R30287 United Glass Bottle Manufacturing Ltd, Pug, 0-4-0, No. 19 'Prince'

The diminutive Pug locomotive had its basis in the Pre-Grouping Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, with the locomotives being built in batches by their designer John Aspinall, his successor Henry Hoy, and his successor George Hughes.

The locomotives were designed as shunters for the Northern Region. Their small wheels and wheelbase made them ideal to negotiate the tight trackwork that is often found around docks. When the Grouping Act came into effect the locomotives were given the somewhat taunting power classification of 0F, such was their size and the specificity of their use.

No. 19 was built in the 1910 batch, the last such batch of the class built. After its career with the L&YR and then LMS the locomotive was sold to the Mowlem and Co civil engineering company and then to the United Glass Bottle Manufacturers. Whilst the locomotive was in service for the United Glass Bottle Manufacturers, it was bestowed with the name ‘Prince’ and an attractive maroon livery.

The locomotive is now preserved. By mid-2022, ‘Prince’ was fully restored to an operational status. No. 19 sported a new LMS Black livery and was renumbered as 11243 in early 2023 to mark the centenary of the LMS as part of the ‘Big Four’ Grouping. It is now in service on the East Lancashire Railway and is owned by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust.

Our model of this charming little locomotive has features somewhat restricted by its incredibly small size, a three-pole motor provides the power. Separately fitted details include whistles, a bell, and the boiler handrails.