Manning Wardle supplied three identical locomotives to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in time for its opening in 1898 (at a cost of £1100 each). They were named "Yeo", "Exe" and "Taw", after local rivers. By 1913 the front windows (forward of the cab) had been removed, the roof moved back and the rear bunker enclosed. Also, the inspection flaps in the motion covers were removed and the opening enlarged. This scale model of these three fine locomotives depicts them in this final form.
When the Southern Railway took over in 1923, "Yeo", "Exe" and "Taw" became numbers E759, E760 and E761 respectively. The Southern also ordered another loco, "Lew" (number E188), from Manning Wardle which was delivered to the railway in 1925. Lew was very similar to the earlier machines, but had no bunker (and hence a straight back), and from the beginning had no windows forward of the cab and no motion cover.
These scale models are built to l6mm scale but are 'G' scale compatible. They will happily run round curves as sharp as 2'6".
The locos have internal gas firing and the smokebox door opens to aid lighting. The engines are fitted wîth radio control for speed and direction and both loco and transmitter have re-chargeable batteries. Many lost-wax brass castings such as cewcatchers, fully detailed sanding gear and buffer beams with all bolt head detail, enhance the engines.
Boilers are fitted wîth a large water filler turret in the cab, as well as a water level tap. The lubricator has an underfloor drain valve. These features enable the cab floor to be kept clean from oil and water. The water filler cap and the lubricator cap are knurled for ease of use.
AIthough these are scale models, they are strongly built to give hours of pleasure running in the garden.