Vertical boilered Pacific sold by auction
AN unusual historic 15in gauge locomotive was sold by auction on August 3. Ashley Waller Auctioneers of Cheshire set an opening price of £1800 and it went under the hammer for £2800. The 4-6-2 loco, described as the ‘Blue Pacific’, is distinctive by virtue of having a vertical boiler, probably from a steam launch or a winch, concealed within the apparently conventional boiler cladding. It was built by Nigel Guinness, manager of the KLG Spark Plug Company (founded by his father and uncle) and first steamed in 1937. Constructed at the builder’s home in Surrey it ran on a line in his garden. In 1973 it went to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s Museum and was steamed there in September. It apparently left Ravenglass shortly after and its subsequent location is unclear, although it is said to have been displayed on Llandudno station platform for a period. It seems to have been at Cleethorpes in 1994 and was subsequently displayed at Windmill Farm Railway. Separately advertised for sale recently was Ruston & Hornsby 48DL 198297/1942. This loco was Abbey Light Railway No. 4 Vulcan until that line closed in 2012 and was dismantled in 2013. The locos and stock were sold, Vulcan going to the 2ft gauge line at the standard gauge Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway’s Embsay station.