THE HEARTBROKEN owner of Britain’s biggest model railway collection, stolen from premises in Perthshire, has appealed for its return, saying it represented 10 years of his late father’s life, writes Dave Lord.

Peter Stewart-Blacker was devastated by the theft, insisting the collection’s £50,000 monetary value is eclipsed by massive sentimental worth.

The models had been housed at the now closed Keathbank Mill attraction in Blairgowrie.

“The collection was basically my father’s last big project,” Mr Stewart-Blacker said last night. “He died seven years ago and the models represented 10 years of his life.”

Mr Stewart-Blacker believes the equipment could have been stolen to order.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman gave details of the theft.

“The trains, which were contained in cardboard boxes, were stolen from the Art Enterprises gift shop sometime between the end of January and 8 am on Friday, March 11,” she said.

“Included in the haul are 16 green locomotives, 60 green coal wagons, 60 cream and brown coloured goods wagons, 11 Cornish Riviera carriages, 11 Royal Mail carriages, and two other sets of 11 carriages.”

The trains, which are all hand made in metal, are electrically powered.

“They form part of one of the largest model collections in the UK and are of great sentimental value to the owner,” the police spokesman said.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the stolen equipment is urged to contact police in Perth on 01738 621141.

Mr Stewart-Blacker said the only part of his father’s meticulous collection remaining was a solitary coal wagon.

“We are not sure when the trains were taken or how the thieves got away with it,” he said.

“The attraction was closed three years ago and we were trying to find a new home for the collection.

“It has a massive sentimental value and we really wanted to keep it together.”

The 45-year-old business man said, “It was the largest O-gauge railway in the country—too big to fit in a dining room or even an attic.

“It is the sort of thing that would have a certain value in the pub but not really that much.

“They are very good models and would certainly be attractive to collectors,” he said.

“My worst fear is that it just ends up getting dumped in a river and lost forever.”

Mr Stewart-Blacker made an emotional plea to those behind the theft.

“I would appeal for anyone who knows anything to get in touch with the police,” he said.

“My father, Patrick, spent a huge amount of time on this collection before his death—its sentimental worth is vast.”

There was shock, upset and disbelief when details of the theft were brought to Mr Stewart-Blacker’s attention.

“A member of staff noted that it had gone missing and called me, thinking that perhaps somebody had moved it,” he said.

“I realised that it must have been taken and it was an absolutely devastating discovery.”