Sold May 2004 Back to Archive

3 1/2 inch gauge Britannia to the LBSC design, fully described in "Model Engineer" starting on the same day that the full size engine was launched - LBSC had the benfit of "inside information" being a friend of Riddles, the designer. The works drawings lent to him included a half full-size general arrangement and most of the motion work at full size - he claimed at the time to have wallpapered his workshop with them.

This engine is at an early stage. Work completed includes:

Locomotive and tender frames, complete with hornblocks and buffer beams. Tender fitted with dummy leaf springs
Locomotive axleboxes, bored to take ball races (fitted)
Driving and coupled wheels machined
Front bogie completed
Rear pony truck largely complete

There is what appears to be a complete set of unmachined castings for the remainder, right down to a pair of nameplates. Cylinders are in gunmetal. There are six ball races supplied for the tender axleboxes.

The builder had the large, combustion chamber boiler professionally built by Swindon Boilers, it has its original twice pressure hydraulic test certificate. There is a complete set of drawings included.

Length 52 inches including tender