5 inch gauge freelance Pacific

The first time we saw this engine - perched high up on a shelf in an old garage full of assorted projects and otherwise unremarkable, part-built engines, we assumed it was 7 1/4 inch gauge - it's that sort of size!

Recently arrived in our workshop, it had been a four man lift to load into the van. At just over seven feet long, and tipping the scales at 157kg with its tender, this was an engine conceived and built to do a serious job of work.

Obviously influenced by Stanier's four cylinder Princess Royal design, it combines that with a distinctly late-era BR cab and tender, making for an imposing sized locomotive, getting on for a foot longer than a 9F!

The engine has done plenty of work in its life, witnessed by wear in the valve gear and motionwork - it is due a bottom end overhaul in the next year or two.

The boiler has had hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued, with only the tiniest leak past the regulator on hydraulic test, all other fittings were dry. Boiler feed was originally by hand pump and a tender mounted axle pump - the hand pump has been removed, along with pipework for the axle pump, the engine now relies on twin injectors which both performed faultlessly during the three hours the engine was in steam earlier in the week.

There is a whistle valve fitted to the fountain, although blanked off.

The boiler is very free-steaming - fitted with four safety valves, the two front ones proved more than capable of keeping to working pressure. The grate is in three pieces, with the centre section dropping down using a footplate-mounted lever making disposal very straightforward - if only more engines were designed the same way.

Fitted with vacuum brake ejector for the train and steam brakes on the locomotive, which are effective if slow to operate.

The regulator is of screw type, silky smooth in operation and giving fine control.

There is an electronic speedometer fitted, but not functioning when tested - it comprises a magnet on the rear driving wheel and sensor, not expensive to replace from the local bicycle shop if it can't be resuscitated.

The engine runs very well in forwards gear, with clear, well-defined exhaust beats. Slightly less sure-footed in reverse, although it's unlikely to spend much time running tender first.

From the above you may have gathered we're super impressed with this one. Obviously the work of an experienced builder, built to work hard and with a huge amount of presence. Sitting behind the tender, the front buffer beam is over seven feet in front of you - it's an unusual, somewhat awe-inspiring sight, not often seen in this gauge!

If anybody knows more of the engine or its builder's history we'd be very pleased to hear from them.