Four of these 4-4-0 express locomotives were built in 1894 as rebuilds of  2-2-2  Class 3001 broad gauge Dean Singles, although in the end little of the original locos were incorporated in these magnificent engines with their 7’ 1½”driving wheels and 3000 gallon tenders. The numbers were, however, carried over, being  7,8,14 & 16, and they were named as follows : No.7, Armstrong, No.8 Gooch, No.14 Charles Saunders and No.16 Brunel. They ran between London and Bristol, and between 1905 and 1911 were rebuilt extensively, and again between 1915 and 1923 when they were fitted with 6’ 8½”  wheels and renumbered  4171, 4172, 4170, and 4169 respectively.

They were acknowledged by J.N. Maskelyne as being the most beautiful express passenger locomotives ever built. They ran on into the late ‘20s, with the last to be withdrawn No. 4169 Brunel in 1930. None is preserved.

The model was built by J.G.S. Clarke & Co. of Denbigh, N.Wales.  They made numerous locos for private customers including Gooch’s sister loco the Dean Single Lorna Doone, drawings and castings for both being available. John also founded the highly successful Polly series of locomotives.

Gooch is a substantial model, the loco weighing 180 kg and the tender about 30 kg. The cylinders are 1 7/8” diameter, w.p. 90 psi, with  10 ½“ diam. driving wheels. Boiler feed is by twin axle pump on the tender centre axle via braided pvc hose couplings, and injector.

The model was bought without a boiler certificate but happily it passed both hydraulic and steam tests allowing it to run straight away. This proved not to be straight forward, as despite having serviced all the clacks, the tender feed pump clack developed a habit of sticking open, the steam flowing back along the pipe melting the original braided pvc hose, and enveloping the driver in steam.

The clack received attention and now seals properly; an in-line clack was fitted as a backup, and the pvc hose replaced with stainless steel braided rubber hose. Other than these problems the engine ran like a dream. This first article shows the model in some detail. Part two is about the joy of owning it.