{"product_id":"4-inch-scale-foster-agricultural-engine-stock-code-5427","title":"4 inch scale Foster agricultural engine","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eI sold this engine in 2004, it's recently  returned and must be one of the least used Fosters I've ever had. Completed in  1998, it hadn't been steamed  when it first came to me. It went on to a man who ran it in his garden half a dozen times  in 2005, after which illness prevented him using it further - it was drained and  laid up in a shed where it has stayed ever since, in pretty much exactly the  same condition as when he bought it. We've steamed it this  afternoon (cold, wet and miserable up here, Ashley and I needed something to  cheer us up) and had a thoroughly good time playing with it. Despite the grotty  cosmetics, underneath is a really well put together engine that runs  particularly well - mechanically it's in as-new condition, fit and finish of the  motionwork is good, bearings are all tight, gears are quiet.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eWords below are from the archive (\u003ca href=\"\/products\/archive\/2290\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eyou  can see the original listing for it here\u003c\/a\u003e), pictures were taken this  afternoon\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=omPRRJKC-cA\u0026amp;feature=youtu.be\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethere's  a clip of Ashley running around on it here\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eRather a sad story this one.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eBuilt by a gentleman in the Midlands, this engine was finished  six years ago. It was run once or twice on air but unfortunately the builder  didn't live to see the fruits of his labours. Pushed into an outside shed and  left, the intervening years have not been kind to either brightwork or paint.  Everything finished in polished steel on the original is now covered in surface  rust, the paint is still just about presentable but the engine really merits  stripping and repainting.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThat's the bad news, now on to the upside:\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eIt's well made and fitted, built to the Live Steam Models design  and using their castings. LSM also machined the flywheel, gears and cylinder  block. The boiler is beautifully made, welded steel with expanded in tubes. It  has been ultrasonically tested, hydraulic tested to twice working pressure and a  new certificate issued. The boiler is fed by a mechanical pump driven from the  second shaft and an injector. There is a water lifter fitted to the left hand  side of the tender.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe engine has been steamed once, ever (this afternoon - first  time I've ever put a fire on a brand new grate in a four inch engine!). It sat  and ticked over outside the workshop for an hour and, apart from putting some  gland packing on the piston rod and tweaking up the water gauges to stop drips,  it ran very nicely \"straight from the box\" as they say - a tribute to  the builder.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eDespite the grotty appearance, underneath the grime is a brand  new engine waiting to be liberated. It could be rallied all this season, simply  taking bits off to clean them between outings. A repaint over next winter would  produce a fine looking engine for the 2005 season - with careful use and routine  maintenance, this engine will give many years of service before requiring  significant attention.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eLength 72 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight approx 1\/2 ton\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019821601109,"sku":"5427","price":12500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/5427-1.webp?v=1779907751","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/4-inch-scale-foster-agricultural-engine-stock-code-5427","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}