{"product_id":"6-inch-gauge-great-eastern-1300-class-2-4-0-stock-code-6922","title":"6 inch gauge Great Eastern 1300 class 2-4-0","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    An extraordinary period piece, this is a 6 inch gauge Great Eastern 1300 class   tank locomotive built by George Woodcock, a talented and prolific engineer   working mainly in the larger - usually 9 1\/2 inch - gauges before the war. He   contributed many articles to \"Model Engineer\" magazine over the years,   both descriptions of engines he'd built as well as workshop techniques and   processes. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    A beautifully built model; despite a good deal of research I've yet to get to   the bottom of why it's 6 inch gauge - he built another locomotive for the same   gauge which was written up in 1943. Choice of prototype for this model was in   part influenced by his employment at Stratford Works before the war, when he had   the opportunity to see the full size engines close up. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    Workmanship is impeccable throughout - the more impressive given that it was   built on modest machinery. I have included pictures of the article he wrote up   about its construction in 1946 - it's well worth reading. Perhaps my favourite   part is his nonchalant description of making the crankshaft: \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e  \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\"The crank axle is turned from solid, a piece of flat 3-in x 1 1\/4-in x   8 1\/2-in. mild steel being used. The crank shape was hacked out with a   coarse-tooth hand hacksaw, the ends being centred; the portion between the two   crank throws was then turned to 15\/16-in roughly. The turned portion was then   heated to bright red with the gas blowpipe. One web was gripped and the other   twisted to 90 deg. with a pair of Stillsons. The crank was then finished as an   ordinary forging. Nothing very difficult, and I fail to see why any fuss is made   of turning shafts from solid. In any case, there is no need to turn a shaft from   round-section material - it is only a waste of time. Total time for the crank   under consideration was 15 hours, including hacksawing and turning on a treadle   lathe\".\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    Oh, to have met the man. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    The silver soldered copper boiler was hydraulic tested at 175psi hydraulic when   built - the engine has never been steamed. Valve gear is case hardened, it's got   working vacuum brakes - operating on the locomotive as well as the train, as per   prototype - and steam sanders. Wheels are in cast iron with shrunk on steel   tyres, force fitted to axles. It's never been painted - all platework is in   nickel bronze which has a lovely dull sheen, the countersunk copper rivets you   see in the tanks are undetectable by touch if you run your fingers over them. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    It is a remarkable survivor, remaining in almost exactly the condition pictured   in the \"Model Engineer\" over seventy years ago. Reading the   builder's article for the first time with the engine in front of me when it   first arrived, it felt almost like having the man talk to you. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    Since it's arrival last year it has been living up at the house, it's an   inspiring piece of work to have on the sideboard in the dining room.      \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54009811468629,"sku":"6922","price":5750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/6922-1.webp?v=1779899275","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/6-inch-gauge-great-eastern-1300-class-2-4-0-stock-code-6922","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}