{"product_id":"5-inch-gauge-prairie-for-restoration-stock-code-2559","title":"5 inch gauge Prairie for restoration","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eA GWR small Prairie, run regularly until twelve years ago when  the club it ran at refused to test the boiler due to their concern that it was  insulated with asbestos. At this point the owner, somewhat alarmed, decided to  have it stripped and relagged in mineral wool. Mindful of the hazards involved  with asbestos and being a careful type, he gave the engine to his father (with  whom he appears to have had a somewhat Larkinesque relationship) to do.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe boiler was taken off the chassis, the cladding removed,  insulation dumped and new lagging fitted. At this point a younger man may have  decided to give it a \"thorough overhaul and repaint\" which would  almost certainly have ended up with the engine in a thousands bits, never to run  again. Sensibly, our man simply put it back together again. However, in the  intervening period, other engines came along so this one never ran again until  it arrived here (a rather nice King having gone the other way).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eAfter having a good oil round, it runs well on air and the  boiler has passed a 150psi hydraulic test with no problems. Grate and ashpan are  missing (although believed to be on their way here at the moment), as soon as I  get them it can have a run. The only thing that appears to be missing is the  safety valve bonnet, there is a half-machined replacement included.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eCopper boiler with superheater, all silver-soldered, working  pressure 100psi. Feed by crosshead pump and injector. Piston valve cylinders  with Stephenson's valve gear, pole reverser in cab. Mechanical lubricator.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThis engine looks worse that it is. The chassis runs nicely and  has been well built. The firebox cladding is pretty grotty having been refitted  in a fairly cack-handed way and the paintwork is dreadful. However, there is the  potential for restoration to a good-looking, powerful engine - in the meantime,  if you can stand the rude comments at the club, it could be run as-is.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThere are some pictures of a \u003ca href=\"..\/..\/archive\/1997.htm\"\u003edecent  running specimen\u003c\/a\u003e on the archive page.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eLength 40 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight 140 pounds\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54020025942357,"sku":"2559","price":2250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/2559-1.webp?v=1779909793","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/5-inch-gauge-prairie-for-restoration-stock-code-2559","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}