'Jenny Lind'

[John Candy]

A 'friend of a friend' has asked for help to find someone who may be willing to restore a model which he inherited from his Grandfather.

The only information I have is that it is 2.5 inch gauge (fortunately!), has probably never been run (in fact may be incomplete) and is thought to be around 60 years old.
I asked about the boiler construction but he does not know whether it is copper or steel nor is he aware of the fuel for which it has been designed (from the backplate it looks as though it may be coal-fired but the photo is not very clear).

It is quite obviously a model of the famous LB&SCR 'Jenny Lind' but does anyone know the 'pedigree' of the model : Was it built to a published drawing (e.g. 'Model Engineer') and were (are) castings and other parts commercially available?

Ideally, the owner would like it to be restored to working order but a cosmetic restoration for display would be acceptable if that is not possible.

I have warned him that the boiler condition will probably be the deciding factor, although anything is possible.... at a price.

The owner lives at Stotfold, Herts. (just off the A1).

[MikeWilliams]

Considering the location I would recommend John Shawe.  John used to be very active in Gauge 3 circles as a professional restorer but then started spending more time working on full sized railways, so I'm not sure what he still does, but he would give an honest and expert opinion.  He used to live in Welwyn, though I've also seen an address in Hitchin - neither very far from Stotfold.

Mike

[John Baguley]

LBSC did describe a 3½" gauge Jenny Lind in English Mechanics in 1942 so it is possible that the builder scaled down the drawings etc. from that. The time would be about right. So far as I know, there was not a 2½" gauge version available as drawings or castings. I would imagine the boiler probably is copper and coal fired.

John

[John Candy]

Thank you both for the info. which I have relayed to the owner and for which he is most grateful.

Regards,
John.

[Peter D Hingley]

Just for info  the   Library I run has a   set of English  Mechanic  (in its many variant titles)  up to the  early  30s and there   are some'Curly'  designs   therein.  As it  happens   I was speaking  earlier today to the  Science  Museum  Library.  Much of their   stuff has been transferred   to a windswept   aerodrome outside Swindon  with no bus  service,  though  fortunately  this does NOT  apply to  'Model Engineer'  which is  on open access   and they should have 'EM'  available also.  It had been cut down to  10 - 5 opening  weekdays  but has now  been extended   to  2030 weekday  evening  and all day  Saturdays,   but  there are no staff at   those times and  you may have to  order  stuff in advance.   The staff are EXTREMELY  helpful  and stuff can be got up from Wroughton (not  manuscripts unfortunately)    at  24 hrs notice which works well.
                                                             Hope this helps 

                                                                      Peter D Hingley

[John Candy]

Peter,

Welcome to the G3 Forum and thank you for this information which I am sure will be of general interest to members searching for elusive drawings, etc.

Regards,
John.

[MikeWilliams]

Peter,

When searching through old magazines I've normally used the British Library at Colindale, which is accessible and a lovely old time-warp of a building!  They certainly have old motoring magazines, but some magazines like "The Spectator" are at St.Pancras.  I don't know how to find out whether they have ME, EM, or indeed some of the more unusual titles, and if so at which site.  Maybe you do?

Mike

[MikeWilliams]

Peter,

I should have added - I assume you must be the same Peter D. Hingley who exhaustively researched the family business at Netherton?  We communicated a few years back about moving the anchor for Titanic by rail.

Sorry - going way off-topic here!

Mike