5 inch gauge CIE 13XX 4-4-0

A 5 inch gauge 4-4-0, this one started out in life as a "Super Claud", built to the Martin Evans drawings. Sold in part-built condition, it was finished to resemble an Irish CIE 13XX.

The commercially made boiler by Chambers has had hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued. We noted a minor leak under hydraulic on one superheater element which was dry under steam; there is a slight leak under steam from the dome gasket, which needs replacing.

On test the left hand injector proved utterly useless; the right hand one feeds, with slight overflow. The handpump in the tender is reliable and effective.

When we first ran the engine it proved a shy steamer; things were improved by opening the ashing-out flap under the grate, pointing to inadequate airflow in that area. Steaming was not improved by the grate having been fitted slightly lower than the foundation ring.

The engine ran in both directions on the rolling road, better in forward gear than reverse, with opportunity for improvement by resetting the valves.

The chassis will require some rebushing in the near future, at some time in the past it has been fitted with a replacement crank axle.

Overall, workshop notes describe it as a running engine which, with some attention to the drafting, could be used as-is, with potential to be improved.