The universally admired designer of model locomotives is Keith Wilson, even by other designers, who are not always generous in their praise of others. His Bulldog/Dukedog is one of the all-time greats and his other GW designs including the Dean goods, Saint, and the GW mogul and 4700 2-8-0 available from GLR Distributors. In recent times he turned his attention to something much larger.  Lillian and Gwrillian (a Welsh version) narrow gauge locomotives in 7 1/4 inch gauge.

It was a pleasure to see the first completed Lillian at the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition in 2010, built by Ron Miller - our Model of the Week. Many will have followed Keith’s words and music over the years, knowing full well that it would be a great engine, based on the dozens he designed and built previously, especially in the larger gauges.

Having seen the first completed Lillian no-one will have been disappointed.

Lillian should not be confused with the full size narrow gauge Hunslet loco of the same name on the Launceston Steam Railway. Keith’s Lillian is based on a 1918 Kerr Stuart prototype with some mods in the direction of Keith’s beloved GWR, such as a GW type copper capped chimney. It was inspired by the late Larry Barker’s model of the Kerr Stuart and his drawings of the original were made available to Keith. 

Keith encouraged builders with average workshops to build one with the advice that you could machine the wheels on a Myford 3.5inch lathe by attaching them to a faceplate. In fact the heaviest piece of machining is probably the connecting rods. But petit and bijou it is not. Weight is around 750lbs. Couple that with a tender and driver of around 500lbs and adhesion will never be a problem.