{"product_id":"5-inch-gauge-a3-solario-stock-code-4156","title":"5 inch gauge A3 \"Solario\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eI first bought this engine in 2002 - I'd tried to buy it earlier that year  without success, it later came available when its owner had a radical reduction  of his steam collection (which included the full-sized Fowler \"Iron  Maiden\" and \"Flying Scotsman\", it was a pretty big toy box).\u003c\/font\u003e    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eI ran the engine several times before parting with it - it's by some margin  the best A3 I'd driven (my opinion hasn't changed in the intervening years), it  goes exceptionally well. A then 8-year old Sam came to Reading club with me one  afternoon when I first got it - I'd taken along a rather elderly B1 for him to  potter about with, while assorted members and I drove \"Solario\". After  much nagging from the boy, at the end of the day's running with the boiler  pressure down to about 40psi I let him climb aboard for an unaccompanied  circuit.\u003c\/font\u003e    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eWithin the first few hundred feet it was back to working pressure, he came  bursting out of the woods onto the long straight laid flat over the eight-wheel  tender like a jockey, head down, safety valves feathering. The straight ends in  a sharp right hand bend, as he came charging towards us, it was pretty obvious  that, as a last resort, I was probably going to have to fling myself in front of  it, rather than risk the ire of his mother (and an upside down Pacific). Halfway  down the straight he shut off and coasted gracefully to a halt at the steaming  bays, grinning like a boiled herring. I've let him drive anything else since  without a worry!\u003c\/font\u003e    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont color=\"#FF0000\"\u003eThe engine sold in 2003 to an experienced model engineering family, it has  been used very little since, finally coming back in part-exchange against a 7  1\/4 inch gauge engine. The pictures were taken in the last few days, the words  below are from 2003.\u003c\/font\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA finely-engineered and well-detailed 5 inch gauge A3 Pacific in excellent  running order.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSilver-soldered superheated combustion chamber copper boiler. Boiler feed by  twin injectors with auxiliary hand pump in tender. Three cylinder with piston  valves actuated by Gresley-Holcroft valve gear. Motion work, all locomotive  plate work and ash pan are in stainless steel. Semi-scale backhead with twin  water gauges (with blowdowns piped below the footplate), pressure gauge, steam  chest pressure gauge, screw-reverser, blower, whistle and steam brake control.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eEight wheel tender with disc wheels, screw-down brake, water feeds for  injector and hand pump in rear. The tank is in stainless steel with water  filters fitted.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe paintwork is worn in places - in particular the wheels and parts of the  smokebox. It is entirely presentable as-is, but could be re-finished to produce  an exhibition-quality engine. The sliding part of the cab roof is missing.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe engine runs very well with negligible wear in any of the moving parts. It  will pull away just off mid-gear with less than 30 psi on the gauge. At working  pressure a delicate hand is required on the regulator - think starting 500 tons  out of Kings Cross!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eLength:\u003cbr\u003e  Locomotive 48 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Tender 28 inches\u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp\u003eHydraulic test @135psi, 29-4-2010\u003cbr\u003e  Steam test 28-6-2010    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54010145145173,"sku":"4156","price":12500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/4156-1.webp?v=1779900633","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/5-inch-gauge-a3-solario-stock-code-4156","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}