Sold March 2004 Back to Archive

A part-built 7 1/4 inch gauge locomotive, modelled on the two foot gauge Alco tank engines which saw service in Europe during the First World War. Perhaps the most famous survivor is "Mountaineer" of the Ffestiniog Railway (thankfully now back in lined-out black after it's wartime grey livery of a couple of years ago).

The engine is complete to an air-running chassis stage. Workmanship thus far is very good, built to a heavy-duty commercial standard at one third scale. The builder has had wheels, cylinders and motion brackets cast from his own patterns, using Don Young's “Mountaineer” drawings in 3 1/2 inch gauge doubled up. The chassis is free-running on roller-bearing axle boxes. A substantial steam brake cylinder is fitted just forward of the front frame stretcher, with compensated brake gear to all six driving wheels. Both front and rear pony trucks have substantial side-control springs fitted.

The three inch bore cylinders have slide valves, actuated by Walschaert's valve gear. It runs well on air with a cracking-sounding exhaust - it promises to have quite some go when finished!

We can supply this engine in any stage from its current project state up to a fully painted and lined locomotive ready-to-use.

Length 74 inches
Width 22 inches
Driving wheels 8 1/2inch diameter
Driving axles 2 inch diameter
Cylinder bore 3 inches
Weight approx 500 pounds, when complete will be 1200-1400 pounds