I hope my sneak preview was not too titillating - you may be a little disappointed. The truth is, I am quite vocal about kit building over on Wright writes, but every self-imposed rule is, well, made to be broken, or at least ignored. Particularly if there is a good reason for doing so.

So with no more ado, let me introduce Jubilee Class 45688 Polyphemus.

My family history during the past 100 years has not been particularly unusual, but when my stepfather died two years ago, his widow was left just about all his estate even though this was arguably a result of my father and mother’s efforts. Estate planners take note! Please understand that I am not at all bitter about this state of affairs, but there were certain artifacts and mementos that I would like to have handed down, at least to give my own children and grandchildren. As it is, such items disappeared a long time ago. Which I find quite sad.

So the small inheritance that did come my way enabled me to pass on a gift to my children, with the recommendation that the funds be used on something that could become a future heirloom. The rest I decided to spend on a similar potential heirloom and the result in Polyphemus.

It is a Lee Marsh 7mm Finescale model of one of the Bushbury Jubilees that hauled the Wolverhampton - Birmingham - London two hour expresses during the mid-1950s. It is a museum grade piece of model engineering but very much a runner as well, with DCC and sound.

Polyphemus was a regular at New Street Station on The Midlander, the top link named train to Euston. The term “two hour express” actually means the journey from Birmingham to London with a stop at Coventry. Some trains had an additional stop at Northampton, meaning a slight deviation from the West Coast Main Line.

The Bushbury Jubilees always looked good - they were the pride of the north Wolverhampton shed at the time and always appeared at New Street looking clean and worthy of their role. The number of coaches varied according to demand and some of the heavier turns (Friday evening out of Euston, for example) were double headed with a Black 5, occasionally a Midland Compound, up front. But there is one timed run from Euston to Coventry behind Polyphemus which has been written into history.

The timed run out of Euston was tabled at 94 minutes for the 94 miles to Coventry. Polyphemus had a load of 293 tons tare behind the tender, typical for the run (double heading was used when additional coaches were added).

The first 5.4 miles up Camden Bank to Willesden was scheduled for 9 minutes from a standing start. This was apparently nigh impossible to achieve, but Polyphemus made the climb in a very respectable 9 minutes 22 seconds. A signal check at Bushey before Watford Junction made the timekeeping look bleak but there was worse as the stop took place just before the water troughs which needed to be crossed at speed. The acceleration was reported to be phenomenal and indeed it was and the tender was filled.

From then on the engine was worked hard to make up time and actually arrived in Coventry in under 85 minutes, nine minutes early. Top speed was around 85 miles per hour.

Another occasion, an up express with 14 on was double headed by 45688 and Black 5 45071 which covered the 94 miles from Coventry to Euston in 86 minutes despite speed restrictions at Rugby and Willesden. Top speed recorded was also 85 mph.

These are representative timings that represent clear runs with only minor signal checks. I have read that at the time the London-Birmingham timings were some of the best and most consistent on British Railways. They were nearly always hauled by Jubilees.

Interesting that an author who worked at Monument Lane has written that Polyphemus was a “poor steamer”. It is well known that there was a great deal of animosity/rivalry between the two sheds, so I take that comment with a pinch of salt. Actions speak louder than words.

So Polyphemus is now the top link representative at Legge Lane. Its name comes from a number of ex-LNWR locos that were given names from Greek mythology "so that young trainspotters could get a supplement to their education". Polyphemus was related to Galatea, one of the four Jubilees to be preserved.

Finally, Philip Hawkins has painted Polyphemus entering New Street Station with a down Midlander at the about the time I used to camp out all day on the eastern end of Platform 7. The print is available here and I have a framed copy over my work bench.

So there you have it!