A COAL-FIRED model of an American fire-fighting engine was one of the highlights at Egham and Staines Model Railway Society exhibition on Saturday.
The model, the only one of its kind in Britain, was built by Mr. Jack Davis, of Ayebridges Avenue, Egham. It was one of the many steam locomotives displayed on the stage at the Literary Institute, Egham.
Mr. Davis, a member of the Bracknell Railway Society, said the model, which took him eight years to make, is a reproduction of an engine built in 1885.
“Many of these early American trains were wood burning, and threw out more sparks than the coal fired engines,” he said.
“Because these early engines were fairly slow, they were often used by fire brigades as a means to get to fires quickly.”
COW-CATCHERS
Bracknell Society also supplied an American Wild West lay-out, complete with cowboys, trains with cow-catchers on the front, and store—or depot—to use the American term.
Another popular lay-out was a 1930s Great Western line, exhibited by Northolt Railway Society.
One of the main features of this lay-out was a viaduct, constructed by members to a design by the Victorian engineer, Brunel.
Mr. Clarke said viaducts were typical of the Great Western lines, especially in Devon and Cornwall.
“These viaducts were made of wood, with brick and stone piers, and each piece of the trestling could be removed without removing any of the other pieces.”
Another feature of the lay-out was a model of a bridge under construction, complete with miniature workmen and their tools.
Mr. Clarke said that one of the difficulties when building a lay-out was to catch the clutter of a station.
“Most situations have old …