5 inch gauge LMS Black 5 4-6-0

A 5 inch gauge LMS Black, built from a ModelWorks kit by a retired gentleman with plans for a garden railway. Events overtook him, by the time the engine was assembled, track panels made and rolling stock built he'd decided, well into his eighth decade, that a smaller and lighter hobby was called for.

Like all the Winson/Modelworks locomotives, this one was not destined to run "out of the box". The builder steamed it on two or three occasions but found its performance asthmatic, after which it was retired to the garage floor, from where we collected it.

Cylinders are the reason for its lack-lustre performance - the standard ModelWorks setup of cast iron block and pistons with silicon O-ring piston rings and brass rings on the piston valve bobbins leaving much scope for improvement.

The sensible course of action from here would be to make new pistons with two grooves (the originals have one, centrally disposed) to take cast iron rings, and either new piston valve bobbins or rework the existing ones to take PTFE rings.

Boiler has had a hydraulic test, we warranty it as sound - like the rest of the engine, it's had a handful of steamings and is in as-new condition.

Other than that the engine is complete bar one missing safety valve.