BR sets the Standard in battle for the top at Dreweatts’ sale

WHILE those with the deepest pockets at Dreweatts’transport Sale in Newbury on April 7 may be eyeing a 7¼in gauge live steam model of landmark BR Class 9F 2-10-0 No. 92220 Evening Star, as reported on news page 28 of this issue, other high-profile contenders will also be seeking their moment in the spotlight.

They will be led by 7¼in gauge BR Standard Nos. 73000 and 80008, each estimated at up to £25,000, and GWR 2-6-0 No. 5310 in the same gauge, which carries a top estimate of £20,000.

The model of No. 73000 was built by Tony Dixon of Southwick, near Brighton, who also completed No. 80008 after its original builder was unable to finish the work due to ill health.

No. 5310 was built to works’ drawings by gold medal winner Ian Holder of Suffolk, who is also a past winner of the prestigious Crebbin Memorial Cup at the Model Engineering Exhibition.

Other models in the auction, which will comprise more than 50 models from Gauge 1 to 7¼in, include two 5in gauge examples, Southern Railway King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 785 Sir Mador de la Porte estimated at up to £7000, and ex-yorkshire & Lancashire Railway 2P class 2-4-2T No. 50728 (up to £5000).

The auction also contains 13 railway posters from a collection in Switzerland that includes two London Underground posters by Tony Sarg (1880-1942) from the ‘Humours of London’ series of 1913, one of which was titled ’Appy ’Ampstead.

Another Underground poster is by George Sheringham (1884-1937) issued in 1926 to promote Kenwood in Hampstead, which is described as‘the crest of London,’and there is also a 1935 Harry Beck London Underground map and a small selection of railwayana.

The auction is at Donnington Priory and starts at noon.