Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Hughes rebuilt 8 class (Dreadnought) 4-6-0 no. 1514. When the Mark Hoofe collection of L&YR model locos came up for sale, I couldn’t resist buying this one. Even though it had been built un-powered and Mark had only used it for display purposes. Good models of this prototype are rare. Built by Peter Fitton, the model’s scratchbuilt tender carries his brass nameplate on the underside as provenance. The loco is probably scratchbuilt also, but doesn’t carry a nameplate. Certainly it is of Peter’s superb build quality, without doubt, but he might have used one of the kits available (Warren Shepherd or Lanky kits) as a basis for scratchbuilding. The loco also carries the signature of Conrad Cooper who has certainly made a lovely job of the fully lined L&YR livery. Since purchase, I have fitted an ABC motor and gear unit, that collects current via the cast metal (drivers of AGH quality) wheels. Loco wheels insulated on one side, tender wheels insulated on the other. The tender chassis is insulated from the tank, therefore the fallplate does not need to be insulated. All in all a very professionally built model of the highest quality, with very good provenance.
