Sold April 2011 Back to Archive

We're having a bit of a run on Fosters of late, this is the third arrived in as many months.

Well-built by an accomplished model engineer, the engine has remained in his family from new. The commercially-built boiler was supplied by Live Steam Models in 1989, welded steel construction with expanded tubes, working pressure 100psi. Feed is by mechanical pump and injector. Cylinder in cast iron with slide valve actuated by Stephenson's gear with pole reverser, mechanical & displacement lubricators, Pickering governor. Two speed transmission, the engine is on rubber tyres and comes complete with a driver's seat and passenger trolley. The engine was particularly well made in the first place and remains in good mechanical order, although the paintwork is getting tired.

It had a commercial boiler test last August, the current certificate expires in October 2011. We've pumped the boiler up here, it's structurally sound - indeed was dry on hydraulic test - but under steam there is a leaky tube. Sam had it in steam for an hour when it came in and drove around the estate, it runs quietly and pulls well but, as with another Foster in similar condition we sold before Christmas, will need at least one tube replacing - I would be inclined to do them all at the same time.

The engine is road-registered with a V5 document.

Length 72 inches
Width 30 ½ inches
Height 45 ½ inches