5 inch gauge LNER K4 2-6-0

A 5 inch gauge LNER K4 Mogul, Gresley's three cylinder design of 1936 for the West Highland line - a total of six were built.

An older engine, it won a Very Highly Commended at the Stoneleigh Exhibition in 1989, held by the Midlands Federation of Model Making Societies.

It's come to us from a long time customer - we sold him a 3 1/2 inch gauge "William" many years ago which he used at his club in Scotland.

Boiler paperwork for the K4 was somewhat shaky when the previous owner first took delivery, consisting of a hydraulic test certificate and a video of it in steam, but no steam test. Novel way to test a boiler...

Somewhat concerned he sent it to Andy Walton at Denver Light Railway - a thoroughly sound chap - for a further hydraulic test, which it passed. It then, for reasons unclear, went back to the vendor for the "professional repaint" you see pictured opposite.

We use the term "professional" in its strictest sense - ie: the owner was charged money for it - rather than in any way indicating a degree of proficiency on the part of the painter. Whilst we've no doubt you could find a twelve year old who'd do a worse job, you'd need to pick the child carefully.

Since arriving here it's had a full boiler test - hydraulic and steam - which showed that the boiler is structurally sound but the safety valves accumulated like mad. Three of the four blower nozzles had been blocked in an attempt to mask the problem, to no avail (you start to see why the video of it in steam was offered in preference to a written certificate!)

Replacement safety valves from our friends at Polly sorted the problem, it now has up to date hydraulic and steam certificates.

The engine steams freely and runs smoothly (as you might expect from three cylinders), slightly asthmatic although notching up ok.

Rather a rare model - technically interesting with the elegant Gresley-Holcroft gear and of handsome proportions.