{"product_id":"15-inch-gauge-stephensons-rocket-stock-code-6586","title":"15 inch gauge Stephenson's \"Rocket\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eWe sold this one back in 2010 - just arrived back in  substantially the same condition. Words and pictures below are from 2010.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003co:p\u003e  \u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp\u003eI don't often get to see models of very early engines - LBSC had a go at some  ancients with his \"Rainhill\" and \"Canterbury Lamb\" designs  for \"Rocket\" of the Liverpool \u0026amp; Manchester and \"Invicta\"  of the Canterbury \u0026amp; Whitstable respectively, his \"Titfield  Thunderbolt\" was a pretty good representation of \"Lion\" from  twenty years later.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eI find the designs appealing and technically interesting - even thought about  building a \"Lion\" now and again. The main thing that puts me off is  the size. The original engines were, by today's standards, tiny and this  reflects in the size of the model. A 3 1\/2 inch gauge \"Lion\" is  pocket-sized - even the 5 inch gauge version makes a 3 1\/2 inch \"Tich\"  look big. If I build a \"Lion\" I want something about the size of a  labrador, if you work back from that size and calculate the gauge, you quickly  realise that you're going to need an invite from the Romney, Hythe \u0026amp;  Dymchuch to run it when finished.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eWhich is pretty much what the builder of this \"Rocket\" did.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eI've offered you some pretty potty projects over the years, but this is one  that really appeals to me - if only there were 48 hours available each day in  the workshop I'd be sorely tempted to hang onto it. Starting with a set of plans  drawn up by Robert Stephenson's in 1929 when they built a full-sized replica of  the Rainhill trials winner for the Henry Ford Museum, our man set to building an  engine at one quarter full size, to run on 15 inch gauge track.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe project is at a tantalisingly early stage, work to date is excellent and  comprises a beautifully made tender body\/chassis in wood, complete with an  authentically staved barrel for water to mount thereon as per the prototype.  There are a set of very nicely machined horns and axle boxes which screw to the  frames, a wheel pattern and set of four wheel castings for the tender. The  drawings, on three sheets, are about as accurate a record of the  \"Rocket\" in its original form as you're likely to find, drawn up by  the original builders.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eFor the locomotive itself there is a part-built boiler, comprising a complete  rolled and welded shell with what is, effectively, a combustion chamber and a  dry-back firebox which is to be fixed to the rear. The boiler has yet to be  tubed - the tubeplates have been machined for thirty-five 9\/16 inch diameter  tubes which would be expanded in. Work to date appear professionally done, given  the thickness of plate and quality of welding.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThat's about the sum of the bits - the tender is around 80% complete and  could be finished with not a great deal further effort (and would look nice on  its own sitting in the hall). The engine is a bigger job, although by its very  nature the design is simple,with few parts - biggest job is probably making the  wheels (wooden, if you remember).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe finished machine will be about five and a half feet long with the tender  and around four feet high to the chimney - I imagine it will weigh in at three  or four hundredweight. A most satisfying size standing in the workshop although,  of course, it you do take it down to the RH\u0026amp;DR - it's still going to look  like a very small engine…\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eTender\u003cbr\u003e  27 inches long\u003cbr\u003e  20 inches wide\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eBoiler\u003cbr\u003e  10 1\/2 inch diameter\u003cbr\u003e  Tubeplates drilled for 35 off 9 1\/6 inch tubes\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019887759701,"sku":"6586","price":795.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/6586-1.webp?v=1779908000","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/15-inch-gauge-stephensons-rocket-stock-code-6586","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}