Beschreibung:

An historically significant, finely executed and highly detailed 1 ½in. scale model dating from circa 1876-7 of the first locomotive, 'Locomotion No.1', built for the Stockton & Darlington Railway by Robert Stephenson & Company of Newcastle-upon-tyne in 1825 mounted on a model of the Gaunless Bridge and commissioned in connection with the 50th Anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway itself in 1875, this model is one of only four similiar examples and is unique in being the only one which is not now in a museum - see 'History and Provenance of the model', below. Description of the Locomotive and Tender , The model is built to a very high standard, especially in relation to the time it was made, using appropriate materials except for the chimney and the tender wheels. Dimensions are as follows: Locomotive : Overall length: 19½in. (49.5cm.) Overall width: 9¾in. (24.75cm.) Overall height: 20¼in. (51.5cm.) Gauge: 7in. (17.75cm.) Wheelbase: 8in. (20.25cm.) Driving wheel diameter: 5 15/16in. (15cm.) Boiler : Overall length: 14 7/8in. (37.75cm.) Overall diameter: 7in. (17.75cm.) diameter Fitted with 3in. (7.6cm.) diameter single flue and 2in. (5cm.) diameter chimney Tender : Overall length: 16in. (40.6cm.) Overall width: 7½in. (19cm.) Height: 6in. (15.25cm.) to top of coal space, 9 5/8in. (24.5cm.) to top of water tank Tank : Overall length: 5¾in. (14.6cm.) Overall width: 6½in. (16.5cm.) Overall height: 3 5/8in. (9.2cm.) The locomotive is generally as modified and preserved (see 'Historical Note', below). The driving wheels have the correct Hackworth form but are cast in iron in one piece rather than the prototype two. Correct bar frames are fitted and the model has working slip eccentric valve gear. The gabs on the eccentric rods are not made to be detachable, which would be necessary in full size in order to manoeuvre the engine by hand. All adjustable bearings are correctly cottered and split pins are fitted to the rod ends where necessary. The deadweight safety valve is correctly made and fitted, as are the plug cock regulator and warning bell. All nuts and bolts are hand-made to square section and the boiler top is lagged with moulded wood strips secured with brass bands and wood screws. There are two water level plug try-cocks fitted on the back plate whose over scale size might possibly infer intention to make the model steamable. The firehole door is made to open and there is some blackening of the boiler interior, but no grate is fitted nor is there evidence of a mounting for such a grate. It is possible that steaming may have been attempted, but the model is essentially in static display configuration. On the left hand side, the forward eccentric rod is of rectangular (flat) section whereas the rear one is round, both being correct to prototype. On the right hand side the water pump and its driving gear is in place but no pipework or by-pass arrangement is fitted, nor is there any facility to alter the stroke of the pump as on the original. Pistons and rods have been chrome plated, the remainder of the mechanism being as black iron. Full size piston rods would appear bright, but not the parallel motion and valve gear. The exhaust is piped in brass from each valve chest on both sides to the chimney but there is only one blast nozzle fitted to the model as it stands. The nameplate on the right hand side is of brass, wax filled between the letters, while the engine to tender drawbar is correctly forked and secured. The tender has a wooden body, well made, as is the detachable water tank which has a water outlet pipe and filling hatch. The correctly fashioned spoked wheels are, interestingly, cast in brass and there is a brazier (or 'fire detail') hung on a rear mounting hook attached to the rear coupling. This feature, on the prototype and when filled with glowing coal, was intended to act as a rudimentary form of rear light. The Gaunless Bridge Model The bridge model is clearly intended as a show stand f