5 inch gauge LB&SCR C2X 0-6-0

A 5 inch gauge LB&SCR C2X 0-6-0, a design which could trace its history back to the late nineteenth century when Robert Billinton, locomotive superintendent for the railway, laid down a design for a successor to Stroudley's C1 class of 0-6-0 tender engines, the new class designated C2.

Built for the railway by Vulcan Foundry, they were nicknamed "Vulcans", proving successful if not particularly fast - a total of 55 were built.

Billinton's successor, Marsh, designed the C3 class with larger boiler which was not successful, leading to a C3 boiler being fitted to the earlier C2 running gear, producing the C2X class. This worked well and, eventually, 29 of the class were rebuilt.

In time, increasing train weights meant that the C2X was increasingly displaced by the K-class Mogul - the first British design to pull 1000 ton trains - designed by Robert Billinton's son, Lawson. Regular readers will remember we had the magnificent 9 1/2 inch gauge K-class, built by Billinton himself in retirement, some years ago.

After the First World War, ten of the C2X class were fitted with Billinton's patent top feed apparatus, identified by the presence of a second dome.

Based on LBSC's "Minx" design - itself the goods engine version of his popular "Maid of Kent" - this model came to us in part exchange for another freight engine which arrived recently. Well-built in the first place, it has done a lot of running over the years and is coming due for a bottom end overhaul and repaint.

It steams freely and still runs nicely, although with some blow-by past the pistons under steam. The pump and left hand injector work reliably, the right hand injector feeds but overflows when working.

The boiler has had hydraulic and steam tests, with new certification issued.

Despite its rather down at heel appearance, we rate this one - a well put together engine that goes well, it would repay the work put into restoring it.