{"product_id":"3-12-inch-gauge-canterbury-lamb-stock-code-6588","title":"3 1\/2 inch gauge \"Canterbury Lamb\"","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eI think that, because of its modest size and LBSC's famous  \"anybody can do it\" write up, his \"Canterbury Lamb\" design  for a 3 1\/2 inch gauge version of the Canterbury \u0026amp; Whitstable Railway  \"Invicta\" attracts more than its fair share of tyro builders - as such  we see a good number of CLs offering \"optimization opportunities\",  usually required to make them work at all.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThis one is a different kettle of fish - obviously an older  build, it looks to have done its share of running in the past although when it  arrived here the thing was as dry as dust, having sat on the last owner's  bookshelf for as long as he could remember. In its muted black paintwork, it's  got something of the prehistoric look of the original to my eye. Boiler is in  good order - it's been tested at 100psi for 50psi working pressure which is more  than enough for something of this size and vintage - cylinders are in gunmetal  with a mechanical lubricator, slide valves are actuated by slip eccentric gear.  Goes like the clappers on air, Harry - always a man for a challenge - had  an interesting afternoon breaking up coal into teeny tiny pieces to get it  running on steam. He succeeded, although by the time I'd managed to grab the  video camera the matchbox-sized fire was a distant memory. I think it's fair to  say not one of the great club passenger-hauling designs (nor, actually, was it  ever supposed to be).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eFor now it's retired to the bookshelf in my office, where  it sits just above a \"Lynton \u0026amp; Barnstaple of the same gauge - the Manning  Wardle takes two of us to lift it, \"Invicta\" would fit in a shoebox  with room to spare!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eFor those curious about the original engine, it still exists,  preserved in the Canterbury Museum. Used to be outdoors with iron railings  around it, I remember my father taking me to see it when I was small. I last saw  it a few months ago when down in Canterbury to see a screening of the  extraordinary 1920s home movie, recently discovered, featuring Count Louis  Zborowski and his then newly built Highams Railway with \"Little Giant\"  Atlantic by Bassett Lowke.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eAnd yes, \"Invicta\" really does have mismatched wheels  in both model and full size!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54010128695637,"sku":"6588","price":795.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/6588-1.webp?v=1779900555","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/3-12-inch-gauge-canterbury-lamb-stock-code-6588","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}