2 1/2 inch gauge Great Central 4-6-0 "Sir Sam Fay"

A 2 1/2 inch gauge model of the Great Central Class 1 4-6-0 "Sir Sam Fay", the original locomotive built to Robinson's design just before the First World War and named after the then general manager.

A handsome design - Robinson's first with superheaters - it featured 21 1/2 inch bore cylinders with a large boiler to suit. Looks, unfortunately, proved not to be everything and in the years following introduction two different designs of boilers were tried, before eventually the cylinders were sleeved down to 20 inches.

Perhaps adequate rather than sparkling performers, even when modified (the large cylinders, requiring wide spacing of the crankpins and consequently undersize axleboxes remained a problem to the end), Robinson went on to design the highly successful 4-4-0 "Director" class drawing from his experience on the Class 1s.

An older model, repainted in the past it rolls freely. Chassis features Joy gear actuating slide valves.