By the turn of the century, Bassett-Lowke had started commissioning tin-plate models of British prototypes from the German forms Bing and Carette; a Johnson single was an early addition to their catalogue. By the close of the Edwardian period, they were producing a range in Gauges 1 and 3 that, within the limits of technology and pricing, included instantly recognisable Midland engines, carriages, and wagons.
Pride of place in this early flowering of the hobby must go to Bassett-Lowke’s 3¼″ gauge live steam model of Smith-Johnson Compound No. 2631, produced c. 1904. Apart from the inauthentic name ‘Albion’ carried on a brass plate on the leading splasher, this could fairly claim to be one of the earliest truly finescale commercial model locomotives.
Layouts based on the Midland, or on ex-Midland lines in later days, have been pioneers for the advance of finescale modelling. One thinks of W.S. Norris’ O gauge layout of the 1950s, the Scalefour Society North London Group’s ‘Heckmondwike’ in the 1970s, Manchester Model Railway Society’s 2 mm finescale ‘Chee Tor’, in the 1980s, and the Warley Model Railway Club’s S7 ‘Ellerton Road’ – each setting new standards. In all scales and to all standards, layouts based on Midland or LMS/LMR Midland Division practice are often to be found featured in the pages of the model railway magazines.
Apart from the obvious attraction of the Midland, the popularity of modelling the Midland is made possible by the extensive availability of both ready-to-run models and kits. In 00, many of the locomotive classes of late Midland days are now available as RTR models, albeit often in LMS or BR condition – in 00, it is possible to create a reasonable representation of an ex-Midland line in later LMS or BR days using solely RTR locomotives, carriages, and wagons and RTP (ready-to-plonk) buildings. The plastic kits for wagons and carriages produced by Slaters and Ratio have provided an entry into Midland modelling for half a century, allowing the modeller to build up skills before moving on to more advanced kits.
The Midland has also become an accessible modelling subject through the wealth of prototype information that has been published over the years, much of it through the pioneering work of Bob Essery and David Jenkinson. Now, even more in the way of drawings, photographs, and operational documents is available through the Midland Railway Study Centre.
There has never been a better time to be Modelling the Midland!
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