Class 166

Multiple Units
Bachmann Thames Turbo 166

Jan 2001- A review of the Bachmann Class 166 three-car Thames Turbo

The all new Bachmann Class 166 Network Turbo Express 3-car set retains and strengthens Bachmann’s hold on this area of contemporary modelling. The standard of this model is comparable to their earlier releases, which bodes well for future development i.e. the Turbostar.

Prototype notes: However, a Thames Trains Class 166 is a very different animal to the Class 158 – it operates under very different traffic patterns and loadings. Passenger doors and vestibules are designed to allow for the swift boarding and exit of passengers during peak periods. Maximum use of space within each trailer is vital to maximise seating capacity. Unlike the class 158, there are no end vestibule areas; careful design of inner gangway area resulted in the use of power doors with tasteful glazing to help create the illusion of space.

Aluminium bodyshell construction was a key feature of this design: even the interior panels are of painted metal rather than plastic. Eddie Pond’s now infamous murals decorate the end walls. Ceiling panels offer concealed lighting, softening the blow a little for bleary-eyed early morning commuters. Whilst the Class 165/1 relies on pressure ventilation, air conditioning is a feature of the Class 166 – hence the sealed window units except every other one fitted with a vent for emergency ventilation.

Class 166s were introduced in 1991 – 92 as a part of the extended Networker family of trains championed by the former Network Southeast boss Chris Green.

The Class 166 finds gainful employment on Network Express type diagrams such as fast Paddington – Oxford and Banbury services. Paddington – Bedwyn services enjoy Class 166 operation during morning and evening peak periods when loadings can be particularly heavy.

Recognition by Thames management of the importance of the North Downs line for Reading – Gatwick Airport services sees frequent use of Class 166s on fast and semi-fast services, complete with on board catering service from a trolley. Finally, Class 166s can be found operating alongside Centro Class 150/1 Sprinters on Leamington Spa and Stratford upon Avon routes and as far afield as Great Malvern and Hereford.

Set formations are often adjusted to reflect operational needs – the centre car is removed from some sets when maintenance is protracted. Class 166s can be found as 2-car sets at times. The vehicles are compatible with the 90mph Class 165/1 permitting hybrid 3-car sets to be formed when necessary.

Formations: DMCL (A) – MS – DMCL (B)

Set Numbers: 166201 – 221

DMCL vehicles are numbered 58101 – 58142.

MS vehicles are numbered 58601 – 58621.

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Model features:

Roof area: Faithfully reproduced complete with recessed vents and characteristic seam line. The four recessed vents are fitted as separate mouldings.
Cab detail: Cab mouldings are produced as separate items and fitted to the bodyshell as a sub assembly. The moulding is attached along the same seam line as used on the prototype. Separate windscreen wipers are fitted to flush glazed cab windows and working head and taillights are neatly fitted to the light clusters. The cosmetic couplings are accurate but do not permit multiple working of sets unless replaced with working couplings.
Inner ends: This area of the bodyshell is well detailed with exhaust silencer and accurate vestibule gangway connection. Gangway doors are beautifully modelled and glazed – shame they are hidden most, if not all of the time.
Body moulding: My positive views on chunky mouldings come into play here and the Class 166 has not let me down. The bodyshell consists of separate roof (fitting is good), end and cab. All bogie brackets, and vent detail is there. The plug doors have a correct appearance with well-defined seams and footsteps. It is an excellent moulding and one that will withstand the rigours of layout use.
Glazing: Glazing is tinted and flush fitting – very well executed. Frames are sprayed onto the glazing insert in dark grey – not as distinctive as you might expect owing to the dark tint of the glazing. The very flush appearance of the prototype is captured well.
Bogies: Accurate models with good depth of detail, accurate damper bracket detail and secondary air suspension airbags. The couplings are fitted to the bogies, which in my mind, gives the model a strange appearance in the area of the gangways.
Wheels are bit on the coarse side but fully concentric and chemically blackened to reduce the shine. I think they are a little small in diameter but have a representation of the brake discs. Replacement wheel packs are available from Ultrascale.
Drive system: In essence the same feature as that fitted to the Class 158 model, The centre car is powered for even performance in either operating direction. The motor is installed to a die cast frame and drives both bogies via Universal drives fitted with two flywheels to give added torque. Four axles are driven as a result and current collection is via wiper pick-ups bearing on the rear of each wheel.
Underframe detail: Cosmetic underframe detail is superbly moulded in plastic as a part of the floor of the DMCL vehicles and clipped to the die cast chassis of the MS (centre car) vehicle as a method of obtaining the depth and fineness of detail. One major compromise is the lack of toilet emission retention tanks on the DMCL vehicles because they would foul the continental style coupling.

Overall dimensions: Excellent!
There is a temptation to make direct comparisons with Bachmann’s Class 158 release and the Hornby Class 466 Networker cannot be resisted. The Class 166 equals the Bachmann Class 158 in terms of finish and quality and can blow Hornby away with respect to mechanism and drive performance. However, the Hornby Class 466 Networker has the edge on finishing – especially glazing and printed livery elements. Modellers may be surprised at the difference in vehicle length between the Hornby and Bachmann model – tighter clearances on the Kent Link lines means that the Class 465 and 466 units were constructed with 20 metre bodyshells. In that respect, the model is correct.

Model shown:
Description: Thames Trains (Network Southeast) Class 166 Networker Turbo Express 3-car unit.
Scale: 4mm /1foot, 1:76 scale.
Gauge: OO gauge with scope for conversion to EM and P4 gauge.
Era: 1992 onwards