The mug wraps around a detailed side-elevation of a garden-gauge live-steam locomotive mid-run, rendered in gouache on what looks like cream drafting linen. The boiler casing sits in deep slate blue, the brass dome and safety-valve housing carry a convincing patina, and the copper boiler bands catch the light just right. Wheel spokes dissolve into near-black shadow, a tiny pressure gauge face sits on the footplate painted with real care, and a coal scuttle tucks under the cab. Tucked into the corners are a brass pressure gauge, a track-gauge measuring tool, and a checkered lap flag. Running along the edges is a fictional-but-plausible meet-day results table — loco names, drivers, handicap gradients, coal consumption — alongside a circuit survey diagram with gradient percentages and cant measurements. One steward's annotation reads 'BOILER PRESSURE QUERIED — RECHECK PENDING'. It's a lot to look at, and that's kind of the point.
This one is squarely aimed at people who already know what drawbar pull ratings and ruling grades mean. If you run timed point-to-point meets on your garden railway, argue about coal-consumption scoring over lunch, and own at least one track-gauge measuring tool, you'll clock every detail here as real. It's also just a genuinely nice piece of 1950s technical illustration style if that aesthetic is your thing, no hobby knowledge required.
Available in 11oz and 15oz. Both sizes are dishwasher safe and microwave safe.
