Accucraft UK -  Presents the iconic South African ‘Lawley’ 4-4-0 of the first 2′ gauge railway in Southern Africa began in 1892. This was the 370-kilometre long (230-mile) line of the narrow-gauge Beira Railway which eventually stretched from Beira in Mozambique to Umtali across the Rhodesian border. The border was reached in October 1897 and the full line to Umtali was opened to traffic on 4 February 1898. The work was undertaken by Pauling and Company and was subcontracted to Alfred Lawley.
 
Between 1895 and 1898, the Beira Railway ordered 42 Falcon type F2 and F4 4-4-0 tender locomotives, supplied in six batches by Falcon Engine and Car Works Limited in England and the Glasgow Railway Engineering Company in Scotland. In service, these locomotives were soon nicknamed ‘Lawleys’, after the Beira Railway construction subcontractor. The batches varied slightly in style, the first of the Falcon F2 loco­motives differed from later models of its class by having a cab with two rectangular louvred cab windows on each side and a dome fitted with a Salter safety valve. The locomotive was delivered by Falcon in 1895 and was numbered BR4. The next five F2 locomotives were also delivered in 1895, numbered in the range from BR5 to BR9. They differed in appearance from the first F2 locomotive by having larger single cab windows.
 
The museum quality model is internally gas fired and is gauge adjustable for either 32mm (‘0’ gauge) or 45mm (‘1’ gauge) – all the parts for this are supplied with the model. This operation can be undertaken by the owner and only takes a few minutes. The cab roof lifts up to give access to the water and lubricator fillers. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge, pressure gauge and the lubricator has an under floor drain, the gas tank is in a water bath in the tender. The model is fitted with slide valves, functioning Stephenson valve gear and is built from stainless steel, copper and brass and will be supplied with both single and double-skinned cab roofs as well as a choice of glazed or louvred cab windows. We would like to thank David Fletcher for the superb drawings.
 
For international orders,  please contact us at sales@accucraft.com.