Sold April 2009 Back to Archive

Built by a prolific engineer, a man responsible over the last thirty years for the construction and operation of two successful commercial miniature railways in 10 1/4 and 15 inch gauges (designing and building the locomotives for both) as well as large scale traction engines, stationary engines and, most recently, a 7 inch scale steam wagon.

This is a particularly well-made early Amercian 4-4-0, nicely detailed and well finished - it took a medal at the Model Engineer Exhibition when built.

Steel boiler with expanded tubes, working pressure 80psi, feed by injector and twin crosshead pumps. Cast iron cylinders with slide valves actuated by Stephenson’s valve gear, pole reverser in cab, manual cylinder oil pump in cab – basically one pump a lap and one extra on hills!

The engine has had little use, the boiler had a twice pressure hydraulic test last week and a new certificate issued – it is in fine condition, having been run with water treatment from new. It steams quickly from cold and runs well – one of the nicest things about large wheels is the most satisfying bark they produce from the exhaust (which is what made me buy my first “Maid of Kent” many years ago, having heard one running round at the Romney Marsh Club).