Hornby – BR Rebuilt Cl.W1 ‘60700’
Sir Nigel Gresley's locomotive, W1 4–6–4 No. 10000, underwent a major overhaul and modification starting in August 1935. It was rebuilt into a three-cylinder locomotive with a conventional firetube boiler at Doncaster Works, completed in November 1937. The rebuild included a diagram 111 boiler and a streamlined casing similar to the A4 class. Many original components from the W1 were used, and the frames were shortened at the front.
The cab, longer than that of the A4 class, required adjustments to the tender's coal delivery chute. The original tender was retained with superficial modifications. Until World War II, No. 10000 operated mainly on Kings Cross main line duties, earning favor with LNER's drivers. Post-war, renumbered as 60700, it saw varied tasks, including passenger services to Leeds and Cambridge and occasional ‘lodging’ turns to Newcastle.
After allocation to Doncaster in 1953, 60700 operated more frequently to Leeds, Sheffield, and Doncaster to Peterborough passenger services, as well as various goods trains. Despite plans to name it “Pegasus,” the locomotive never received this intended nameplate, similar to its earlier fate of not being named ‘British Enterprise’ in 1929.
Tech Specs:
- Item Scale: 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge
- Finish: Painted
- Gauge: OO
- Designer: Sir Nigel Gresley
- Wheel Configuration: 4–6–4
- Minimum Curve (mm): Radius 2
- Motor: 5 Pole Skew Wound
- Number of Parts: 1