Much like their rival locomotive builders, Peckett & Sons of Bristol had an excellent reputation for building effective industrial locomotives. Saddle tanks of various designs and gauges were their most popular. These varied from off-the-shelf established designs to bespoke creations for clients with more specialised needs.

One of these bespoke locomotives was Works No.1030. This 2’ gauge 0-4-0 was built in 1904 to the ‘Class 7in’ template for the Mendip Granite & Asphalt Co. Its unique features included a saddle tank, an open cab, and 7x10” cylinders.

Once completed, the engine was painted in Works Grey livery and named Cranmore. However, by the time it was delivered, it had received several modifications. These included an enclosed cab and brass name plates that displayed her new name, Gamecock. It was also repainted into Peckett’s Standard Green livery.

Even after its swift rename, the new design would forever be known as the Cranmore Class.

Peckett & Sons used the delivery of Gamecock in their advertising literature, showing it atop a wagon hauled by a traction engine. This photo was coupled with the caption ‘Small locomotive taken to destination by road’. Despite the modest distance of around 20 miles from the Bristol-based factory, it is still a respectable journey when you consider the standards of the roads of the day.

There was an agreement between local quarries that would give the Mendip Granite & Asphalt Company access to the GWR via a joint narrow gauge line. This meant the quarried stone could then be delivered further afield. The line connected to Cranmore Station near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, which is now the main station on the East Somerset Railway. Gamecock would reside here for many years.

Sadly, Gamecock was eventually consigned to the history books; however, the date it was scrapped remains a mystery.

Further Cranmore Class locos were built in small numbers and exported across the globe. Many of these would differ slightly from the original concept, with versions even having different gauges.

One such 2’ 6” gauge example survives in preservation at the spectacular Puffing Billy Railway in Melbourne, Australia.

The Rapido Trains UK highly detailed 009 Gauge rendition of the Peckett & Sons Cranmore Class 0-4-0ST will be available in a variety of liveries.

In addition to ‘Gamecock’, the range includes 8 colourful liveries that are either interpretations of well-known narrow gauge liveries or match some of the liveries from our 009 Kerr, Stuart & Co Sirdar ranges.

You will also be able to pre-order two exclusive versions from Fourdees Limited. These will be a Works Grey livered variant of ‘Cranmore’ in its as-built condition, and a Ffestiniog Railway-inspired Green livery.

All versions are available in both DCC-Ready and DCC-Fitted, and feature 6 wiper pick-ups and a small coreless motor with flywheel.

So that customisation and servicing your Cranmore Class is uncomplicated, the loco's removable body is held in place with 4 easily accessible screws; this also gives you access to the model’s 6-pin DCC socket.

Sourcing parts to customise models can often be challenging, so we have made it as simple as possible by including a detail bag full to the brim with interesting and easy-to-fit parts. With a huge number of combinations, we are sure you will have great fun personalising your models.

These detailed parts include dumb buffers, vacuum brake gear, a lubricator mounted to the chimney, and front steps.

• United Kingdom: £3.95, free over £50, 3–5 working days
• UK Express: £6.95, 1–2 working days
• Europe: £8.95, free over £150, 5–10 working days
• USA: £12.95, free over £150, 7–14 working days
• Canada: £13.95, free over £150, 7–14 working days
• Australia: £14.95, free over £150, 10–18 working days

Orders placed before 12:00 noon on a working day are typically dispatched the same day. Free Click and Collect is available from our stores in Beer, Devon and Edinburgh.

For full details see our Shipping Policy.