones! (paid £89.50ea in 2017)
These look better value than the new class 47 which has barely any difference seen working on a layout. Rather than buy one of those I will buy two of these in the blue livery, although I may just get one to start with and get a Scottish one later. If Bachmann were not hiking up their prices so much I would of bought the 47 as well but like many I now take a closer look at what I really need to buy, and 20's will get more use being suitable for both my main line and Highlands line
Have you seen the new 47 operating? Not much of a step forward visually then?
@@DeanPark. Not yet Dave but on your review where you compared them there was very little difference. A bit more detail in the cab that under normal running will not be noticed and the more detailed bogies which again I do not think a big improvement to justify paying so much more for. The class 20 does have lights more detailed buffer beams a better looking body and bogies so several improvements over the old tooling.
13:15 - Yep, absolutely.
Love the class 20 , great model but I am sticking with my old ones
Excellent review, thanks. 2 x 20’s are on my bucket list, but a fair way down! There seems to be a difference between the depths of the cab windows - is that prototypical?
The original Bachmann disc version represents a Scottish batch which had a tablet catcher when built. As a result they had a deeper cab side window. The English disc version and all headcode versions had a smaller cab side window. The original Bachmann headcode version should have the same sized window as the new 20227.
Couldn’t have put it better myself :-) cheers.
Excellent model and the forth coming Class 47 will be excellent, although agree with you price is going high and expensive, only purchase of detailed loco of each class £180+ is really feasible now.
It looks nice. Glad it has lights, but a shame the 20/3s don't have the full WIPAC lighting. I may be tempted by a pair in BR blue (one with headcode discs, one with headcode boxes) if I sell the 2 lima and 1 hornby one I have, because I rarely run them. But all 3 of those locos combined will only balance the cost of 1 new bachmann one.
I have an older sound fitted redstripe 20 but if I got a newer one and ran them as a pair the speed steps would probably be different as well as reversing direction on one of them. So much easier as straight DC.
Hi Dave anther great video mate I really injoy it I think the new Bachmann class20s locos are great But I will be waiting for the rail Blue class 20s locos to come out before replacing my old Bachmann class 20s locos I only have two class20s locos for my mgr trains stay safe and well Dave goodbye for how clive in N Ireland
Great looking model. I have two of the previous bachmann 20's both sound fitted. Unfortunately I just can't justify the cost of these new locos.
I love them got four of them, two DRS one Harry needle & one London Transport all with sound not cheap ATB Al
Unfortunately, for me this model doesn't represent enough of an improvement over the previous class 20. The big thing in the models favour is the sound file Bachmann have used, but that alone isn't enough for me to replace my two pairs of the older model fitted with Biff sound decoders. For me, this models lighting is its Achilles heel. Along with the class 24, it is a model which the lighting functions actually spoil the model a bit as it is done so far over the top as to detract from an otherwise decent model. Lighting, while bringing it up to 'modern standards' is something which the class 20 didn't really need. I'm old enough to remember these things rattling around for BR in the 80s, and even at dusk when things were getting dark you could barely see the lights on the real things. I have night photos taken by my dad where the lights on a class 56 hundreds of feet away in the distance shine far brighter than the class 20 not 15 feet away. To see a model class 20 with the ends lit up like a Christmas tree just looks plain wrong, the same goes for other early diesels, especially with the iridescent tail lights which have become the vogue. The more modern class 20s is a different matter with the WIPAC lighting and LED replacements, but for these models based on the '60s, '70s, '80s and into the '90s it needs toning down significantly. I'm fairly sure that the tail lights for these older 20/0 locomotives should show just one light too, left/off/right. They got this right for the class 85, so why get it wrong on this one?
looks a peach, a big step up from the previous no lights 20, the older one is still a good model and can probably get one at a cheap price, i may have to save the pennies for this new one, i still have railfreight 090, still runs as good as the day i got it.
I love a good class 20
Yeah me too and these are great. All I need is a Scottish based blue one now :-)
Can you switch the head and tail lights on/off independently? Intermediate tail/head light a strict no no in the real railway world.
Yes. Head and tail light can be operated independently on this sound version.
I have the really nice DRS compas livery one.
Nice to know that the US modelers aren't the only ones gettin; shafted by Bachmann & their "Bachmann tax".
Oh interesting. They hiking prices over at your side of the pond too?!
@@DeanPark Yes they are. A $50 engine with no DCC or sound now costs $150.
I’m sorry to see you object to a decent model company like Bachman adjusting their pricing to ensure they keep in business. Model locos are improving all the time and materials and labour are always going to increase. You cannot expect 1970’s pricing in the 21st century!! 50 buck locos!!! Really!! Go on,, as Dave said,,,Treat yourself!!! You deserve a treat now and then!!
@@LiveSteamNick Ha! I'm not paying $500, not even $300 for an engine. Trying to keep in business is also not have yearlong waiting period, and a constant supply. Something that most of these guys DON'T do. The excuses are the same, "labor costs", "material costs", and "we have to raise prices to stay in business". Alright Athearn. Maybe have detailing kits and a constant supply so that the hobby can attract & keep new people (something most manufactures don't do) and make you the owner of said modeler add the brass parts, and super fine detail. And Bachmann aint that decent, look on the US side. $300 beginner models with no DCC & Sound, and basic detail.
They look like they have faces :-D
Didn't you have a modelling tutorial?
Tutorial?
@@DeanPark that could be someone else
Who had the modelling tutorial series
Does it look better at layout viewing distances? No. Does it run better? No. Is the livery applied better? No.
Not a cat’s chance I’ll be replacing my fleet. (And I’m so glad I bought my old ones brand new for £50 odd.)
It does a lot of little things a little better. Which add up to an improvement. But as you saw with the locos side by side the previous one holds up well. It’s the lights that really step it up!
@@DeanPark I believe the lights on the prototype were really dim anyway. So from viewing distances being able to see the lights wouldn’t be all that realistic. Plus £50 plus £20 for a lighting kit is still less than half the price of the RRP of this thing.
Typical Bachman go so far then hit error button major gaff miss the headlight off the nose end days of Bachman purchase done overpriced again