{"product_id":"3-12-inch-gauge-2-8-2-mustang-stock-code-6964","title":"3 1\/2 inch gauge 2-8-2 \"Mustang\"","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   We've had several interesting historic engines come in recently, this  one arrived last week with a super story attached.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   Built in the 1950s, the designer and builder speculated he could build a 3 1\/2  inch gauge locomotive that would pull forty children. \"Mustang\" was  the result, a freelance Mikado incorporating many of his own ideas, much  influenced by LBSC whose V2 combustion chamber boiler design he adapted, pressed  to 100psi. The engine is a heavy, powerful machine - with its bogie tender and  small driving wheels somewhat reminiscent of \"Hercules\" on the Romney,  Hythe \u0026amp; Dymchurch Railway.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   Having outlined his plans to fellow members at the club, he set to and built the  engine in under a year - starting by sketching out a rough general arrangement  drawing, the chassis was completed in under two months, the engine finished in  under a year. After a couple of steamings at the club - including 6 1\/2 hours in  public service with 12 to 14 passengers - one Saturday in the spring of 1944 all available passenger trucks were  coupled on the back and forty children rounded up, the engine pulling all as  predicted by its designer.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   It's come to us in part exchange for a 7 1\/4 inch gauge locomotive from the son  of a man who bought it from the builder many years ago. The engine was used  extensively until the boiler finally failed, as a teenager the previous owner  started building the new boiler shown in the pictures. The chassis remains largely  complete, most of the parts dismantled to remove the original boiler are in a  box, including cab, cladding, dome, boiler fittings and superheaters.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   A really interesting survivor from a different time - in our internet and  smartphone age, the idea of getting an engine designed and built in a few  months, then being able to find forty children who weren't glued to the  Playstation on a Saturday to ride behind it seems almost surreal. A singularly  worthy restoration project, it's seventy-two years since it hauled what must, at  the time, have been a record load for a 3 1\/2 inch gauge locomotive - I would love to see it doing the job it was designed  for again.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e   Complete with a copy of \"Model Engineer\" from August 31st, 1944 with  the builder's write up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54009609421141,"sku":"6964","price":1850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/6964-1.webp?v=1779898601","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/3-12-inch-gauge-2-8-2-mustang-stock-code-6964","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}