We have recently been gifted three model trains, hand made by a local man; Mr William George Baigent.
‘Bill’ was born 11 January 1910 at the Mount Cottages, Knockholt near Sevenoaks. He served in the army and later returned to Sevenoaks where he worked in the TV and Radio repair business and had a shop in St Johns, Sevenoaks for several years.
After discharge from the Tank Corps he worked as an engineer on Indian Railways for 4 years until 1936. His love of railways continued throughout his life with model railways in the garden shed and second bedroom.
He worked for several years at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex as a part time volunteer engineer.
The model trains were painstakingly made from flat sheet metal, cut out, painted and shaped.
The largest of these models is based on the Sir Frederick Pile locomotive built in 1947 and named after a senior British Army Officer who served in both world wars.
The second largest model is based on a 0-6-0 R class 124 shunting locomotive.
The last model is an oil tank (Not pictured).
