On the right track...

The UK Toy and Model Auctions’ October sale yielded much  interest to the railway and diecast collector. Indeed, the scope of the latter category was huge, with many pre-war and post-war desirables up for grabs.

In terms of railway collectables, the big O gauge names of Bassett Lowke and Hornby stole the show; and if you were not bothered by totally original paintwork, then bargains were to be had. A Bassett Lowke electric Prince Charles Loco and tender, finished in BR blue, No. 62078, exhibited some touching up, and came with a repainted cab roof. Described as good plus in its original box, this model ran out of steam £150, somewhat below its lower estimate.

Another train from the same stable was a BR green O Gauge Princess Class Loco and tender “Princess Royal” No. 46200. Coming boxed and in mint condition it reached the top end of its estimate selling for £360.

An electric Bassett Lowke Compound Loco and tender, numbered 1190, which had been repainted in maroon sold for just £80 whilst a clockwork version of the same model, showing some touch-up paint, fell under the hammer at £95. Both of these came with reproduction boxes.

As for Hornby, two clockwork models did rather better: the No 2 Special Bramham Moor with tender, with touched-up paintwork, made £130 (against an estimate of £300) whilst a No 3 Nord, in a similar state, realised £150, nudging its upper guideline price.

In the smaller gauge there was much by Wrenn (including a W2242 4-6-2 Coronation Class LMS maroon City of Liverpool example. This was in excellent condition and in a good box. Its guide of £60-90 was quickly passed, and the loco sold for a creditable £140. Elsewhere, a Graham Farish/PECO collection of N gauge rolling stock did rather well. If you needed 68 (!) goods wagons (48 of which were boxed) and nine passenger coaches, then this was your lucky day. The guide of £150-200 was left in the sidings, with the huge lot being knocked down for £380.

On the diecast front, a couple of Dinky (Hong Kong) models cropped up in the sale. These are increasingly hard to find now, and fatigue can also be a problem. The auction’s 57/002 Corvair Monza was finished with a red body and black roof, with an off white interior. In excellent plus condition (save some light marks to the roof), it came in an excellent box. Estimated at £70-100, it achieved £95. It was partnered with 57/004, an Oldsmobile 88, which raced away to make £180, well over its estimate. This vehicle sported white paintwork with a blue roof and red interior. Its box was also excellent.

Also of note was the Dinky 961 Swiss Postal Bus. This is an impressive model with an orange body, cream roof, dark blue interior and PTT labels. In good plus to excellent condition, with a good box, it rolled off to make £120, a little over its upper estimate of £100.

And surprises? Well, the Dinky 959 Foden Dump Truck models with bulldozer blade caught a few out. Both were estimated at £100-150, but the model finished with a red cab, silver tipper body and chassis and featuring red hubs clearly captivated the audience, for it reached an excellent price of £240. A yellow-hubbed sibling, in equally good condition, also did well, achieving £190.

As we are talking about construction vehicles, a Dinky 972 20-ton Coles lorry with a mounted crane, is worth a brief mention. When the hammer finally fell this mint condition red and orange model sold for over twice the initial estimate, at an impressive £260.

UK Toy and Model Auctions will hold their next sale on 6th March 2017