7 1/4 inch gauge "Romulus" 0-4-0T

A 7 1/4 inch narrow gauge "Romulus" 0-4-0WT to the popular Roger Marsh design.

This one has come to us from a man who has run it regularly at his club for the last ten years - advancing years have meant that, reluctantly it has come time to move it on for something smaller.

We were impressed with this one. Well-sorted, it steams very freely and runs beautifully in either direction, notching up close to mid gear in forwards and a notch in reverse.

The boiler has had a club hydraulic and steam test in recent weeks with new certification issued for the CE-marked boiler. Last test with cladding off was in 2024, there is continuous club history going back ten years; the owner has always run the engine using water treatment - there is a part-used bottle included.

At some time in the past, the metal-ferrule from a flue brush detached and stuck fast in the centre top tube - resisting all attempts to shift it, the last owner decided to leave well alone. It seemed to have little effect on the boiler's performance, on test the engine proved very free-steaming. 

The engine is fitted with a functional well tank, the injectors piped up to pick up either from that or the driving truck water tank - there is a valve under the right hand footplate to select which tank is used. The injectors worked well from working pressure down to just under 40psi, the left hand unit slightly fussy when drawing water from the well tank.

The engine is fitted with vacuum brake equipment, including ejector, driver's brake valve and vacuum limiter by PNP; dry steam for the ejector is taken from the top of the dome, with an isolator valve in the cab.

Axles are provided with oil nipples in their ends, making oiling the axleboxes dead easy - a nice touch.

The slate wagon style driving truck is fitted with a water tank and comfortable seat with footboards; it's piped through for vacuum. There are two injector water feed taps - only one is currently used, feeding a water manifold on the locomotive.