For those who don’t know the background this is a famous ‘might have been’ from the early days of the FR revival.
It was built for service at Harrogate gas works - with a much more restrictive cab profile than the one it now sports - and was brought to the FR as a potential solution to the motive power crisis in the late 1950s.
Linda and Blanche turned up a couple years later and that was that for Peckett which was sold 30 years after its arrival having never seen service.
A stripped down chassis did make some exploratory adventures up the Vale shortly before its departure, but they only confirmed its unsuitability for the line.
There was a Hollywood ending, though.
Eventually it landed up at Statfold, acquired its new name, and steamed on the FR as a gala visitor - albeit only between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tanygrisiau.
It also did some gala runs on the Welsh Highland up to Waunfawr, and a little application of Rule 1 sees us running it on Bron Hebog and Dduallt.
The kit is by RT models, and it's a little cracker.
Perfect running is guaranteed by the Farish 08 chassis and some simple etched motion parts.
The body is made up of a big lump of a white metal casting and a nicely produced brass etch for the cab and fake frames.
With all that weight sitting above on a simple, reliable chassis, it's just about all you could ask for in a OO9 locomotive.
Himself added some extra detailing, as he always does, such as the vac and air brake pipes, which really set it off.
With no lining, aside from the letters on the saddle tank, it was probably also his favourite locomotive to paint.
(Since our model was made the loco now bears the legend 'Statfold Barn Railway' which means Himself has had a lucky escape!)
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