Delivery planned for March 2024
Believed to be the fourth of the 1864 'Small England' class Palmerston was the first to be rebuilt into it's current form with saddle tank and cab in 1888. The engine was thoroughly rebuilt in 1910, but was in poor condition by late 1930s and considered beyond restoration in the early preservation era. Purchased privately from the FR restoration started in 1974, progressing slowly until with a new boiler, cylinders and wheels, Palmerston was returned to service in 1993.
Palmerston is a well traveled locomotive having been hired for the construction of the NWNGR/WHR and assisting on the Vale of Rheidol line on several occasions. Since 1993 Palmerston has visited the Chemin de Fer des Chanteraines (Paris), Hollycombe (Sussex), Teifi Railway, progressively re-opening the WHR, National Railway Museum (York), Hollycombe Steam Collection (West Sussex), Llangollen Railway (on a temporary track), Kings Cross Station (London) and Bala Lake Railway. So there's good reason for Palmerston to be arriving on any narrow gauge layout!
Produced by Kato in Japan these models feature very fine detailing and engineering, the diecast chassis unit, boosted by using the saddle tank to accommodate as much weight as possible, surrounds a motor and flywheel combination designed for smooth running even at slow speeds.