The Y12-4 1829 Stephensons Rocket locomotive joined the range in 1987 and it was only the third Loco to enter the range after the Y-13 "General" and the Y-14 "Duke of Connaught" which were both made some 30 years previously. It was planned that other Locomotives would join the Rocket in the yesteryear range but apart from the G.E.R. E4 which was the load for the Y-16 100 ton Scammell none were ever made, The Rocket was painted yellow with black baseplates and a white chimney and although it was quite a detailed model only the brightwork on the engine and the cylinders was made from plastic so the rocket might have been a small model it was a weighty model too.
The name and the body lining to the wheels and tender was applied by black tampo printing and the pipework, dome and safety valve was gold plated plastic. It was released as a limited edition with a production of only 60,000 pieces and was replaced after just one year by the Y12-5 1937 GMC van. The Rocket was a charming model and well made too and it makes you wonder at exactly what other Locos were planned and what we missed out on.
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