Locomotives Sell Well at Special Auction Services

A Hornby series 0 gauge clockwork engine with accessories was one of the highlights at the Special Auction Services, Toys for the Collector sale on 6th September. It was joined by a number of decent railway lots, alongside some diecast treats as well.

The clockwork loco set included No 2 LMS maroon, 4-4-4 tank engine No. 2051, LNER 1st/3rd classic four-wheel coach with six opening doors and Pullman coach ‘Ansonia’ with eight opening doors, rolling stock with open axles, Redline tanker, LMS open truck, LNER red cement wagon and NE cattle wagon with quantity of track. Originally estimated at £150-200, it realised just over its top end at £210.

Meanwhile there might have been something fishy going on with a number of OO gauge unboxed vans by various makers including Hornby, Tri-ang, Wrenn, Lima, Grafar and G-VG. Several of the vans had been repainted to represent different fishing companies, including Findus, Young’s and North Sea Fish – let’s just hope the re-painter didn’t try to make them smell like Grimsby docks for added realism! Still, despite the fact that some were weathered, they exceed their estimate to sell for £170.

Meanwhile, off the tracks, Dinky cars proved to be extremely popular too, with several lots from the famous manufacturer exceeding their estimates. A fine example was lot 30: Dinky Toys F1 Racing Cars, including 230 Talbot-Lago, 231 Maserati, 232 Alfa Romeo and 239 Vanwall. All came in their original yellow picture boxes and were classed as being in very good/excellent condition. As a result they cruised past the £80-120 estimate to realise £240.

What’s more, it wasn’t just the models themselves that proved a hit and a collection of empty boxes also raised some interest. The original boxes for a selection of cars including 108 MG Midget coded red, 109 Austin-Healy sports coded cream and seven more, sold for an impressive £290.