5 inch gauge BR Standard Class 7 No.70004 "William Shakespeare"

A 5 inch gauge BR Standard Class 7 Pacific No.70004 "William Shakespeare", what it lacks in pristine paintwork it more than makes up for in barnstorming performance.

Built by Geoff Gregson, a prolific and highly talented model engineer responsible for many high quality, hard running locomotives including a batch of four Duchesses. Long time readers will remember the legendary "Duchess of Abercorn" which we sold nearly twenty years ago, initially kept by its builder to challenge for IMLEC honours, coming close to winning that competition on two occasions, on the first of which it put up the highest power recorded.

Built with a similar philosophy and to the same standards, the Britannia's combustion chamber boiler makes steam like it's going out of fashion, the heavily-ballasted chassis - the engine and tender weigh in at almost exactly three hundredweight - is more than capable of putting its not inconsiderable power down onto the track.

The engine runs well in either direction, the chassis is immensely free-running, rolling for yards with the regulator closed.

Safety valves work well, opening at 90psi and popping closed at 75psi. We've replaced both injector steam valves which were fussy in operation, the injectors themselves work well, picking up from 40 and 50psi respectively, right and left.

The reverser gearbox works smoothly - often a weak point on these engines - the engine runs well notched up in either direction.

Although fitted with a steam brake, it's apparently not been used in living memory - the brake valve is seized and, in deference to its age, we've left it well alone.

There is some wear in the motionwork, apparent when running in reverse, but not requiring immediate attention.

As the workshop notes on the engine read - "paintwork well worn but not offensive - engine goes like stink!"