LKR38. GWR Dean 'Bulldog' Class Outside Framed 4-4-0 and Tender No. 3445 'Flamingo' of the 'Bird' Series. In plain unlined GWR green with 'Great Western' in gold shaded red as running in the post-war austerity livery circa 1919 - 1934. This is an older scratchbuilt model in nickel silver and brass constructed to a very high standard and fitted with a large Leakey type can motor, solid cast steel wheels, a little bit of compensation on the tender, extra pickups on the tender, opening tender water filler, and with superb cab detail. This model has been scratchbuilt by a very skilled and patient engineer and there is a large element of miniature nut and bolt construction used. Check the cab detail and remember this is all hand made. The model is lightly used and the motor/gearbox combination is a little bit noisy. The 'Bird' series were a development within the GWR 'Bulldog' class but with stronger frames and a redesigned bogie. The prototype was into service from Swindon Works in May 1909 as No. 3735, one of a class which overall totalled 126 overall locos of which 15 were of the 'Bird' series. It was renumbered to No. 3445 in 1912. All of the 'Bird' series passed into British Railways ownership and No. 3445 was withdrawn from Gloucester Horton Road in October 1948 having previously been at Plymouth Laira. (My research work into locomotive histories suggests that an allocation to Gloucester Horton Road was a one-way ticket as so many went to their final destination from there). All the 'Birds' had gone by the end of 1951, either scrapped or with frames used for conversion into 'Dukedogs' (note that 'Dukedog' was never a term used by the GWR and is thought to have originally been quoted by Ian Allan in one of his ABC's). £1500.
