Gerry writes: Katie is scratchbuilt from plasticard on a Hornby “Ben” chassis to a scale of 1:24. The boiler uses 25mm diameter electrical tubing - £1 from B&Q for 2 metres (enough for a lifetime’s scratchbuilding). The dome is from Alan Gibson. The whistle, gauge glasses, tools and Roscoe lubricator are 7mm scale items and were picked up at local exhibitions.

Photographs © Gerry Balding

I used the plans in the Smithers’ book on Heywood. Other information was taken from my photographs of Ursula when it visited the Bure Valley Railway in 1999 and 2000 (I used to be a volunteer guard on the line).

I had great fun building it and am pleased with the final result.

Over the holiday (Gerry sent these pictures in over Christmas - I’ve got a little behind, as it were) I have been getting some track down on a 4’x1’ baseboard as the start of a small Heywood type shunting layout. I now have something to run the stock on so this will give me an incentive to get it finished.

I’ve seen it in the flesh and even these excellent photos don’t do it justice - EH