Sold February 2017 Back to Archive

Rather like this quirky Romulus with a twist of Darjeeling - an old engine, built in the 1980s. It's come to us from the late builder's daughter, thirty years ago he lived at Winkleigh in Devon and was a friend of the great Keith Wilson (who made the boiler for him). Wheel castings are marked "Minimum Gauge Rly", from narrow gauge pioneer Roger Marsh - all in all a rather nice piece of history (admittedly hidden under some calamitous green paint...)

The engine is all together, copper boiler is structurally sound with a some minor weeps which disappear under steam - we've hydraulic and steam tested it, there's a short clip of it running outside the workshop this morning here. Water tank is leaky, there's a new one in brass ready to be fitted. Pressure gauge only ready to 100psi, which for 80psi working pressure is pushing it a bit - really needs something with a little more headroom (and possibly a prettier face). Mechanical lubricator is a super thing, looks like it came out of the ark.

Silver soldered copper boiler, 80psi working pressure, feed by twin injectors and hand pump. Twin spring type safety valves. Cast iron cylinders with slide valves actuated by Hackworth gear, pole reverser in the cab. Mechanical lubricator.

The engine steams particularly freely and runs well - there's a clip of it running in the yard this afternoon here. It's ready for a good tidy up, but the project is more of a light overhaul than rebuild.

Complete with a large ride-in tender, water tank in rear to feed injectors.

Length
Locomotive 54 inches
Tender 41 inches