LJWN20. LNER Gresley Class A3 Pacific 4-6-2 Loco and Tender No. 2750 'Papyrus'. In lined LNER apple green livery. Fitted with a round dome, single chimney and paired with a New-Type non-corridor tender. This is factory built in brass by Sancheng for Bachmann Brass, and has been professionally painted. With excellent cab detail. The model has had medium use on a working layout and runs fine but has a few small issues as follows. (1) The cylinder drain pipes are missing on one side. (2) The loco to tender coupling would benefit from improvement. (3) The rear tender screw coupling is missing. (4) One front loco footstep is loose and needs securing. (5) The heavy weight inside the boiler used to improve adhesion is loose from its mounting. The prototype was into service from Doncaster in February 1929 and has a strong claim to fame – on a trial run to Newcastle in 1935, ‘Papyrus’ (named after the 1923 Derby winner) reached 108 miles per hour at Little Bytham with a 220 ton load, maintaining a speed above 100 mph for 12.5 miles which at the time was the world record for a non-streamlined loco. This however didn’t save it as withdrawal from St. Margarets came in September 1963, thence scrapping. £695.
