Peter Everton scratchbuilt locos

LNER (ex GNR) Ivatt class D2 4-4-0 no. 4390

Mick Bayliss My loco collection, Peter Everton scratchbuilt locos

LNER (ex Great Northern Railway) Ivatt class D2 4-4-0 no. 4390. Going back around 30 years to my early days of 7mm modelling, I joined the East Midlands O gauge group. In those days and with thanks to Nelson Keen and Les Hargreaves, we had test track running sessions at Silverdale in Nottingham (we still do), Nuthall and Willington Power Station. One member that I remember well, because he always ran lovely models, was a chap by the name of Tony Evans (now sadly deceased, I’m sure) and one of those models was an LNER D2. I am now lucky enough to own that model. Built from scratch with superb inside motion by Peter Everton, (his builders plate “Peter Everton Wickersley Made in England” is on the underside as provenance) and undoubtedly painted by Alan Brackenborough. “J.A.Evans” is also painted on the underside of the loco and tender. A top quality model with cast iron provenance and personal history to boot. It has been around the houses quite a bit, two other owners at least as I know of, but she is still in superb condition with no build defects and just a small paint defect, virtually unnoticeable on top of the running plate left side.

GWR Grange class no. 6869 Resolven Grange

Mick Bayliss My loco collection, Peter Everton scratchbuilt locos
Resolven Grange
This unusual model has been built from scratch by Peter Everton, as a convertible 2 or 3 rail pickup, with third rail skate. By removing the skate and moving a small plug from one socket to another we have a two rail loco. Reverse that procedure and it’s back to three rail. Very clever and I have never seen this feature before. The loco is fitted with a set of chunky gears and a large motor. Driving wheels are of cast iron construction, with fine spokes and very slightly thicker than Slaters. They give a back to back of 28.25mm and negotiate Peco fine scale track and points with no problems. Slaters wheels (with 29.25mm back to back) are fitted to the bogie and tender. The Poachers test track at Lincoln,  https://www.7mmloco.co.uk/poachers/  was built using Peco track and this loco can fly around there with my eight chocolate and creams in tow, no problem. In fact I’m sure it would pull double that length of train. This well detailed and very heavy model, with a working representation of the valve gear, is of extremely robust construction and would be well suited to either an indoor layout or an outdoor track. It was bought privately in an unpainted and unused condition. It has now been painted by myself in unlined GWR green and lightly weathered by Warren Hayward. In addition, the model carries the small nameplate of the builder on the underside of the running plate to give that provenance.

The Grange class locomotives were designed by Charles Collett and built at Swindon between 1936 and 1939 as replacements for 43xx class Moguls. For comparison with one of these locos, no. 4302, follow this link.. In fact many Granges were built using a pool of reconditioned parts from withdrawn 43xx locomotives. They are effectively a smaller wheeled version of the Collett Hall class. For a description and images of one of these locos, Aldenham Hall, follow this link.