Early Technology: Important Daniel Gooch Working Model

An important early contemporary model of the 'Firefly' class of steam engine almost certainly dating from the 1840s. (Note the lack of wheel rims. The 'dribblers' I have seen from the 1860s onwards have had wheel rims). Although this looks like a toy train, the first 'toy trains' were not made for children, but were made as miniature working demonstration models. This beautiful example must be one of the earliest model railway engines ever made. The Firefly class of railway engine was the first designed by Daniel Gooch for the broad gauge Great Western Railway (London to Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel) and introduced in 1840. The Firefly engines (based on Stephenson's 'North Star' already owned by the Great Western Railway then still under construction), were the first railway engines in the world to be standardised in their components. Contractors were provided with detailed drawings and written instructions by Daniel Gooch to this end. By 1842 they were the fastest in the world, with speeds exceeding fifty miles per hour commonplace. This working model with the boiler filled with water was heated by inserting a round hot iron slug like a goffering iron to heat it. (Another strong indication of its very easrly date. Later working models used sprit burners). Working railway engine models pre 1850 are extremely scarce, to put it mildly. I doubt whether a dozen examples exist, though I can't prove this. However in over thirty years I have yet to see another either in a collection or at auction that I can recall, so they have to be very rare.

I have had my eye on this piece for many years but it was never for sale until now. I had to wait for the owner to grow old before I could persuade him to part with it. It is however the very essence of what 'Early Technology' is about. I don't expect to find another. Length with tender 17.375" (44 cm) width 3.25" (8.2 cm) height 5.125" (13 cm) Construction: I am uncertain about this. It has a wonderful patina and this confuses me. I don't think it is brass, I think it is made of gun metal. Condition: totally original and untouched apart from one missing pin on one piston link replaced (rather crudely), with copper wire.

Important Daniel Gooch Working Model

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