3 1/2 inch gauge LMS Black 5 "George Stephenson"

On the last day of the LMS before nationalisation, 31st December 1947, Crewe completed an experimental Black 5, a modified version of Stanier's highly successful design featuring Stephenson's valve gear, a double chimney, Timken roller bearings and electric train lighting.

Built to test some of Ivatt's ideas, the engine was outshopped as 4767 before being almost immediately renumbered 44767 by British Railways. The valve gear endured, although the double chimney was removed in 1952, the engine finally being withdrawn in December 1967.

Originally destined to be scrapped (and its tender was, indeed, cut up), the engine was bought by the late Brian Hollingsworth and survives in preservation (with tender recovered from another scrapped locomotive), carrying the name "George Stephenson".

Very rarely modelled, the only other one we've had was a very fine 5 inch gauge model - there are pictures of that one in the archive here.

This 3 1/2 inch gauge Black 5 was well-built in the first place and, professionally overhauled in recent times, is in good order throughout.

The boiler has had recent hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued. The engine steams freely and runs very well in either direction.