OO GAUGE WESTWARD 0-6-0 WHITE METAL KIT SOUTHERN CLASS 700

WESTWARD WHITE METAL KIT
4mm Scale "OO" GAUGE 
CLASS 700 -- 0-6-0 -- No. 688 
BUILT TO RUN ON THE SOUTHERN REGION

ONCE COMPLETED THE MODEL WAS PAINTED BLACK WITH A SOUTHERN GREEN LINING AND GOLD "SOUTHERN - No.688" ON THE TENDER. WHILE MANY MODELLERS I'M SURE WOULD PREFER TO WEATHER THEIR MODELS I DO ENJOY TO SEE THE DETAILED CAB INTERIOR INCLUDES DRIVER AND FIREMAN AND OTHER INTRICATE DETAILS WHICH WERE TYPICAL OF MY FATHERS WORK.

THE TENDER IS FULL OF COAL AND HAS HANDMADE TOOLS LAID OUT ON THE TOP TOO. 

PREDOMINATELY A FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVE THE 700 CLASS WAS BUILT IN GLASGOW FOR THE LSWR (SR), WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE EXTENSIVE MARSHALLING YARDS OF EASTLEIGH AND FELTHAM (OUR HOMETOWN) AND THIS MODEL WAS THE FIRST OF THIS CLASS TO BE WITHDRAWN BY BR IN 1957 FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT AT STAINES.

"On 9 August 1957, locomotive No 30688 was in a head-on collision with a train formed of two electric multiple units at Staines, Middlesex after the latter departed against a danger signal". 

The locomotive was the first of it's class to be withdrawn a month after it's accident. Sadly none of the class were saved for preservation and while Hornby made a version of this loco it's not a patch on the WESTWARD KIT version Dad built. 

At this stage the model was in excellent condition despite being stored in its original box for the past 20+ years. I wish I could have kept them all he made some wonderful models and the lucky people who now have some of these I really hope they are enjoying them and giving them plenty of run time.