Home on the Grange as £60k model shines

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A 7¼in gauge live steam model of GWR No. 6860 Aberporth Grange, featured in Heritage Railway issue 232, was the runaway success in a Dreweatts transport sale of live steam models at Newbury on September 20, with a realisation of £60,000.

Built by leading modelmaker David Aitken and described by Dreweatts’ steam and model engineering consultant Michael Matthews as one of the best railway models he had ever seen, the 4-6-0 sold for more than twice the price of the runner-up, a 5in gauge model of Class 9F Crosti-boilered 2-10-0 No. 92024, which went under the hammer for £20,000.

In joint third place at £18,000 each came another 5in gauge 9F, No. 92184, and a 7¼in gauge LNWR George the Fifth class 4-4-0 No. 5000 Coronation, and further down the list came two more 5in gauge models, GCR 11F 4-4-0 No. 505 Ypres (BR No. 62669), which went for £8000, and Standard Pacific No. 70000 Britannia (£5200). GWR No. 4708 in 7¼in gauge was a non-seller.

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An award-winning 3½in gauge model of preserved GNR ‘Stirling Single’ 4-2-2 No. 1 fetched £4800, while at £4200 came another 3½in gauge example, of First World War American Loco Co ‘Mountaineer’ 2-6-2T No. 1227. Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 24% (+ VAT).

Michael Matthews said: “The hall was packed and there was quite a lot of bidding on the telephone, and seven registered bidders from the US. Up to 5in gauge sold very strongly, as shown by the two 9Fs.”

Read more News and Features in Issue 234 of HR – on sale now!

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