Patrick Stirling designed his original single in 1870 after he moved to the Great Northern Railway in 1866. At that time new engines were required for the many new routes that were being opened up. Stirling built his single engines for speed and power, which could handle the continuous gradients on the main London to York GNR line, and compete against the Midland Railway and L&NWR in the ‘Races to the North’.

A product of these races were the famous Stirling Singles. These were elegant 4-2-2 engines with eight-foot driving wheels, and domeless boilers. These popular engines regularly set speed records in the races of 1888 and 1895. None survived into regular LNER stock, although Stirling Single No.1 is now a part of the National Collection at the National Railway Museum in York. Dave Honey’s fine model is in 5” gauge, photographed at Alexandra Palace and Sandown Park where it was awarded the Charles Kennion Trophy. It is of loco no 33 and includes features added during its lifetime. It was  originally numbered 66, built  in 1871.

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Editor: David Carpenter