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Collection of Dennis Brown Gauge 1 Locomotives to Pace Transport Auction

This very rare 5-inch gauge AD60 Garratt Locomotive No 6063 with an 8-4+4-8-4 wheel arrangement is from the late Dennis Brown’s collection of Gauge 1 locomotives that will be part of the upcoming Dreweatts & Bloomsbury’s Transport Auction. This “toy” locomotive weighs in at approximately 450 pounds and is some 12 feet in length, is fully operational, being powered by live steam, and carries a presale estimate of $25,000 to $30,000.
This very rare 5-inch gauge AD60 Garratt Locomotive No 6063 with an 8-4+4-8-4 wheel arrangement is from the late Dennis Brown’s collection of Gauge 1 locomotives that will be part of the upcoming Dreweatts & Bloomsbury’s Transport Auction. This “toy” locomotive weighs in at approximately 450 pounds and is some 12 feet in length, is fully operational, being powered by live steam, and carries a presale estimate of $25,000 to $30,000.

For those of us whose only familiarity with the British model railroads is Thomas the Tank engine, the announcement on Tuesday that the late Dennis Brown’s collection of Gauge 1 locomotives will be a large segment of the upcoming Dreweatts & Bloomsbury’s Transport Auction might be a bit informative—and maybe a bit tempting—for model train enthusiasts.

Eighteen of the 20 locomotives that Brown built will be offered in this auction, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 at the Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire. The sale will also include live steam and model engineering works of art.

Brown was a well-known and long-time member of the Gauge 1 Model Railways Association, running the models he built all around the North and East of England. Born in 1924, He attended an engineering apprenticeship with Marshalls of Gainsborough, before serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. After the war he returned to engineering. In retirement, Brown took up building and running Gauge 1 locomotives.

The first locomotive Brown built was an example of an LNER V2 “The Snapper,” which took a Silver Medal at the Olympia Model Engineering Exhibition and he went on to win many other prizes. His models are of exceptional quality, and attract pre-sale estimates ranging from a few hundred pounds ($150-$300), to more than a thousand pounds each ($1,700). Among the Brown-built locomotives to be offered Dreweatts’ auction include the LMS Duchess of Sutherland, LNER A3 “Gainsborough,” GWR Prairie tank, a Stirling Single and many other quality models.

This Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 Tender Locomotive “Royal Mail” Number 35003, another large locomotive, is also estimated to sell for between $25,000 and $30,000.
This Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 Tender Locomotive “Royal Mail” Number 35003, another large locomotive, is also estimated to sell for between $25,000 and $30,000.

Further Auction Highlights
Also on offer is an exhibition standard model of a very rare 5-inch gauge AD60 Garratt Locomotive No 6063, with an 8-4+4-8-4 wheel arrangement. This “toy” locomotive weighs in at approximately 450 pounds and is some 12 feet in length. It is fully operational, being powered by live steam. It has a pre-sale estimate of £15,000 to £18,000 ($25,000 to $30,000).

Another large locomotive being offered at a similar estimate is a 5-inch model of the 4-6-2 Merchant Navy class tender locomotive No 35003 “Royal Mail,” built by the late Mr. J. Holden of Accrington in Lancashire. Other live steam locomotives include examples of “Jubilee,” “Black 5,” “Massie,” “Princess Royal,” “Torquay Manor” and “Britannia.”

In the auction’s Model Engineering Works of Art section, the locomotives on offer are of a very high standard and quality. They include a rare exhibition quality model of a First World War side tank locomotive in 3½-inch gauge. This model is of a design that took ammunition and supplies to the front lines in France in World War One. Also in 3½-inch gauge is a very fine exhibition quality model of a Southern Railways C15 tender locomotive built by the award winning model engineer Mr. J. Wingate of Winchester.

This 1-inch scale model of the agricultural traction engine “Minnie” (left) and a 1½-inch scale model of a “Royal Chester” (right) could hammer for $500 apiece.
This 1-inch scale model of the agricultural traction engine “Minnie” (left) and a 1½-inch scale model of a “Royal Chester” (right) could hammer for $500 apiece.
A fine collection of more than 30 stationary live steam engines that were all built by one man and consigned from his collection in the north of Scotland, including the “Steeple” (left), “Vulcan” (center) and over-type steam (right) engines.
A fine collection of more than 30 stationary live steam engines that were all built by one man and consigned from his collection in the north of Scotland, including the “Steeple” (left), “Vulcan” (center) and over-type steam (right) engines.

Three live steam traction engines will also be on offer and include an award-winning example of a 1-inch scale model of the agricultural traction engine “Minnie” and 1½-inch scale model of a “Royal Chester” designed by W.J. Hughes, and a 3-inch scale Aveling & Porter Showman’s engine.

The sale will also feature a fine collection of more than 30 stationary live steam engines that were all built by one man and consigned from his collection in the north of Scotland. These include many models based on the designs by Anthony Mounts and Stuart Turner.

Those looking for something a bit different should note that the sale includes a large scale model of the steam tug “Englishman” powered by a live steam Stuart D10 engine, built by another award-winning builder, Mr. C. Putt of Guildford, and an exhibition standard model of a Burton Gipsy caravan.

For more information regarding this auction or to view the online catalog, visit the Dreweatts & Bloomsbury website.


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