Sold June 2011 Back to Archive

I sold this "Conway" a couple of years ago, remember being impressed with it at the time, it went particularly well - there are pictures and a video of it running in the archive here.

It's recently come back as a part exchange for a 5 inch gauge engine - arrived back here with a smokebox three quarters full of ash, seized solid, water gauge leaking, one wheel loose and enough red Hermetite daubed around the backhead fittings to require stiffer springs on the rear axle (we wondered why the chap took off so fast!).

Silver-soldered copper boiler, working pressure 80psi, feed by injector and axle pump with auxiliary hand pump on the fooplate. Stephenson's valve gear with pole reverser in cab, mechanical "ratchless" lubricator on nearside running board. The locomotive has a screwdown mechanical brake and is fitted with vacuum ejector with driver's brake valve for the train.

We've had it in the workshop for a day, it's been cleaned, freed off and most of the Hermetite removed - it now once again runs beautifully. It needs a loose wheel attending to, one wheel has acquired a chipped flange and the water gauge could really use replacement, although some determined renovation would improve it drastically. Paintwork is bright and presentable in a Playschool sort of way - given the quality of the underlying engine it would be a worthy recipient of something slightly Welsher.

Hydraulic test @120psi 24-2-2011

Length 27 inches
Weight 80 pounds