At work, Hercules !

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

This steam locomotive was named Hercules. By 1840, one of these projects of railways so new on British land was to link Birmingham to Bristol, despite the difficulties accounted for the slopes to climb on this course. The promoter was the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Company, and the designer of Hercules was an American from Philadelphia, William Norris. As it can be seen, at that time the international industrial relations were already active.

What Bonhams sells on July 19 at Henley under number 470 is a scale model of Hercules, with a purpose of commercial demonstration: it is assumed that it was used to convince promoters to use this model.

Our mini Hercules has all the features of the full size locomotive, as evidenced by the detailed catalogue, and could probably operate. It is so pretty with its six wheels (four small in front, and two large behind), its boilers and its high chimney. Its length is 63 cm.

At that time, there were just over ten years since the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company made the triumph of the Rocket of Stephenson. Its belonging in the key period of the industrial revolution makes me classify it with objects of science and technology, but it has aroused the enthusiasm of the head of Toys staff at Bonhams. It is estimated 15 K£.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Hercules has not been sold. It is surprising that a witness of the development of railways has not attracted amateurs. Indeed, the price seemed reasonable, especially when we see at what level can mount much more recent models that are no more than toys.

It is possible that its condition, with wear spots, has not been quite satisfactory.