This loco is my pride and joy, and at the time of writing is my only tender locomotive.

The purpose of this locomotive on my layout is to bring in the pickup and drop off goods into the yard via the branch line.

It has been expertly weathered to custom requirements by Steve Croucher (See below)

Although this is a goods locomotive and by the approximate era I am modelling they would normally have been in pretty filthy and well-worn condition, this locomotive has a slightly different story.

As the end of steam is drawing near and the era of diesel and electric motive power is dawning, Bertram Saunders the fireman is desperate to become promoted to "driver" before the need for firemen evaporates. So with this end-goal in mind, he goes above and beyond to keep "his" locomotive in tip-top presentation.

She has been a reliable work-horse and although their work is not as glamourous as the passenger duties, both the driver Anthony Clarke and the fireman Betram Saunders understand the importance of the part they play in the massive British industrial machine, so always they do their best to keep this tiny cog in that massive machine lubricated and running perfectly.

Steve Croucher at Neville Grove provides a professional model locomotive weathering service and his work is simply outstanding. So I had no doubt in my mind that when my wife said she would pay for this locomotive to be weathered for my birthday present, it would be him that I'd send it so.

He took my brief and produced a look which exactly echos the back story I have for this locomotive. He is professional through and through, from the initial concept discussions to the delivery of the finished locomotive. He is also a damn nice fellow to boot!

All photos on this page are courtesy of Steve Croucher, and are taken on his amazing layout, Neville Grove.

Steve can also provide a model railway design service. Feel free to check him out via one of the channels below.

Steve Croucher
Website: http://www.neville-grove.weebly.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcVfL87Ws2b4Tq0Q68_Ir1A?app=desktop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neville.grove/
Instagram handle: neville.grove