THIS magnificent model locomotive is E R Calthrop of the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway, named after the man who built the rural Derbyshire railway. The 5 in. model was completed recently by J B Holdsworth and was photographed at the last Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition arguably the best place to go to see top notch loco models.

Two of these ‘Colonial’ looking locos were built for the line by Kitsons, with large cabs and large searchlights, no doubt influenced by Calthrop’s earlier experience building the Barsi Railway in India in 1897. The locos were named after Calthrop and his resident engineer J B Earle.

Calthrop decreed that a five ton axle weight limit of five tons should be strictly adhered to so that light weight track work could be used. To maximize capacity he specified that the rolling stock should be of the largest possible size. Calthrop is also credited with introducing ‘rail inclination’ an almost unheard of technical innovation, but later to become common practice. The idea is that by ‘tilting’ the running rail a few degrees, frictional wear to the wheels is reduced.

The overall length was 29ft 2in. and they were 9ft 10in. high and weighed 26 tons 16cwts. Tractive effort rating was 9,790lb. Water carrying capacity was 600 gallons and bunkers had a coal capacity of one ton.

The engines began working life coloured chocolate, lined gold and black - a most attractive design as can be seen in the beautifully finished model. The livery later became maroon with yellow and black lining, and finally plain black.

The line ran four impressive passenger coaches, two first class and two brake composite third class. Entrance to the coaches was by open veranda ends in ‘Wild West’ style. Other rolling stock on the line comprised a box van for carrying goods in, two open wagons, which could be covered over, often doubling as passenger carrying vehicles and five specially developed so-called ‘trans-porter’ wagons.

This was a most delightful little railway and there is an excellent website at http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/ which includes some good video footage.