Squire’s getting there – Rapido’s Lion sample

RAPIDO Trains UK has revealed an initial engineering sample of its upcoming Liverpool and Manchester Railway 0-4-2 Lion model, which will form part of the Titfield Thunderbolt range.

Built in 1838, Lion was a design of Todd, Kitson & Laird of Leeds and was one of a pair designed for hauling freight for the LMR. It ended up as a stationary pumping engine at Prince’s Dock in Liverpool sometime around 1874 before being ‘rediscovered’ in 1923.

Lion shot to fame in 1953 when it was used in the Ealing Studios production The Titfield Thunderbolt, and sustained damage to the tender during filming for the scene where the separated train catches up with the locomotive – damage which is still visible to this day!

It is now on display in the Museum of Liverpool’s Great Port Gallery.

Two variations of the locomotive are on offer, representing it in both 1930s and 1980s condition.

Amid other separately fitted details, a cosmetic coupling will be fitted to the front end and NEM coupling on the rear.

The RRP for a DCC-ready model is £179.95. A Titfield Thunderbold train pack, including the locomotive along with other rolling stock from the film, will also be released with a RRP of £299.95 for a basic version.

No release date has been confirmed as yet.