I am trying to locate my grandfather’s steam locomotive, which he sold in 1970. It’s a challenging task, but here’s what I know: it was purchased by Walter Harper, who owned and operated the Oakhill Manor miniature railway near Bath. This information came to light when he replied to an advertisement my mother placed in the 1990 January/February issue of Model Engineer magazine, inquiring about its location. Regrettably, he declined to allow my mother to visit and view the locomotive.

This marks our first genuine effort to find the locomotive since learning that Walter acquired it, and it would mean everything to my mother to locate it.

I am open to any advice or insights—perhaps contacts with collectors or workshops it may have passed through. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The locomotive is described in the original sales document, which we still possess, as follows:

“For sale. One 1/8th scale model of Metre gauge 2-8-2 superheated oil fired tender locomotive, manufactured in Canada and supplied under lease and lend to Iraq during the second world war to expedite supplies to Russia. The Model is exactly to scale in all details and complete in all respect except for the oil fuel burner and firepit. The gauge is approximately 5 inches. The boiler has been hydraulically tested, but has not been subjected to steam test. The locomotive has been run on compressed air supplied from a portable compressor via a long hose. Also included are 400 yards of aluminium alloy flat bottom rail to make up into 200 yards of track. Photographs can be supplied and the model can be seen at Pudding Pie Nook Farm, Pudding Pie Nook Lane, Goosnargh, Nr. Preston, Lanes. Offers above £350 will be considered?”

Many thanks in advance