L&NER (ex GCR) Robinson B2 (later B19) class 4-6-0 no. 423 Sir Sam Fay. Very well built from scratch, my preference, and not from a kit as it was described on Ebay. So a very pleasant surprise for me when I opened the box. Good quality cast iron wheels and the loco initially worked well with a single gear JH type motor and gear unit. However, in the forward direction only it ran out of puff after only a few minutes. (it seemed OK in reverse??). The motor did have a long flywheel spindle protruding from the back, so I thought it must be rubbing on the front face of the spectacle plate, but on investigation, no witness marks. Tried on the rolling road chassis only, still the same? So out came the gears and in with an RG7. Problem solved. He runs as good as he looks now. Well painted in the 1923 L&NER green, Gortons version, which if the truth was told was no more than the works old stocks of GCR green with a gallon or two of white added to make it a bit brighter, (note the ampersand and also the GCR cabside numberplates).
