Sold August 2003 Back to Archive

3 inch scale model of the Lynton & Barnstaple Baldwin tank locomotive "Lyn". The railway was opened with three new locomotives built in England by Manning Wardle, it quickly becoming apparent that more motive power would be required. Manning Wardle were unable to supply due to a strike so the contract for a new engine went to Baldwin of Philadelphia in 1898. The engine was built in double-quick time and shipped over, where it joined Lew, Exe and Taw on the railway, taking the name Lyn (all the locomotives were named after local rivers).

The railway teetered on the edge of financial viability for much of its life, finally being sold off at an auction held on the premises. Lyn was cut up in her shed the day after the auction, along with two of the Manning Wardles and most of the rolling stock. One of the original engines is still unaccounted for, believed to be somewhere in South America. Sadly, the charming little narrow gauge railway did not fit at all with the mainline and speed obsessed ideas of Captain Howey who attended the auction and was, quite possibly, the one man there who could have written a cheque for the lot. Then again, if he had bought the L&B, we would never have seen the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch (and one could argue long into the night on the relative merits of each!).

A powerful engine, the 2-4-2 wheel configuration allows for working on tight radius curves both in full size and the model. The professionally-built steel boiler is fed by twin injectors and an axle pump and fitted with twin safety valves. Two water gauges are fitted with blowdowns. The cast iron cylinders are fitted with slide valves actuated by inside Stephenson's valve gear with pole reverser in the cab. All axles run in ball races and the engine, despite its weight, is easy to push around by hand. The rear of the cab can be removed for access to the controls when driving.

This engine is complete - indeed I drove it last year - but has been partly dismantled for painting. It has seen very little use, the wheels (in steel) are barely marked on the treads. The chimney doesn't really sit at the rakish angle shown in the picture, the photographer hadn't noticed that the steam header hadn't engaged in the saddle properly which propped the boiler up at the front by half an inch. You just can't get the staff...

We would be happy to quote to complete this engine if required.

Length 76 inches
Weight approx 1/2 ton