5 inch gauge LNER B1 4-6-0

Possibly not the grottiest looking B1 we've ever seen, but it's got to be somewhere close. Unfortunate really, because underneath the dirt and horrible paintwork there's a decent engine with nicely made motionwork and valve gear, well-fitted and showing little sign of wear, a boiler so nicely made that only the lack of a builder's mark convinces us that it wasn't commercially built.

Although fitted with a grate, the locomotive appears to have been gas-fired from new, with a quickly detachable burner fitted in the firehole door. Firebox and smokebox are both clean, showing bright copper and silver solder rather than soot.

Boiler has some history, with commercial certificate for twice working pressure shell test back in 2014. We've hydraulic tested it in recent days and issued certificate for same - the boiler is in good condition.

Locomotive is fitted with a steam brake, tender with mechanical screw down brake. It pushes along freely and runs on air.

We see this one as a cosmetic overhaul and recommission job rather than overhaul - it could be tackled as a running restoration, used at weekends and worked on between steamings.