17 May 2013
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Special Auction Services holds first ever spring train auction
Sale hailed as a success by model railways specialist Hugo Marsh. ...
Special Auction Services’ model railways specialist Hugo Marsh was “dead chuffed” with the auctioneer’s first ever dedicated train sale in spring. Although the auction house has developed a superb reputation for selling quality items in its Trains Galore extravaganza - held in December - a huge “tidal wave of interest” resulted in an extra train-only sale.
“Well, I have to say we were dead chuffed,” Hugo told us. “We’ve developed a great reputation, thanks to the Trains Galore auctions, and demand from collectors meant that we decided to hold a trains-only sale in the spring too. Thankfully it was a huge success and overall it was very buoyant, with almost every lot selling.
“There were no weak spots in the sale and even the modern gauge one lots flew out of the auction room! In particular I continue to be amazed by how well modern Bachmann pieces do. Plus, the kit built section was also extremely popular which is good because in the next sale we’ll have twice as many kit built items from the same vendor. This particular collector went out to find the very best people to build the very best models and the quality is superb.
“After the success of this auction, I definitely think we’ll consider putting on another special trains sale. From my point of view, it’s just lovely to see amazing trains all the time. What’s more, collecting model trains is popular throughout the world and we have a lot of interest from collectors abroad, along with plenty in the UK.”
The star lot was a five inch gauge finely-engineered model of the GWR County Class 4-4-0 locomotive and tender No. 3822 ‘County of Brecon’ built by D. G. Sutcliffe. It featured a brazed superheated copper boiler with fittings including water and pressure gauges, safety, blower, twin injector, whistle, clack and blowdown valves.
Chassis details included twin outside cylinders with inside Stephenson’s link reverse and rocking levers, fluted connecting and coupling rods, cab-operated draincocks, mechanical lubricator, two injectors, whistle, brake and sanding gear, working leaf springs, rivet details, glazed cab windows and wooden cab floor. Originally estimated at £4,000-6,000, it flew to £10,000! Hugo noted the model had sold at Christie’s for £5,000 a few years ago, so it’s doubled in value in a relatively short space of time – not a bad investment.
“Well, I have to say we were dead chuffed,” Hugo told us. “We’ve developed a great reputation, thanks to the Trains Galore auctions, and demand from collectors meant that we decided to hold a trains-only sale in the spring too. Thankfully it was a huge success and overall it was very buoyant, with almost every lot selling.
“There were no weak spots in the sale and even the modern gauge one lots flew out of the auction room! In particular I continue to be amazed by how well modern Bachmann pieces do. Plus, the kit built section was also extremely popular which is good because in the next sale we’ll have twice as many kit built items from the same vendor. This particular collector went out to find the very best people to build the very best models and the quality is superb.
“After the success of this auction, I definitely think we’ll consider putting on another special trains sale. From my point of view, it’s just lovely to see amazing trains all the time. What’s more, collecting model trains is popular throughout the world and we have a lot of interest from collectors abroad, along with plenty in the UK.”
The star lot was a five inch gauge finely-engineered model of the GWR County Class 4-4-0 locomotive and tender No. 3822 ‘County of Brecon’ built by D. G. Sutcliffe. It featured a brazed superheated copper boiler with fittings including water and pressure gauges, safety, blower, twin injector, whistle, clack and blowdown valves.
Chassis details included twin outside cylinders with inside Stephenson’s link reverse and rocking levers, fluted connecting and coupling rods, cab-operated draincocks, mechanical lubricator, two injectors, whistle, brake and sanding gear, working leaf springs, rivet details, glazed cab windows and wooden cab floor. Originally estimated at £4,000-6,000, it flew to £10,000! Hugo noted the model had sold at Christie’s for £5,000 a few years ago, so it’s doubled in value in a relatively short space of time – not a bad investment.
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