Sold September 2011 Back to Archive

I bought this one from the builder in 2009, it's been run five times in the interim, now come back as its new owner needed to buy a house. Words and pictures below as per December 2009 - still looks the same (although now with a protective coal box fitted in the tender), still the best-built Holmside I've seen by miles.

An excellent example of Martin Evans Holmside design, a large, powerful engine for 7 inch gauge. The engine is the work of one of the most prolific engineers I've met, a man still building well into his eighth decade. Steamed once to check the valve setting the engine has been on display in his living room since and remains in ex-works condition.

Silver soldered copper boiler, 90psi working pressure, feed by injector, axle pump, steam pump and auxiliary hand pump in saddle tank. Cast iron cylinders with slide valves actuated by Stephensons gear with pole reverser in cab. Mechanical lubricator. Screw-down brake acting on all wheels, the engine is fitted with substantial derailing bars front and rear.

The engine was in steam last week for our boiler inspector its had hydraulic and steam tests, if you will excuse the clich it runs like a watch. Valves are set dead square, it notches up beautifully, even the steam pump runs down to a dead slow tickover we left it on over lunch so we could watch it steadily pumping while downing bacon butties, there's a short clip of it doing its stuff here.

Detail work, fit and finish is to a very high standard throughout. The substantially built ride on tender is painted and lined to match the locomotive, it has a water tank within and a substantial handbrake. There are a set of removeable drivers foot pegs.