[JohnRon]

A few months ago, I decided to have a model railway in my garden, and bought a Bassett Lowke live steam O gauge locomotive. ( I'm a retired mechanical engineer, hence steam).
This was prompted by childhood memories of my father and uncle's garden railway, which they had prewar.

However, before I had got round to sort out track etc, my uncle died, and we are now clearing his house. Astoundingly, as well as his 00 layout ( with 50+ locos), in the loft was the 3 rail track , 8 coaches, 1 truck and a Flying Scotsman electric loco. Luckily the track and rolling stock run on 32mm track like the Bassett Lowke. Sadly no power supply and track is pretty ropey.

My first challenge is who made the Flying Scotsman; some of the coaches are Meccano/ Hornby, but looking on line the Horby electric locos are only rough replicas, missing two drive wheels, whereas mine seems more detailed and was built with the correct 4-6-2 layout. Any ideas? I would guess that it would have been made in the mid 30s.

 

[34C]

Welcome. Your late uncle's loco might well be Bassett Lowke. They certainly made a 3 rail electric Gresley A1/A3 in full 4-6-2 format. (The only reason I know this is a that a long ago colleague had an extensive collection which he exhibited occasionally.)

 

[JohnRon]

Many thanks! That would be a nice match for my steam loco. They are different sizes; presumably different scales. Would that fit? Is there any way of telling its a B-L? I couldn't see a stamped I'd number on it, like my other loco.

 

[34C]

Sorry, have not a clue about the ins and outs of old O gauge, it's just odd shreds of information I have picked up over the years. There's a journey of discovery awaiting you! And of course someone knowledgeable may well show up over the next couple of weeks or so. ATB with it, and enjoy.

 

[JohnRon]

Understand! Your tip about the loco being a Bassett-Lowke appears spot on; I found a Flying Scotsman B-L for sale and the details are exactly as mine.

 

[JohnRon]