Sold January 2016 Back to Archive

A 5 inch gauge Great Western large Prairie in "barn find" condition - rust everywhere, paint was pretty grotty to start with and hasn't improved with poor storage. The wheels turn with effort, it came in with the remains of a fire on the grate although it obviously hasn't run in a long time. Don't know quite how such a good engine gets into a state like this - underneath the rust and grime is a well-made locomotive with nicely machined motion and neatly executed platework.

Silver soldered superheated copper boiler, feed by twin injectors with auxiliary hand pump in the offside water tank. Regulator is currently stuck open although the regulator handle moves freely. Cast iron cylinders with piston valves actuated by Stephenson's gear, pole reverser in the cab. Mechanical lubricator.

A complete strip, overhaul and repaint job, it's a worthwhile project. Shortland's design for the engine is highly detailed - as a result we see few of these (although did have the designer's own engine some years ago, there are pictures in the archive).

Length 44 inches
Weight approx 200 pounds