‘I loved building them and putting them on display – it’s a wrench parting with them but I think the time is right now’
A treasure trove of rare model railway collectables is set to go under the hammer, after its owner reluctantly sent them down the tracks to a Beverley auction house. Brough locomotive enthusiast Chris Platt, 83, has taken a lifetime to build his huge collection of model steam trains, that together tell a remarkable story of British railway heritage.
Now feeling he “doesn’t have the capability” to work on them, he has reluctantly decided to auction off the impressive and rare collection. It will go under the hammer at Hawleys Antiques and Fine Art Auction at Beverley Racecourse this weekend, November 22 and 23, with the 24 lots estimated to sell for more than £10,000.
Chris first became fascinated in the hobby as a boy, watching the trains at Goole Docks with his dad, who was co-owner of Platt and Featherstone Builders in Goole. He would look out for the freight trains passing over the old Ouse railway bridge.
He went on to build model trains from kits by brands such as Hornby and then to more skilful, to-scale modelling work. At home in Brough he has had railway tracks going through the shed, the garage, around the garden and the fish pond, complete with stations, rolling stock, trackside accessories and model train crew, firemen, station masters, and passengers.
He said: “I loved building them and putting them on display, not so much running them but I had a friend who would come over and spend hours doing that with me. I have been a collector all my life, joined railway clubs and travelled to exhibitions with friends. It’s been a joy.
“It’s the romance of steam. We designed and built the first one in this country. And we did that with so many inventions that have been successful all over the world. That’s quite a heritage.
“I am fortunate to have a supportive and understanding wife. Though Sue did set limits on how far the track extended – I wasn’t allowed to take it all around the fish pond!
“It’s a wrench parting with them but I think the time is right now. At my age I no longer have the capability or dexterity to work on them.”
Among the 16 model locomotives for sale are several collectable, single-owner Finescale 0 Gauge Locomotives and Tenders by Lee Marsh Models, complete with original boxes, lined livery, tool sets and small fittings plus DCC and sound. They are estimated at £800 to £1,200.
Chris said: “The locomotives were expensive to buy. As far as I know the Lee Marsh models were one-offs made for the individual customer and therefore unique. They are known for their meticulous craftmanship and historical accuracy. I like the attention to both internal and external detail and the fully working inside motion. The pistons actually move!”
Also estimated at the same price are models by Signature Railway Kits (John Firminger) and Heather Kavanagh, while other models range in price from £200 to £800.
Auctioneer Caroline Hawley said: “It is a fantastic collection and a testament to one man’s life work. I am excited and proud to sell it for Chris, though I know it will be a poignant experience for him.”
Now, after parting with his prized collection Chris is planning a trip away with Sue, to Carlisle – on a steam train. Also on sale at Hawleys Auction this weekend are two handcrafted Robert Thompson “Mouseman” refectory tables, which were once at the heart of the soon-to-close Moorlands Prep School in Leeds, which could fetch as much as £12,000 and £8,000, respectively.
The Hawleys auction opens for a preview day on Friday November 21, 10am to 8pm, with the auction taking place from 10am on Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23, with further previews on both mornings from 8am to 10am.