The real thing: Dick Blenkinsop photographed 45546 'Fleetwood' at Whitemore, south of Crewe with an up express on 3rd August 1957. © Dick Blenkinsop


the model - Finished example of a 7mm scale Patriot kit, 45509 The Derbyshire Yeomanry, by David Andrews


the detail - Close up of part of the Patriot model - amazing valve gear detail; even the brass oilers on the running board are accurately reproduced. "I get these tiny detailed components made in the Birmingham jewellery quarter," David Andrews comments

Those in the know realise of course, that none of the 52 LMS three-cylinder Patriot class 4-6-0s survived the cutter's torch but there is a project to build one from new.  Work has already started and the 'new' Patriot will be given the British Railways number 45551 the last of the class to be built in 1934. This engine was unnamed but the new one will receive the name The Unknown Warrior. Many of the original Patriots had forces connections, being named after regiments. So what's the connection with the Cotswold Festival of Steam?

Firstly, the LMS Patriot Project, which is based at the Llangollen Railway, will have a stand at Toddington just on Sunday 25th May.  That day, the well-known photographer Dick Blenkinsop will be visiting and there will be a display of his photographs on the stand and this black-and-white picture is an example of his work. You can visit the Patriot Project website here http://www.lms-patriot.org.uk/. Or better still, visit the stand and have a chat with GWR volunteer and LMS-Patriot Project Director, Andrew Laws. The Patriot Project - the first LMS new build project - will be promoting its newly launched Frames Appeal that will hopefully raise £48,000 for the first major component for the locomotive.  Prints of Dick Blenkinsop's photographs will be available on the day in aid of the Patriot project.

At the opposite end of the Railway, at Cheltenham Race Course station, local 7mm (gauge '0') model kit provider will have some examples of his work alongside the work of artist Frederick Lea GRA. Considerable detail is possible of course, when modelling in this scale - as the photographs illustrate. David Andrews has a website where there are many photographs of his models: http://locomotivekits.com/ while you can visit Fred Lea's website here www.fclea.co.uk. The GWR is very grateful for the support for the Festival from both David and Frederick.