3 1/2 inch gauge BR 9F 2-10-0

To our eyes a 9F with something of a South African flavour, a strange thing to undertake, the builder's aesthetic compass remains a mystery to us. Mechanically it's quite nicely put together, rolls along freely and runs well on air.

Originally built in the 1980s, the locomotive was fitted with a new commercial CE-marked boiler by Western Steam in 2006, silver soldered construction with superheaters. Feed by injector and axle pump with hand pump in tender. Gunmetal cylinders with piston valves actuated by Walschaerts gear, screw reverser in the cab. Mechanical lubricator.

Potential in this to run it as-is for what remains of the season, then sort out the paintwork and more lurid details - top feeds, smokebox door handles and safety valves to pick some of the most offensive - over the winter. Regulator leaks copiously at the moment, there are a variety of leaky fittings.