5 inch gauge LMS 4-6-0 No. 5552 "Silver Jubilee"

A 5 inch gauge LMS "Jubilee", No.5222 "Silver Jubilee", turned out in the highly distinctive all black livery with chrome cabside numbers of the prototype, commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935.

An exceptionally well-built engine, this one has come to us as part of a collection of fine standard gauge locomotives from the family of a long time customer. Unsteamed in several years, we had to liberate it from an understairs cupboard where it was balanced precariously on a lightweight wooden stand, concealed under a thick layer of dust.

The commercially built boiler by Kingswood has had hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued. Whilst requiring a variety of recommissioning and rectification work, on test the engine proved free-steaming and ran particularly well.

Work required includes:

• Adjustment/replacement of the main axlebox leaf springs. Of standard interleaved steel and tufnol construction, they are too soft
• Lubricator requires servicing, it occasionally misses a tooth on the ratchet
• Draincocks work, however the operating mechanism needs modifying to make them easier to adjust. Cleverly designed, the drain cocks themselves are particularly easy to disassemble, the front ends unscrewing to allow the bobbins to be removed in situ
• Front pressure relief valve on the inside cylinder leaks, requires removal and servicing
• Steam brakes require servicing, currently inoperative

A worthwhile project to recommission a finely built example of a rarely modelled prototype, a model which gives every appearance of having had little use from new.