9288
Steaming a brand new locomotive for the first time is always something of a special occasion, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. In steam for a couple of hours on Friday, it ran beautifully "out of the box" - a powerful engine with crisp exhaust beats, it notches up readily running in either direction - there's some video of it here.
A 7 1/4 inch gauge LNER B1; built to Martin Evans' "Roedeer" design the engine is in "ex-works" condition, steamed once from new.
The work of a highly experienced engineer who built more than twenty locomotives over a forty year period, from a 2 1/2 inch gauge "Dyak" through 5 inch gauge Pacifics up to his magnum opus, the 7 1/4 inch gauge LNER A4 "Sir Nigel Gresley".
Often working on two more more models at once, the B1 was one of the last on his bench, along with a fine 7 1/4 inch gauge Liverpool & Manchester "Lion" and well-advanced Britannia.
The engine has been built to a good standard throughout - fit and finish of the motionwork and valve gear is excellent, links are bronze-bushed and secured with pinned castellated nuts.
The copper boiler is a commercially built job by Kingswood, supplied new in 2001 and silver soldered throughout, complete with original manufacturer's test certificate. Since arriving with us the boiler has had a repeat hydraulic test at 150psi for 100psi working pressure, with new certification issued.
Stock code |
9288 |
Gauge |
7 1/4 inch |
Length/inches |
58 + 37 |
Width/inches |
13.33333333 |
Height/inches |
20 |
Wheel material |
cast iron |
Axlebox type |
plain bearing |
Cylinder material |
cast iron |
Valve type |
piston |
Valve gear |
Walschaerts |
Reverser type |
screw |
Lubricator type |
2 x mechanical |
Boiler maker |
Kingswood Boilers |
Boiler type |
locomotive |
Boiler construction |
silver soldered |
Boiler material |
copper |
Working pressure |
100 |
CE/UKCA mark |
n/a - pre-2002 |
Year built |
2001 |
Boiler number |
KB01041 |
Safety valve type |
spring |
Safety valve |
2 |
Fusible plug |
yes |
Whistle |
yes |
Injector |
2 |
Superheater type |
flue tube |
Superheater |
3 |
Date out |
Aug-21 |
Hydraulic test valid to |
20-Oct-24 |