Models make a Stirling effort

MODELS of Great Northern Railway’s ‘Stirling single’ 4-2-2 reached the heights in two model train auctions last month, firstly in a Vectis sale on October 21 and a week later, on October 28, in a Lacy Scott & Knight auction.

The Vectis model was by Rapido Trains UK and based on the class prototype, No. 1, in OO gauge, and achieved the auction’s top realisation of £480 (excluding buyer’s premium of 25% plus VAT). This locomotive was built at Doncaster in 1870 and was saved for preservation on withdrawal in September 1907 with 1,404,663 miles on the clock. It is now part of the National Collection and on display at the NRM.

The ‘Stirling single’ class was designed by Patrick Stirling, GNR locomotive superintendent from 1866 until his death in 1895, and comprised 53 locomotives, built at Doncaster between 1870 and 1895.

A week later, in the LSK sale, a 10mm scale live steam model of an unnumbered member of the class fetched £1200 and was accompanied by a tailor-made carrying case. Behind this model at £980 came a Maxitrak of Staplehurst, Kent, 5in gauge live steam 0-4-0T industrial locomotive named Ruby, followed by a set of three 10mm scale Gresley articulated teak coaches (£880) and a 3½ in gauge live steam LMS 2-6-4T (£680). Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 22½% (+ VAT).

* Four brass plates from Rhodesia Railways’ 1929-built Beyer-Garratt 14th class 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 501, including a numberplate and RR letters, topped the charts at £540 in GW Railwayana’s timed auction that ran from October 2-16. The price for the plates, which were sold as a single lot, was matched by a BR(W) Hanwell station totem sign. Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 15% (+ VAT).