It’s a one-horse race as Canadian Pacific gallops ahead at Stoneleigh auction
IN what was a clear one-horse race at Great Central’s March 2 Stoneleigh auction, Southern Railway Merchant Navy nameplate Canadian Pacific – considered by many collectors to be the best name in the class due to its railway connotations – went under Mike Soden’s hammer for £40,000.
The battle for the plate, from preserved Pacific No. 35005, was played out in a packed hall between three bidders – one on commission, a second on the telephone, and the third in the room. The commission bidder was the first to drop out, and then the telephone bidder admitted defeat, leaving the bidder in the hall to take the spoils.
There was not so much clear daylight as a wide chasm between this plate and the runner-up, Kittiwake from LNERdesigned, BR-built, A1 Pacific No. 60120, at £9400 one of a closely-matched group that also comprised Hogue from LMS Jubilee No. 45683, which went for £8800; Bideford with West Country Class scroll from No. 34019 (£8600); and Freshford Manor from GWR No. 7813 (£7800), meaning that each of the Big Four featured in this tightly-knit ensemble.
Not far behind came from SR from D49 No. 62722 and from B17 No. 61609. Bringing up the rear was from GWR Bulldog No. 3406 (£4700).
