Stunning exhibition standard live steam Evening Star is set to be a star in April model auction
AN exhibition standard live steam model of 9F 2-10-0 No. 92220 Evening Star, the last steam locomotive built by BR, is set to live up to its name in an auction being held by Dreweatts in Newbury on April 7.
The model, which carries a top estimate of £30,000, was built in 7¼in gauge by Tony Dixon of Southwick, near Brighton, and is nearly 8ft 6in long. Features include a superheated copper boiler, stainless steel ashpan and three-chime whistle, while the brass tender has such details as front coal doors, cupboards and mechanical brake control.
No. 92220, the only BR locomotive to have ever been earmarked for preservation before it entered traffic, was built at Swindon in March 1960, even as the famous works was building the Warship class of diesel-hydraulics, locomotives from two very different eras thus being constructed simultaneously under one roof.
Its name was chosen after a competition run by the Western Region staff magazine, and there were three winners, an Aberystwyth driver, an Old Oak Common boilermaker and a Paddington employee. The naming ceremony was held at Swindon works on March 18, 1960, hosted by Reginald Hanks, chairman of the western area board of the British Transport Commission.
Although essentially a heavy freight locomotive, No. 92220 was to be seen during its short life on Western Region expresses, including ‘The Red Dragon’ and ‘Capitals United Express’, and on September 8, 1962, when allocated to Bath Green Park (82F), it hauled the last ‘Pines Express’ to
travel over the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway.
Due to the onrushing modernisation it was in service for just five years, ending its days at Cardiff East Dock (88A) in March 1965. It was stored at Severn Tunnel Junction until late 1966 when, in a very poor state, it was towed to Crewe works for restoration.
As part of the National Collection it is currently on display at the NRM in York, an impressive example to young and old alike of how steam locomotion had developed since the early days of the 19th century.
Michael Matthews, Dreweatts’ live steam and model engineering consultant, said: “The model is built to a very high exhibition standard, and it is great to have in the auction such a stunning model of the last loco built by BR.”
Other models in the auction, which with more than 200 lots – including a small selection of railwayana – is one of the biggest Transport Sales ever held by Dreweatts, include two further 7¼in gauge examples. They are Class 5MT 4-6-0 No. 73000 and another BR Standard, Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80008, each estimated to sell for up to £25,000. The sale is at Donnington Priory, Newbury, and starts at 12noon.
➜ For further details of the auction, read Geoff Courtney’s railwayana column in this issue.