RAILWAYANA

Single collection sets tills ringing

FIVE nameplates from a single collection comprising four GWR examples and a Standard Britannia set the tills ringing at GW Railwayana’s sale at Pershore on July 14, with hammer prices ranging from £3700 to £11,900.

The five-figure realisation was for St. Mawes Castle from No. 5018, which emerged from Swindon works in August 1932 and was withdrawn from Reading (81D) in March 1964. It was the first time either of the locomotive’s nameplates had come up for auction.

Following in the 4-6-0’s wake at £9500 was Charles Dickens from Britannia No. 70033, a December 1952 Crewe product that was withdrawn from Carlisle Kingmoor (12A) in July 1967, its service life of fewer than 15 years contrasting sharply with the Castle’s career of nearly 32 years.

The collection’s next success was carried by 1939-built, 1965-withdrawn No. 7814 (£6000), and finally (No. 1023) and (No. 7919), at £5800 and £3700, respectively. The County’s cabside numberplate sold immediately after