5 inch gauge GWR 45XX 2-6-2T

A 5 inch gauge Great Western small Prairie, No.5541, the original built in 1928 and withdrawn in 1962, going to Woodham Brothers' yard at Barry, South Wales. Bought for preservation in 1972, the engine returned to steam only three years later, in 1975.

An older engine, built to Martin Evans' "Firefly" design, the commercially built boiler has had recent hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued.

The engine steams freely and runs - better in reverse than forwards, with some wear noted in the motionwork.

Paintwork is shabby - worn through in places and not terribly well applied in the first place.

An engine we'd be tempted to run as-is for the next year or two, then spend the following winter undertaking a light bottom end overhaul and repaint.