{"product_id":"10-14-inch-gauge-0-4-0st-with-tender-stock-code-9696","title":"10 1\/4 inch gauge \"Sweet Pea\" 0-4-0ST with tender","description":"I first saw this engine back in 2005 when I bought the late builder's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/7-14-inch-gauge-freelance-pacific-stock-code-2569\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e7 1\/4 inch gauge freelance Pacific\u003c\/a\u003e, completed in 1975.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    He'd subsequently built a pair of \"doubled up\" 10 1\/4 inch gauge Sweet Peas - a picture of one features in the Sweet Pea construction book, that engine being sold shortly after completion. This one was steamed briefly on a short length of portable track in the builder's garden before being put in the garage, emerging once more some years ago to attend the annual Sweet Pea rally.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The work of a talented engineer - in addition to the Pacific and two 10 1\/4 inch gauge engines he also built a 6 inch scale traction engine and rebuilt a 7 1\/4 inch gauge LMS Mogul. His interest was inherited by his son, a fine builder in his own right with a particularly fine Sweet Pea to his credit (although this one in 5 inch gauge, it lives in his hall) and work currently well advanced on a 5 inch gauge LNER A1 to the Michael Breeze design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    In common with the Pacific, his 6 inch traction engine and the other 10 1\/4 inch gauge Sweet Pea, the boiler was made by the builder and his son - a welder by trade, he also acquired the seamless steel tube. We removed the cladding to expose the barrel before inspecting the boiler and taking thickness readings throughout before conducting a twice working pressure hydraulic test at 200psi. No sign of any leaks or distortion, however the firebox is not bushed for a fusible plug, something we'd consider essential before putting into service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Complete with a well-built storage cradle on castors.    The engine runs, with a rather wet exhaust - not uncommon with a new steel boiler, our own Staffords take two or three steamings to stop priming from new. Valve events have optimisation opportunities - the engine runs, but somewhat asymmetrically. Most likely slide valve position on the spindle, as return cranks are pinned and appear correctly set.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    A large engine, within about an inch in all dimensions of our own \u003ca href=\"\/products\/big-stafford-0-4-0---10-14-inch-gauge-0-4-0st-stock-code-bst040\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e10 1\/4 inch gauge \"Big Stafford\"\u003c\/a\u003e, it's complete with a ride on tender carrying water to feed the two injectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The locomotive is fitted with a steam brake, we've replaced the original pair of suspiciously brass-looking water gauges with a high quality three cock bronze gauge, of the same type that we use on the engines we build.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54020001825109,"sku":"9696","price":13500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/9696-1.webp?v=1779909429","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/10-14-inch-gauge-0-4-0st-with-tender-stock-code-9696","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}