David Element's Model Railway Page 2

David Element's Model Railway Web Page 2...

British Railways Steam Locomotives

Aster Unrebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class 4-6-2 34057 'Biggin Hill'

The above photograph illustrates a kit-built example of a live steam Aster Unrebuilt 'Battle of Britain' Class Pacific 30th anniversary Gauge 1 (1/32 scale) model in late BR livery. With thanks to Andrew Pullen of Aster Hobbies (UK) LLP. Further photographs of these superb models may be seen on: http://www.asterhobbies.co.uk/pages/models/Spamcan.htm#fosse and on a separate gallery page illustrating a variety of customer-built kits on: http://www.asterhobbies.co.uk/pages/extras_articles/Gallery_Bulleid.htm. Also highly recommended are a range of films on YouTube of these models in operation, particularly one of SR liveried 21C166 'Spitfire' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_oZFou0LCA. An excellent and detailed assembly review by Robert Youngjohns is included in the Southern Steam Trains website at: http://www.southernsteamtrains.com/misc/Bullied-Assembly%20Review.htm (the erroneous spelling of the designer's name is correct for this URL).

The original 34057 was one of relatively few unrebuilt examples of this famous Class to remain in BR service until 1967, the final year of steam locomotive haulage on former Southern Region metals. By this time the characteristic air-smoothed casing had suffered many dents although the locomotive was cleaned up prior to hauling the occasional special prior to withdrawal and scrapping. Fortunately the full sized 'Battle of Britain' and (identical) 'West Country' Class locomotives are well represented in preservation in both original and rebuilt form, mostly having been rescued from Barry Docks, and examples may be seen on the linked pages.