Sold September 2011 Back to Archive

A venerable 3 1/2 inch gauge model, allegedly built to represent the 10 1/4 inch gauge locomotive "Nipper", bought by Bassett Lowke before the first War and run at a variety of parks before Mr BL decided that there was no future in selling rides to people and concentrated on manufacturing things instead. Although an easy lift and under two feet long, this is actually a four inch scale engine - so you can hold your head high when talking to the men with their 7 1/4 inch gauge Hunslets and Bagnalls at the club, nodding sagely and discussing the intricacies of driving and firing at this scale.

The engine came from a collection with a couple of others that we sold last year. All had been displayed for many years, the owner had never steamed any of them. It appears of some considerable vintage - the rear bogie is on brass frames, the boiler is twin flue with a simple superheater arrangement, the Stephenson's gear is of delicate proportion. Cylinders are equipped with slide valves, oiling by displacement lubricators on the end covers. Crankshaft is fabricated, connecting rods fitted with split and cottered big ends - axleboxes show signs of a great deal of use.

The engine is largely complete, although missing grate and ashpan, water gauge glass and one tank filler cap.

Length 20 inches